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(tttVEftSITY  OF  ILUH8IS 


HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS 
REPUBLICANISM 


',  EMBRACING    A 


HISTORY   OF   THE   REPUBLICAN    PARTY   IN   THE  STATE  TO 
THE   PRESENT   TIME 


TOGETHER   WITH   ITS   NOTED   ACHIEVEMENTS,    AS   ILLUSTRATED  BY 
THE   CAREERS  OF  MEN   OF  COMMANDING  ABILITY 


WITH    BIOGRAPHIES   OF 


ITS  FOUNDERS  AND  SUPPORTERS 


WHOSE    FORESIGHT,   STATESMANSHIP,    PATRIOTISM    AND    ENERGY 

HAVE  CONTRIBUTED  TO  THE  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE 

PARTY   IN   STATE  AND   NATION 


ALSO 

A   CHRONOLOGICAL    STATEMENT   OF   IMPORTANT    POLITICAL    EVENTS 

SINCE   1774 


CHICAGO 

ROLLINS    PUBLISHING   COMPANY 
19OO 


COPYRIGHT  1898 
BY  ROLLINS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 


AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 

A  great,  free,  self-governing  people  can  have  no  political  repose. 
In  this  age  of  progress,  politics  must  be  progressive. 

The  sphere  of  governmental  action  enlarges  to  meet  new  wants  and  new 
conditions  in  response  to  the  demands  of  intelligent  public  sentiment ;  and  a  polit- 
ical party  to  retain  the  support  of  a  majority  of  the  people  must  keep  abreast  with 
that  sentiment,  representing  and  leading  it. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  the  safety,  progress,  prosperity  and  happiness  of 
a  free  people  depends  upon  their  political  wisdom. 

Divided  in  opinion,  as  the  people  will  be,  upon  grave  matters  in  govern- 
ment both  of  principle  and  policy,  it  is  essential  to  the  well-being  of  the  whole, 
that  the  majority  of  electors  shall  embrace  and  tenaciously  adhere  to  that  set  of 
political  opinions  which  are  founded  upon  justice  and  equality,  and  which  aim  to 
secure  the  complete  development  of  the  resources  of  the  country  and  full  scope  for 
the  intelligence,  industry  and  genius  of  the  people. 

The  marvelous  growth  of  the  United  States  since  1860  in  population, 
wealth  and  power,  has  challenged  the  admiration  of  the  world.  This  stupendous 
development  was  not  accidental.  This  grand  march  of  civilization  which  has 
placed  the  United  States  in  the  leadership  of  Nations  was  led  by  the  Republican 
Party. 

The  United  States  has  practically  become  a  new  nation  since  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President  in  1860.  It  is  the  only  Republic  the  world  has 
ever  seen  with  personal,  political  and  religious  freedom,  protected  under  laws 
made  and  enforced  by  officers  selected  by  the  people. 

Our  Government  has  attained  to  this  high  distinction  under  laws  enacted 
by  the  Republican  Party. 

The  Republicans  of  Illinois  have  been  in  the  front  rank  of  the  great  politi- 
cal struggles  during  the  past  forty-four  years,  and  have  exercised  a  powerful  in- 
fluence in  establishing  and  maintaining  the  principles  of  the  Republican  Party  and 
its  ascendency  in  the  Nation. 

Never  in  the  history  of  man  has  so  great  and  so  successful  an  effort  been 
made  for  saving  a  nation  and  more  firmly  establishing  its  foundation  than  has 
been  made  by  the  Republican  party. 

Illinois  Republicans  bore  a  leading  and  honorable  part  in  the  great  struggle. 
The  history  of  a  State  must,  of  necessity,  be  largely  biographical.    A  story 
of  great  events  is  lacking  in  interest  if  a  view  of  the  principal  actors  is  omitted. 

The  part  Illinois,  as  a  State,  has  borne  in  connection  with  the  Republican 
Party  is  worthy  of  perpetual  record.  The  object  of  this  work  is  to  make  that 
record  and  make  it  in  such  form  as  will  interest  the  public  and  benefit  the  rising 
generation. 

GREEN  B.  RAUM. 


615101 


CHAPTER  I. 

REVIEW  OF  EVENTS  WHICH  LED  TO  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF 
THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY. 

A  GLANCE  AT  EARLY  POLITICAL  PARTIES — SLAVERY  OF  THE  ANCIENTS — SERF- 
DOM OF  EUROPE — AFRICAN  SLAVERY  IN  THE  WESTERN  WORLD — ITS 
GROWTH  IN  THE  COLONIES — OPPOSITION  TO  SLAVERY — FREEDOM  FOR 
NORTHWEST  TERRITORY — COMPROMISES  OF  THE  CONSTITUTION. 

The  Republican  party  had  its  origin  in  1854,  in  an  earnest,  wide-spread, 
growing  public  opinion  in  opposition  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  Terri- 
tories of  the  United  States.  At  this  time  the  great  majority  of  the  people  were 
identified  politically  with  either  the  Democratic  party  or  the  Whig  party;  the 
old  party  name  of  Federalist  taken  by  the  supporters  of  the  administration  of 
Washington  and  John  Adams,  and  of  Anti-Federalist,  the  party  name  assumed  by 
their  opponents,  had  disappeared. 

Jefferson  was  elected  under  the  party  banner  of  Democrat-Republican.  Mad- 
ison's first  election  was  under  the  same  party  name,  but  at  his  second  election  he 
was  voted  for  as  a  Republican,  as  was  his  successor,  President  Monroe. 

In  the  great  Presidential  contest  of  1824,  party  names  and  party  organiza- 
tions were  ignored.  Relying  upon  their  personal  popularity — Andrew  Jackson 
and  Henry  Clay  entered  the  field  as  competitors  for  the  Presidency.  John  Quincy 
Adams  and  William  H.  Crawford  were  also  candidates ;  neither  candidate  re- 
ceived a  majority  of  the  electoral  votes.  On  February  9th,  1825,  the  House  of 
Representatives  proceeded  to  elect  a  President,  as  provided  by  the  constitution. 
John  Quincy  Adams  received  the  votes  of  a  majority  of  the  States  and  was  elected. 

While  General  Jackson  and  Henry  Clay  were  defeated  at  this  election,  they 
became  the  most  potent  political  leaders  the  country  has  ever  known. 

The  Democratic  party  crystallized  around  General  Jackson,  the  Whig  party 
crystallized  around  Henry  Clay,  and  these  two  great  men  led  the  country  in 
every  national  contest  until  their  death. 

It  is  true  that  the  Liberty  party  was  organized  in  1840,  and  gave  James  G. 
Birney  7,059  popular  votes  for  President,  and  the  same  party  in  1844  gave  Mr. 
Birney  62,300  popular  votes  for  President,  and  that,  in  1848,  under  the  name  of 
Free  Democracy,  Mr.  Van  Buren  received  291,263  popular  votes  for  President, 
and  in  1852,  under  the  party  name  of  Free  Soil,  John  P.  Hale  received  156,149 
popular  votes  for  President,  but  none  of  these  candidates  ever  carried  a  State  or 
expected  to  carry  a  State. 

They  entertained  advanced  views  upon  the  slavery  question,  and  would  not 
afrliliate  with  either  the  Demorcratic  party  or  Whig  party.  The  millions  of  elec- 
tors rallied  to  the  standard  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  great  political  organiza- 
tions, and  during  a  period  of  thirty  years,  the  President  was  Democrat  or  Whig, 
as  the  majority  of  electors  determined. 

But  in  1854  the  course  of  political  events  was  such  that  a  new  alignment 
in  politics  became  necessary  to  satisfy  the  serious  divergence  in  political  opinions 
from  the  old  parties.  The  cause  of  that  divergence  was  the  difference  of  opinion, 
as  to  the  constitutional  power  of  Congress  over  the  question  of  slavery  in  the 
Territories. 

It  was  the  old  question  of  slavery  over  again — the  old  question  which  was 
apparently  settled  time  and  time  again,  but  which  would  not  remain  settled. 


Let  us  briefly  glance  at  this  potent  factor  in  the  politics  of  this  Nation :  In 
1775,  when  the  Revolution  was  begun,  negro  slavery  existed  in  all  of  the  thirteen 
colonies ;  it  had  been  introduced  by  authority  of  the  English  Government.  By 
the  laws  of  nations,  the  African  slave  trade  was  recognized  as  lawful  commerce. 
British,  Spanish,  French,  Portuguese,  and  Dutch  vessels  were  engaged  in  the 
traffic  of  human  flesh.  North  and  South  America  and  the  West  Indian  Islands 
constituted  the  greatest  slave  market  of  the  world.  The  business  of  reducing  men 
and  women  to  slavery  was  not  new ;  it  was  as  old  as  the  race. 

History  shows  that  human  slavery  has  existed  in  every  race,  and  under  every 
form  of  government,  since  the  dawn  of  time. 

The  most  enlightened  nations  of  ancient  times  recognized  as  lawful,  the  en- 
slavement of  men  of  their  own  races. 

The  Greeks  held  slaves  and  they  sold  their  prisoners  of  war  into  slavery ;  in 
the  palmy  days  of  the  Grecian  republics,  three-fourths  of  their  population  were 
slaves.  In  treaties  between  the  neighboring  Grecian  States,  stipulations  were 
made  for  mutual  aid  for  the  suppression  of  insurrections  amongst  their  helots. 

The  Romans,  pursuing  the  Grecian  policy,  filled  all  Italy  and  the  provinces 
with  prisoners  of  war  reduced  to  slavery. 

Hereditary  servitude,  in  some  form,  had  existed  under  all  the  governments 
of  Europe,  and  in  England  from  the  earliest  recorded  period. 

The  serfs  of  Austria  were  not  emancipated  until  1840,  when  seven  millions 
were  set  free.  The  serfs  of  Germany  were  held  until  1848.  The  serfs  of  Russia, 
numbering  twenty-eight  millions,  were  held  until  1861.  In  all  these  cases  the 
nobles  who  owned  the  serfs  were  compensated  for  them  by  their  respective  gov- 
ernments. 

The  slaves  of  the  ancients  and  of  the  Greeks  and  Romans,  of  England,  of 
Germany,  of  Austria,  and  of  Russia,  were,  for  the  most  part,  white  men,  but  in 
the  course  of  time  the  African  negro,  with  his  distinctive  black  skin,  became  the 
victim  of  the  atrocious  custom. 

About  the  year  15/0,  Portuguese  navigators  introduced  African  slaves  into 
Europe.  In  1620,  a  Dutch  vessel  brought  negro  slaves  to  Virginia.  The  Eng- 
lish Government  protected  and  encouraged  the  slave  trade'  with  the  thirteen 
colonies.  Spain  established  slavery  in  Florida,  Cuba  and  the  neighboring  islands, 
and  France  introduced  slavery  into  Louisiana  Territory. 

It  was  the  policy  of  Great  Britain  to  foster  and  encourage  the  African  slave 
trade  into  the  colonies ;  they  steadily  rejected  every  colonial  restriction  on  the 
traffic ;  the  governors  were  instructed,  on  pain  of  removal,  not  to  give  even  tem- 
porary assent  to  such  laws.  In  1712,  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act  prohibiting  the 
slave  trade;  Virginia  passed  a  similar  act  in  1726,  and  South  Carolina  in  1760, 
but  all  these  laws  were  annulled  by  the  crown.  Massachusetts,  in  1771  and  1774, 
passed  prohibitory  laws,  but  the  governor  decided  to  oppose  them.  The  Earl  of 
Dartmouth  stated  "that  the  colonies  were  not  allowed  to  check  or  discourage  in 
any  degree  a  traffic  so  beneficial  to  the  nation". 

The  African  slave  trade  was  a  highly  profitable  business  ;  people  of  distinc- 
tion were  interested  in  it.  The  Royal  African  Company,  of  England,  was  under 
the  direct  patronage  of  Queen  Ann,  who  held  one-fourth  of  the  stock.  Its  busi- 
ness was  to  keep  the  American  market  supplied  with  negro  slaves.  The  demand 
for  slaves  was  great,  the  supply  seemed  inexhaustible,  and  the  cost  of  securing 
men  and  women  along  the  coast  of  Africa  for  the  traffic  merely  nominal ;  the 
tribes  made  war  upon  each  other  to  secure  prisoners  for  sale ;  the  number  lack- 
ing from  this  source  were  secured  by  various  plans  of  strategy,  deception  and 
force.  When  once  aboard  of  a  slave  ship,  for  trade  or  for  any  other  purpose,  the 
negroes  were  overpowered  and  reduced  to  subjection.  This  trade  excited  the 
avarice  and  cupidity  of  men,  and  led  them  to  practice  deception  and  fraud,  and  to 
perpetrate  the  most  inhuman  and  diabolical  cruelties. 

The  victims  of  the  slave  trade  were  not  under  the  protection  of  any  law,  ex- 
cept the  will  of  their  captors.  Packed  in  holds  of  sailing  vessels,  deprived  of  suf- 
ficient food,  water  and  fresh  air,  suffering  the  discomforts  of  the  long  passage 
from  Africa  to  America,  about  15  out  of  every  100  died. 

The  terrors  of  the  "Middle  Passage"  became  known  to  humane  people 
throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  aroused  pity  and  indignation ;  the  slave  trade 


and  slavery  were  denounced  from  pulpits,  in  pamphlets,  and  in  public  meetings. 
John  Wesley  characterized  it  as  the  "Sum  of  all  villainies",  but  still  the  traffic  in- 
creased, and  slavery  steadily  gained  a  stronger  hold  on  communities  where  it 
was  largely  introduced. 

During  the  155  years  that  intervened  from  the  date  of  the  introduction  of 
negro  slavery  into  Virginia,  to  the  date  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  slavery  had 
become  firmly  established  in  the  colonies  as  a  system  of  labor,  and  the  slave 
trade  was  actively  engaged  in  by  planters,  merchants,  and  vessel  owners ;  and 
their  opinions  in  regard  to  its  justice  and  morality  were  largely  influenced 
by  the  profit  of  the  business. 

The  population  of  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  South  Carolina  and 
Georgia  was  about  one-third  slaves. 

The  constitution  of  the  United  States  authorized  the  continuance  of  the 
American  slave  trade  for  twenty  years  from  1787;  during  that  period  large  num- 
bers of  slaves  were  brought  to  this  country,  but  the  records  of  the  Department  at 
Washington  do  not  show  the  number. 

The  magnitude  and  importance  of  the  interest  can  be  understood,  by  an  ex- 
amination of  the  following  table,  compiled  from  the  report  of  the  census  of  1790: 


STATES. 

Free 
White 
Persons. 

Other 
Free 
Persons. 

Total 
Free 
Persons. 

Slaves. 

Total 
Popula- 
tion. 

Vermont  

85,259 

255 

85,514 

16 

85,530 

New  Hampshire  

141,197 

630 

141,827 

158 

141,985 

Massachusetts  

373,314 

5,463 

378,787 

None. 

378,787 

District  of  Maine  

96,540 

96.540 

Rhode  Island  

64,470 

3,407 

67,879 

948 

68,825 

Connecticut  

232,374 

2,808 

235,182 

2,764 

237,946 

New  York  

314,142 

4,654 

318,796 

21,324 

340,120 

New  Jersey  

169,954 

2,762 

172,716 

11,424 

184,139 

Pennsylvania  

424,079 

6,557 

430,636 

3,737 

434,373 

Northwest  Territory  

8,316 

8,316 

104 

8,420 

Total  

1,909,055 

26,536 

1,936,191 

40,474 

1,976,665 

Delaware  

46,310 

3,809 

50,119 

8,887 

59,006 

Maryland  

208,649 

8,043 

216,692 

103,036 

319,728 

Virginia  

442,117 

12,866 

454,983 

292,627 

747,610 

Kentucky  

61,133 

114 

61,247 

12,430 

73,677 

North  Carolina  

288,205 

4,975 

293,180 

100,571 

393,751 

South  Carolina  

140,278 

1,801 

142,079 

107,094 

249,173 

Georgia  . 

55,156 

398 

55,554 

29,264 

84,818 

Tennessee  Territory  

31,913 

361 

32,274 

3,417 

35,691 

1,284,761 

21,367 

1,306,128 

657,626 

1,963,464 

Reca.pitttta.tion . 


In    States    which    abolished 
Slavery  

1,909,655 
1,284,761 

26,536 
21,367 

1,936,191 
1.306,128 

40,474 
657,326 

1,976,665 
1,963,454 

In  the  States  which  retained 
Slavery  

Totals  

3,194,416 

47,903 

3,242,319 

697,800 

3,940,019 

Mulhall's  Dictionary  gives  statistics  of  seventeen  years'  importation  of  slaves 
during  that  period  at  159,000,  being  an  average  of  9,353  per  annum.  It  is  safe 
to  assume  that  190,000  slaves  were  imported  during  the  twenty  years  from  1787 
to  1808,  and  that  this  number  added  to  these  already  in  the  country,  including  the 
natural  increase,  made  a  total  of  1,100,000  slaves  in  1808. 


In  the  Annals  of  Congress,  i6th  Congress,  2nd  Session,  page  78,  the  follow- 
ing information  is  given : 

Slaves  imported  at  Charleston  from  the  ist  of  January,  1804,  to  December 
3ist,  1807.  And  by  what  nations : 

British   19-949 

French i  ,078 

In  American  vessels  for  foreign  owners 5.517 

Imported  by  merchants,  planters,  etc 2,006 

Bristol,  R.  1 3,914 

Newport,  R.  1 3,488 

Providence,  R.  1 556 

Baltimore    750 

Savannah 300 

Norfolk    287 

Warren    280 

Hartford    200 

Boston 200 

Philadelphia    200 

New  Orleans 100 

—39.075 
being  an  average  of  9.769  per  annum  for  four  years. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  extracts  from  the  census  returns,  that 
while  the  slaves  held  in  the  Northern  States  constituted  but  little  over  two  per 
cent  of  the  population,  the  slaves  held  in  the  Southern  States  numbered  over 
thirty-three  per  cent  of  the  population. 

In  the  Northern  group  of  States  the  people  had  a  very  small  pecuniary  in- 
terest in  slaves,  while  in  the  Southern  group  of  States  the  pecuniary  interest  in 
slaves  was  very  large.  In  the  Northern  States,  agriculture  was  based  upon  white 
labor,  while  in  the  Southern  States  slave  labor  had  become  the  foundation  of  agri- 
cultural prosperity.  In  the  South  the  climate  was  mild,  the  larid$  were  fertile  and 
well  adapted  to  the  plantation  system  of  farming.  The  investment  of  the  South- 
ern people  in  slaves  was  larger  than  the  investment  in  any  other  single  species 
of  property  in  the  United  States. 

Virginia  was  the  leading  agricultural  State  of  the  Union.  Her  exports  con- 
sisted of  tobacco,  wheat,  Indian  corn,  lumber,  tar,  pitch,  turpentine,  peltry,  Hax 
seed,  hemp,  cotton,  coal,  pig  iron,  peas,  beef,  fish,  peach  and  apple  brandy, 
whiskey  and  horses.  In  1759,  70,000  hogsheads  of  tobacco,  of  100  pounds  each, 
were  exported.  Before  the  Revolution,  the  annual  export  of  grain  was :  Wheat, 
800,000  bushels  ;  corn,  600,000  bushels. 

South  Carolina  had  a  large  export  trade  based  on  their  agriculture.  In 
1787,  947  vessels  cleared  from  Charleston.  Among  other  articles  exported  were 
140,000  barrels  of  rice  and  1,300,000  pounds  of  indigo.  The  plantation  system  al- 
ready introduced  required  the  use  of  many  laborers,  and  these  persons  were  almost 
invariably  slaves. 

Many  leading  men  of  the  South  believed  slavery  to  be  wrong  in  principle,  and 
its  continuance  dangerous  to  free  government,  and  they  hoped  that  slavery  would 
in  time  be  abolished  by  law ;  but  the  great  majority  of  the  people  were  of  a  dif- 
ferent opinion ;  they  justified  slavery ;  they  believed  that  slavery  was  necessary 
for  the  development  of  the  South  ;  they  favored  its  continuance,  and  united  always 
in  the  support  of  every  measure  calculated  to  protect  and  extend  the  institution. 

The  agitation  in  the  colonies  against  slavery  and  the  slave  trade,  began  soon 
after  negro  slaves  were  introduced,  and  it  is  highly  probable  that  slavery  would 
have  been  abolished  in  all  the  colonies  but  for  the  firm  stand  against  this  measure 
by  the  British  Government.  The  Quakers  had,  as  early  as  1688,  taken  strong 
ground  against  "buying,  selling,  and  holding  men  in  slavery".  John  Eliot, 
writing  against  selling  captured  Indians  into  slavery,  said :  "Selling  of  souls  is  a 
dangerous  merchandise".  Samuel  Sewell,  in  1700,  wrote  an  able  pamphlet  enti- 
tled, "The  Selling  of  Joseph.  A  Memorial",  in  which  the  primal  truth  of  human 
equality  and  obligation  were  enunciated. 


George  Keith  denounced  slavery,  as  "contrary  to  the  religion  of  Christ ;  the 
rights  of  man  and  sound  reason  and  policy".  Ralph  Sandiford,  in  1729,  pub- 
lished "The  Mystery  of  Iniquity",  in  which  he  "condemned  the  sin  of  oppres- 
sion". Benjamin  Lay,  in  1737,  pleaded  the  cause  of  bondmen  in  a  volume  pub- 
lished by  Benjamin  Franklin.  John  Woodman,  of  New  Jersey,  from  1746,  for 
twenty-one  years,  traveled  through  the  Middle  and  Southern  States,,  proclaim- 
ing to  Christians  that,  "The  practice  of  continuing  slavery  is  not  right",  and 
that  "Liberty  is  the  natural  right  of  all  men,  equally".  And  Anthony  Benezet, 
probably  the  most  able  anti-slavery  worker  of  his  day,  plead  with  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Legislature  to  begin  the  work  of  emancipation.  It  was,  however,  left  to 
the  ten  years  immediately  preceding  the  Declaration  of  Independence  for  the 
most  thorough  and  extended  discussion  of  the  slavery  question  amongst  the 
people,  and  of  the  fundamental  law  of  nature,  namely  the  natural  equality  of  the 
whole  race  of  mankind.  There  was  a  great  awakening  upon  the  subject  amongst 
the  colonists,  who  recognized  the  oppression  and  injustice  to  which  they  them- 
selves were  subjected,  and,  therefore,  learned  to  have  a  more  realizing  sense  than 
ever  before  of  the  cruelty  and  injustice  of  slavery. 

Rev.  Samuel  Hopkins,  of  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  took  a  leading  part  in  the 
agitation.  Newport  was  the  great  slave  market  for  New  England ;  many  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  of  Mr.  Hopkins'  church  were  engaged  in  the  traffic, 
but  he  fearlessly  attacked  the  system  of  "kidnapping,  purchasing  and  retaining 
slaves".  In  1776  he  published  his  dialogue  concerning  slavery,  and  also  an  ad- 
dress to  slaveholders,  which  was  dedicated  to  the  Continental  Congress.  These 
documents  were  the  ablest  that  had  appeared,  bearing  on  the  subject  of  slavery, 
and,  no  doubt,  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  the  public  mind. 

Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1773,  published  "An  address  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  British  settlements  in  America  on  slave  keeping."  In  this  paper 
he  said :  "Future  ages,  when  they  read  the  accounts  of  the  slave  trade,  if  they 
do  not  regard  them  as  fabulous,  will  be  at  a  loss  which  to  condemn  most,  our 
folly,  or  our  guilt  in  abetting  this  direct  violation  of  nature  and  religion". 

Many  societies  were  formed  to  encourage  the  emancipation  of  slaves.  In 
1785,  such  a  society  was  organized  in  the  State  of  New  York,  with  John  Jay 
president  and  Alexander  Hamilton  secretary.  A  similar  society  was  formed  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1782,  with  John  Baldwin  as  first  president,  and  with  Benjamin 
Franklin  president  in  1787.  Societies  were  also  organized  at  later  periods  in 
other  States — Rhode  Island  in  1789,  in  Connecticut,  1790,  in  New  Jersey,  in  1792. 

This  agitation  had  produced  a  powerful  impression  upon  the  colonists,  both 
North  and  South. 

The  first  Continental  Congress,  which  met  in  1774,  for  consultation  as  to 
grievances  to  be  presented  to  the  British  Crown,  in  the  articles  of  association 
pledged  all  the  colonies  that  they  would  neither  import  or  purchase  any  slave 
"and  would  wholly  discontinue  the  slave  trade",  that  persons  violating  these  arti- 
cles should  be  pronounced  "foes  of  the  rights  of  British  America",  "and  to  be 
universally  condemned  as  the  foes  of  American  liberty",  "and  unworthy  of  the 
rights  of  freemen",  and  on  April  6th,  1776,  the  Continental  Congress  resolved, 
without  opposition,  "No  slave  shall  be  imported  into  any  of  the  Thirteen  United 
Colonies". 

Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire  each  emancipated  their  slaves  during 
the  Revolutionary  war  by  the  bill  of  rights  in  their  constitution. 

Rhode  Island  enacted,  in  1784,  "that  all  children  born  of  slaves  should  be 
free  after  that  date". 

Pennsylvania  adopted  a  system  of  gradual  emancipation  in  1780.  In  1799, 
New  York  passed  a  law,  declaring  children  born  after  that  date  should  be  free. 

All  the  Northern  States,  influenced  by  strong  public  opinion,  abolished 
slavery.  Some  of  the  acts  were  adopted  during  the  war,  but  the  leaven  of  free- 
dom did  not  cease  to  work  in  the  Northern  States  after  independence  was  gained. 
All  of  the  States  soon  adopted  measures  of  emancipation. 

In  the  Southern  States  many  leading  men  were  opposed  to  slavery.  Wash- 
ington. Jefferson,  and  Henry  were  of  this  number.  In  1778  Jefferson  caused  the 
Virginia  assembly  to  prohibit  the  further  introduction  of  slaves.  The  law  re- 
mained in  force  ten  years. 


Emancipation  societies  were  formed  in  Delaware,  Maryland  and  Virginia. 
Some  slaves  were  emancipated — one  notable  case  in  Virginia  was  that  of  Robert 
Carter,  of  Nomina.  He  emancipated  442  slaves.  Mr.  Carter  wrote  that  "the  tolera- 
tion of  slavery  indicated  very  great  depravity  of  mind".  But  none  of  the  Southern 
States  undertook  to  pass  laws  for  the  general  emancipation  of  slaves.  After  the 
independence  of  the  States  was  recognized,  the  agriculture  interest  of  the  South 
sprung  into  newness  of  life,  and  the  whole  energy  of  the  people  was  directed  to 
the  restoration  and  development  of  their  industries,  which  had  been  either  de- 
stroyed or  seriously  embarrassed  by  the  war.  Slave  labor  contributed  largely  to 
the  rapid  recuperation  of  the  country. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  question  of  the  right  or  wrong  of  slavery  and 
the  slave  trade  was  mooted  immediately  after  the  establishment  of  negro  slavery  in 
this  country ;  that  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  Northern  States  was  begun 
during  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  soon  as  the  authority  of  the  British  Govern- 
ment was  ignored,  and  that  in  a  few  years  all  the  Northern  States  emancipated 
their  slaves.  In  the  Southern  States  a  different  course  was  pursued ;  the  agita- 
tion for  emancipation  was  silenced ;  the  interests  involved  were  so  great  that 
those  who  conscientiously  opposed  slavery  came  to  look  upon  it  as  an  evil  with- 
out a  present  remedy.  The  majority  of  intelligent  influential  citizens  had  no 
conscientious  scruples  as  to  the  justice  or  wisdom  of  the  institutions.  Preachers, 
lawyers,  doctors,  planters,  men  of  refinement,  education  and  influence,  owned, 
bought  and  sold  slaves  and  justified  and  defended  slavery. 

The  public  opinion  of  the  world  at  that  time  was,  and  for  centuries  had  been, 
on  their  side  of  the  question. 

Slavery  gave  to  the  slaveholder  wealth,  social  position,  and  power,  and  he 
held  on  to  it  with  all  the  tenacity  of  his  nature. 

It  will,  therefore,  be  seen  that  the  issue  was  made  up  between  freedom  and 
slavery,  in  the  throes  of  that  great  revolution,  which  gave  to  the  world  a  free,  rep- 
resentative republic. 

On  March  ist,  1784,  a  deed  of  cession  from  the  State  of  Virginia  convey- 
ing to  the  United  States,  "the  territory  northwest  of  the  River  Ohio",  was  exe- 
cuted by  Thomas  Jefferson,  S.  Handy,  Arthur  Lee  and  James  Monroe,  delegates 
in  Congress  from  Virginia.  This  conveyance  was  authorized  by  the  Virginia  Leg- 
islature, by  an  act  passed  December  20,  1783. 

This  territory  composed  the  entire  possessions  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River, 
formerly  controlled  by  Great  Britain ;  it  extended  to  the  Mississippi  River,  then 
the  western  frontier  of  the  republic.  Out  of  this  territory  the  great  free  States  of 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  part  of  Minnesota  were  after- 
wards formed.  After  the  grant  was  made,  Mr.  Jefferson  brought  forward  a  meas- 
ure in  Congress,  declaring  that  slavery  should  be  prohibited  in  the  territory,  but 
his  proposition  failed. 

In  1787,  the  necessity  for  a  territorial  government  for  the  Northwest  Terri- 
tory became  obvious ;  several  thousand  people  had  become  settlers  in  the  country 
and  were  without  civil  government.  A  measure  was  brought  forward  in  the 
Continental  Congress  by  Nathan  Dane,  of  Massachusetts,  entitled,  "An  ordinance 
for  the  government  of  the  territory  of  the  United  States  northwest  of  the  River 
Ohio".  It  became  a  law  July  13,  1787.  This  ordinance  created  a  territorial  form 
of  government ;  but  it  did  much  more.  It  enacted  a  bill  of  rights  which  embody 
the  bed  rock  principles  upon  which  our  State  Governments  are  founded.  The 
second  article,  amongst  other  things,  declared  that  "No  man  shall  be  deprived  of 
his  liberty  or  property  but  by  the  judgment  of  his  peers  or  the  law  of  the  land". 

The  sixth  article  contains  these  weighty  words :  "There  shall  be  neither 
slavery  nor  revolutionary  servitude  in  the  said  territory,  otherwise  than  in  the 
punishment  of  crime,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted". 

It  must  be  said,  to  the  honor  of  all  the  States,  North  and  South,  that  this 
ordinance  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  all  the  States,  except  the  single  vote 
of  Mr.  Yates,  of  New  York.  The  passage  of  the  ordinance  was  an  auspicious  be- 
ginning in  the  interest  of  freedom — it  was  the  first  important  measure  upon  the 
slavery  question  adopted  by  Congress  after  independence  had  been  gained ;  the 
action  of  the  delegates  from  the  Southern  States  in  aiding  to  dedicate  this  great 
northwestern  empire  to  freedom,  conclusively  shows  that  the  agitation  against 

10 


slavery  throughout  the  colonies  during  and  immediately  after  the  war,  had  cre- 
ated no  sectional  animosity  upon  that  question.  Each  State  possessed  absolute 
authority  over  that  subject  within  their  respective  jurisdictions,  and  no  State 
sought  to  interfere  with  the  rights  of  others. 

The  year  1787  is  an  important  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  On 
May  I4th  of  that  year  the  Constitutional  Convention  met  at  Philadelphia ;  it  was 
composed  of  delegates  from  all  the  States. 

George  Washington  was  chosen  President. 

Never  in  the  history  of  the  world  was  a  more  important  duty  imposed  upon 
a  body  of  men,  than  upon  this  convention. 

The  success  of  the  war  of  independence  had  made  the  Thirteen  Colonies  free 
and  independent  States.  The  government  organized  under  the  Articles  of  Con- 
federation had  served  a  useful  purpose  during  the  war,  but  when  peace  came  it 
proved  an  absolute  failure. 

The  Continental  Congress  was  granted  power  to  declare  war,  to  make  treaties, 
to  send  and  receive  embassadors,  to  emit  bills  of  credit,  to  borrow  and  appro- 
priate money,  to  coin  money  and  to  regulate  the  interests  of  the  Nation,  etc. 
But  it  had  no  authority  to  act  directly  upon  the  people  of  the  United  States.  It 
was  solely  dependent  upon  the  action  of  the  States  to  supply  money  to  the  com- 
mon treasury  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Government.  All  efforts  of  the 
General  Government  to  secure  from  the  States  an  adequate  source  of  revenue 
were  unavailing;  during  the  five  years  prior  to  1787,  New  Hampshire,  North 
Carolina,  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  contributed  nothing;  none  of  the  other 
States  contributed  their  full  quote.  Public  credit  was  destroyed,  and  faith  in  the 
permanence  of  American  institutions  was  greatly  shaken.  General  Washington 
wrote  :  "To  be  more  exposed  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  and  more  contemptible  than 
we  already  are,  is  hardly  possible". 

The  gravity  of  the  situation  was  fully  recognized  by  members  of  the  conven- 
tion, and  they  painfully  felt  the  immense  responsibilities  resting  upon  them. 
Rivalries  and  jealousies  existed  between  the  States,  the  inequality  in  territory, 
population  and  wealth,  and  the  difference  in  employments,  all  conspired  to  in- 
crease the  difficulty  in  agreeing  upon  an  improved  form  of  government ;  but  it 
was  soon  found,  as  Mr.  Madison  afterwards  stated,  that  "the  institution  of  slavery 
«md  its  consequences  furnished  the  line  of  discrimination"  to  all  the  proceedings. 

A  powerful  body  of  men  in  the  convention  believed  in  slavery,  and  repre- 
sented States  where  people  were  unwilling  to  join  a  Union  in  which  slavery  was 
not  thoroughly  recognized  and  protected — slavery  was  a  bond  of  union  to  these 
men,  and  they  labored  earnestly  to  thoroughly  entrench  slavery  in  the  constitu- 
tion being  framed. 

A  great  contention  arose  in  regard  to  fixing  the  basis  of  representation  in 
the  two  branches  of  Congress.  One  plan  was  to  have  the  representation  of  each 
State  in  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  proportioned  according  to 
their  number  of  free  population.  The  convention  voted  twice  in  favor  of  the 
plan,  but  great  discontent  was  manifested  by  the  small  States.  The  Virginia  plan 
was  for  the  representation  in  the  House  to  be  based  on  free  inhabitants  and  three- 
fifths  of  the  slaves ;  this  proposition  was  defeated.  Another  for  equal  represen- 
tation in  the  Senate  was  also  defeated. 

In  a  committee  of  conference,  Benjamin  Franklin  proposed  that  the  States 
should  have  equal  representation  in  the  Senate,  and  representation  in  the  House 
proportioned  to  their  population,  counting  all  free  inhabitants  and  three-fifths  of 
all  other  persons.  Mr.  Williamson,  of  North  Carolina,  and  Mr.  Mason,  of  Vir- 
ginia favored  this  plan,  while  Pierce  Butler  and  Charles  Pinckney,  of  South  Caro- 
lina insisted  on  full  representation  on  slave  population.  Upon  the  report  of 
the  committee,  Mr.  Butler's  amendment  to  count  all  the  slaves  was  lost,  and 
the  proposition  to  count  three-fifths  of  the  slaves  was  lost.  The  proposition,  then, 
was  to  base  representation  on  a  compound  ratio  of  wealth  and  population.  At 
this  juncture  Gen.  Davie,  of  North  Carolina,  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  debate, 
arose.  He  declared,  "It  is  time  to  speak  out.  I  see  that  it  is  meant  by  some 
gentlemen  to  deprive  the  Southern  States  of  any  representation  of  their  blacks.  I 
am  sure  that  North  Carolina  will  never  confederate  on  any  terms  that  do  not  rate 
them  at  least  as  three-fifths.  If  the  Eastern  States  mean  to  exclude  them  alto- 

11 


gether,  then  the  business  is  at  an  end."  It  was  evident  that  a  crisis  had  been 
reached  in  the  business  of  the  convention,  and  that  important  concessions  must 
be  made  to  the  slave  interest  or  the  convention  would  be  dissolved.  Mr.  John- 
son, of  Connecticut,  at  once  declared  that  the  whole  population  should  be  counted. 
Mr.  Randolph  renewed  the  Virginia  proposition  to  count  three-fifths  of  the  slaves 
in  the  basis  of  representation.  This  proposition  was  carried  by  the  votes  of 
Connecticut,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina  and  Georgia ; 
New  Jersey  and  Delaware  opposed,  and  the  vote  of  Massachusetts  and  South 
Carolina  were  divided. 

The  various  resolutions  were  finally  referred  to  a  committee  on  detail,  of 
which  John  Rutledge,  of  South  Carolina,  was  chairman ;  the  committee  made 
their  report  August  6th.  Upon  the  controverted  questions  the  report  was :  That 
there  should  be  no  duty  on  exports ;  that  a  two-thirds  vote  in  Congress  be  re- 
quired to  pass  navigation  laws ;  the  importation  of  slaves  not  to  be  prohibited, 
and  such  imports  not  to  be  taxed ;  and  foreign  vessels  to  enter  Southern  ports 
without  laws  discriminating  in  favor  of  domestic  shipping. 

The  delegates  from  Virginia  and  Maryland  were  not'  favorable  to  continue 
the  slave  trade.  Mr.  King,  of  Massachusetts,  denounced  the  admission  of  slaves. 

Gouverneur  Morris  inveighed  against  slavery.  "It  was  a  nefarious  insti- 
tution ;  it  was  the  curse  of  heaven  on  the  States  where  it  prevailed."  "Upon 
what  principle  is  it.  that  the  slaves  shall  be  computed  in  the  representation?  Are 
they  men?  Then  make  them  citizens  and  let  them  vote.  Are  they  property? 
Why,  then,  is  no  other  property  included?"  He  declared  that  "slavery  was  the 
most  prominent  feature  in  the  aristocratic  countenance  of  the  proposed  consti- 
tution. The  vassalage  of  the  poor  has  ever  been  the  favorite  offspring  of  the 
aristocracy". 

Luther  Martin,  of  Maryland,  moved  an  amendment  allowing  slaves  im- 
ported to  be  taxed.  Charles  Pinckney  asserted :  "South  Carolina  can  never 
receive  the  plan  if  it  prohibits  the  slave  trade.  In  every  proposed  extension  of 
the  powers  of  Congress  that  State  has  expressly  and  watchfully  excepted  the 
powers  of  meddling  with  the  importation  of  slaves." 

George  Mason,  of  Virginia,  strongly  denounced  the  slave  -trade.  He  said : 
"Slavery  discourages  arts  and  manufactories.  The  poor  despise  labor  when  per- 
formed by  slaves.  It  prevents  the  immigration  of  whites  who  really  enrich  and 
strengthen  the  country.  It  produces  the  most  pernicious  effects  on  manners, 
every  master  of  slaves  is  born  a  petty  tyrant.  It  brings  the  judgment  of  Heaven 
on  a  country.  By  an  inevitable  chain  of  causes-  and  effects  Providence  punishes 
national  sins  by  national  calamities."  He  moved  that  the  General  Government 
should  have  the  power  to  prevent  the  increase  of  slavery.  Mr.  Charles  C. 
Pinckney,  in  reply,  stated  "that  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  cannot  do  without 
slaves.  It  would  be  unfair  to  ask  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  to  confederate 
on  such  unequal  terms." 

The  South  Carolina  delegates  united  in  the  declaration,  that  if  the  slave  trade 
was  prohibited  South  Carolina  would  not  come  into  the  Union.  Mr.  Williamson, 
of  North  Carolina,  expressed  the  opinion  that  if  those  States  were  not  allowed  to 
import  slaves,  they  would  not  come  into  the  Union. 

Mr.  Wilson,  of  Pennsylvania,  suggested  "that  if  negroes  were  the  only  im- 
ports not  subject  to  duty,  such  an  exception  would  amount  to  a  bounty".  Mr. 
King  thought  that  "exempting  slaves  from  duty,  while  every  other  import  was 
subject  to  it,  was  an  inequality  that  could  not  fail  to  strike  the  commercial 
sagacity  of  the  Northern  and  Middle  States." 

Mr.  Charles  Pinckney  hastened  to  move  a  recommittal  of  the  report,  with  a 
view  to  a  tax  on  slaves  equal  to  a  tax  imposed  on  other  imports.  This  motion 
was  seconded  by  his  colleague,  Mr.  Rutlege.  Gouverneur  Morris  proposed  that 
the  clauses  relating  to  navigation,  slaves  and  taxation  of  exports  should  also  be 
referred,  suggesting  that,  "these  things  may  form  a  bargain  between  the  Northern 
and  Southern  States"  ;  the  motion  to  recommit  prevailed. 

The  committee  took  these  conflicting  propositions  up  with  a  broad  spirit 
of  compromise  and  the  report  which  followed  provided  that  there  should  be  no 
duty  on  exports ;  that  Congress  should  have  power  to  regulate  commerce,  and 
that  the  slave  trade  should  continue  until  the  year  1800. 

12 


Mr.  Madison  "thought  it  was  wrong  to  admit  into  the  constitution  the  idea 
that  there  could  be  property  in  man". 

The  phraseology  of  the  report  was  changed  to  remove  that  objection.  Mr. 
Charles  C.  Pinckney  moved  to  extend  the  slave  trade  to  1808;  the  proposition 
was  seconded  by  Mr.  Graham,  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  motion  was  carried  by 
the  votes  of  New  Hampshire,  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  Georgia  and  South 
Carolina.  The  States  of  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania.  Delaware  and  Virginia  voted 
against  the  amendment.  Mr.  Charles  C.  Pinkney,  Mr.  Butler  and  Mr.  Rut- 
ledge  gave  the  vote  of  South  Carolina  in  favor  of  striking  out  the  restriction  on 
the  enactment  of  navigation  laws.  Thus  the  great  compromise  was  effected  ;  and 
the  slave  trade  was  continued  for  twenty  years. 

But  another  important  measure  in  the  interest  of  slavery,  which  had  been 
overlooked  by  the  committee  on  detail,  was  now  brought  forward,  namely,  the 
return  of  fugitive  slaves.  No  such  provision  was  contained  in  the  articles,  of 
confederation,  but  Mr.  Pinckney  demanded  a  provision  in  favor  of  slave  property. 
Mr.  Butler  moved  that,  "fugitive  slaves  and  servants  be  delivered  up  as  criminals". 

On  August  27,  the  provision,  having  been  put  in  acceptable  form,  was 
adopted  without  a  division. 

The  constitution  as  agreed  upon  after  the  long  and  heated  controversy,  con- 
tained four  great  provisions  in  the  interest  of  slavery  and  slave-holders,  namely : 
It  required  the  return  of  fugitive  slaves.  It  provided  for  the  use  of  national  aid 
by  the  use  of  the  militia  for  the  suppression  of  insurrection  or  invasion.  It  in- 
cluded slaves  in  the  enumeration  for  representation  in  the  National  House  of 
Representatives  and  in  the  Electoral  College,  making  five  slaves  equal  to  three 
free  persons.  And  it  authorized  the  continuance  of  the  African  slave  trade  for 
twenty  years. 

It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  a  majority  of  the  Southern  delegates  would  have 
withdrawn  from  the  convention,  if  these  provisions  had  been  omitted  from  the 
constitution,  and  their  omission  would  have  insured  the  defeat  of  the  constitu- 
tion before  the  people. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  in  the  year  1/87,  Congress,  by  an  ordinance,  pro- 
hibited slavery  in  the  Northwest  Territory,  while  the  constitutional  convention 
placed  in  the  constitution  articles  which  protected  slavery  where  it  existed,  con- 
ferred upon  it  great  political  power,  giving  at  least  25  members  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  and  25  votes  in  the  Electoral  College  based  on  slave  popula- 
tion, and  gave  the  sanction  of  constitutional  law  to  the  African  slave  trade  for 
twenty  years. 

Delegates  from  the  New  England  and  Middle  States,  from  which  by  the 
free  will  of  the  people  slavery  was-  soon  to  disappear,  gave  earnest  support  to 
these  compromises  in  the  constitution  as  a  means  of  establishing  forever  the 
United  States  of  America. 

They  were  forced  to  tolerate  a  condition  of  things  which  they  were  power- 
less to  remedy,  and  for  which  they  felt  they  were  not  responsible.  The  ques- 
tion with  them  was,  shall  this  first  experiment  of  free  representative  government 
be  permitted  to  fail,  because  of  a  disagreement  concerning  the  conditions  sur- 
rounding this  subject  race?  They  decided  this  question  in  the  negative.  The 
constitution  was  framed  and  adopted,  and  a  more  perfect  union  was  formed. 

They  left  to  the  wisdom  of  posterity  the  final  settlement  of  the  slavery 
question. 

In  the  midst  of  this  controversy  upon  the  slavery  question,  the  advocates  of 
the  formation  of  a  strong  federal  republic,  led  by  Alexander  Hamilton,  secured 
the  adoption  of  provisions  which  created  a  great  national  government  with  full 
legislative,  executive  and  judicial  powers  upon  national  subjects. 

The  citizens  of  the  United  States  were  made  one  people,  and  they  were  recog- 
nized as  possessing  the  sovereignty  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

The  second  paragraph  of  Article  VI  contains  this  dominating  provision, 
"This  Constitution  and  the  Laws  of  the  United  States  which  shall  be  made  in 
Pursuance  thereof;  and  all  Treaties  made,  or  which  shall  be  made,  under  the 
Authority  of  the  United  States,  shall  be  the  Supreme  Law  of  the  land;  and  the 
Judges  in  every  State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  any  Thing  in  the  Constitution  or 
Laws  of  any  State  to  the  Contrary  notwithstanding." 

13 


CHAPTER  II. 

ADMISSION  OF  SLAVE  STATES — BALANCE  OF  POWER  IN  THE  SENATE — MISSOURI 
COMPROMISE — ELECTION  OF  PRESIDENT  POLK — ANNEXATION  OF  TEXAS — 
MEXICAN  WAR — WILMOT  PROVISO — ELECTION  OF  GEN.  TAYLOR  PRESI-, 
DENT — COMPROMISE  OF  1850. 

Important  events  connected  with  the  intstitution  of  slavery  crowded  on  each 
other.  Kentucky  was  admitted  as  a  slave  State  June  ist,  1792.  Tennessee  was 
admitted  as  a  slave  State  June  ist,  1796.  The  great  slave  Territory  of  Louisiana, 
extending  from  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  along  the  west  bank  of  that  stream 
northward  to  the  British  possessions  and  westward  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  was 
purchased  from  France  in  1803.  Louisiana  was  admitted  as  a  slave  State  in  1812. 
Mississippi  was  admitted  as  a  slave  State  in  1817,  and  Alabama  in  1819,  and  this 
year,  Florida,  a  slave  Territory,  was  ceded  by  Spain. 

The  growth  of  the  West  in  population  and  wealth  drew  the  attention  of 
Southern  statesmen  to  the  fact  that  many  new  free  States  would  soon  knock  at 
the  door  of  Congress  for  admission.  Ohio  had  already  come  into  the  Union 
in  1802.  Mr.  Calhoun  and  other  Southern  leaders  insisted  upon  maintaining 
the  balance  power  in  the  Senate  between  the  slave  and  free  States.  This  was  to  be 
accomplished  by  admitting  States  in  pairs,  one  a  free  State  and  the  other  a  slave 
State. 

In  1816  there  were  nine  free  States  and  nine  slave  States  in  the  Union. 
Indiana  was  admitted  that  year,  and  Mississippi  was  admitted  in  1817.  Illinois 
was  admitted  in  1818,  and  Alabama  in  1819.  These  States  were  part  of  the  orig- 
inal territory,  and  their  status  as  to  the  slavery  question  had  been  settled  years 
before,  so  there  was  no  contest  in  respect  to  the  slavery  question.  Missouri  ap- 
plied for  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  slave  State  in  1818.  A  bill  was  introduced 
in  the  House  for  that  purpose  which  aroused  violent  opposition.  Mr.  Tallmadge, 
of  New  York,  offered  an  amendment  providing  that  the  further  introduction  of 
slavery  be  prohibited  in  said  State  of  Missouri,  and  all  children  born  in  the  State 
after  its  admission  to  the  Union  shall  be  free  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years.  An 
exciting  and  able  debate  followed,  in  which  Mr.  Clay  took  part ;  the  House 
adopted  the  amendment ;  it  was  rejected  by  the  Senate,  and  the  two  Houses  re- 
fused to  recede,  so  the  bill  was  lost. 

At  the  next  session,  in  1819,  the  Territory  of  Maine  applied  for  admission 
to  the  Union.  Immediately  after  the  presentation  of  that  memorial,  a  similar 
document  was  presented  for  the  admission  of  Missouri.  The  destinies  of  these 
two  Territories  now  seemed  to  be  indissolubly  linked  together ;  the  question 
of  admitting  one  could  not  be  considered  without  considering  the  other.  The 
anti-slavery  restriction  in  respect  to  Missouri  was  again  introduced,  and,  al- 
though earnestly  opposed  by  the  Southern  members,  including  Mr.  Clay,  it  was 
adopted  by  the  House.  The  Senate  refused  to  concur,  but  prepared  and  passed 
a  new  bill  for  the  admission  of  both  States,  and  incorporated  in  the  bill  the 
proposition  of  Senator  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  of  Illinois,  as  follows :  "That  in  all  that 
Territory  ceded  by  France  to  the  United  States  under  the  name  of  Louisiana, 
which  lies  north  of  thirty-six  degrees  and  thirty  minutes  north  latitude,  ex- 
cepting such  part  thereof  as  is  included  within  the  limits  of  the  State,  contem- 
plated by  this  act,  slavery  and  involuntary  servitude  otherwise  than  in  the  pun- 
ishment of  crimes,  whereof  the  party  shall  have  been  duly  convicted,  shall  be 
and  is  hereby  forever  prohibited".  This  proposition  was  approved  by  the  House, 

14 


and,  although  the  Senate  bill  was  rejected,  separate  bills  were  passed  for  each 
State,  the  Missouri  bill  containing  the  Thomas  amendment  as  presented  in  the 
Senate.  Maine  became  a  State  in  1820,  and  Missouri  became  a  State  in  1821, 
under  the  act  of  Congress,  known  as  the  "Missouri  Compromise". 

The  struggle  over  the  admission  of  Missouri  as  a  slave  State  not  only  aroused 
the  members  of  the  two  Houses  of  Congress  to  a  high  pitch  of  excitement,  but 
the  people  of  the  whole  country,  North  and  South,  were  profoundly  moved  by 
this  controversy.  But  the  people  of  both  sections  accepted  the  compromise,  as  a 
final  settlement  of  the  slavery  question  in  the  Territories.  Those  who  opposed 
the  extension  of  slavery  felt  that,  although  another  slave  State  had  been  admitted 
to  the  Union,  with  the  exception  of  the  Arkansas  Territory,  all  the  rest  of  the 
Territories  of  the  United  States  extending  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  was  dedicated 
to  freedom,  and  that  bounds  had  been  placed  to  slavery. 

The  excitement  North  and  South  died  out,  and  to  all  appearances  contention 
upon  the  slavery  question  was  ended. 

Arkansas  was  admitted  to  the  Union  as  a  slave  State  June  15,  1836. 
The  great  issue  in  the  political  compaign  for  President  in   1844    was  the 
annexation  of  Texas  and  the  settlement  of  the  Oregon  boundary. 

The  Democratic  party  nominated  as  their  candidate  James  K.  Polk,  of  Ten- 
nessee. 

The  Whig  party  nominated  Henry  Clay,  of  Kentucky. 
The  Abolition  party  nominated  James  G.  Birney,  of  New  York. 
Mr.  Polk  earnestly  favored  the  annexation  of  Texas  and  the  line  of  54  deg. 
40  min.  as  the  northern  line  for  Oregon.     "Fifty-four  forty  or  fight,"  was  a 
Democratic  campaign  rallying  cry. 

Mr.  Clay  had  opposed  the  annexation  of  Texas,  but  during  the  campaign, 
in  what  is  known  as  the  Raleigh  letter,  gave  the  proposition  a  qualified  approval. 
Mr.  Birney  opposed  the  annexation  upon  the  ground  that  it  would  extend 
the  area  of  slaves. 

Never  in  the  previous  history  of  the  country  had  a  Presidential  contest 
aroused  such  deep  feeling.  The  old  jealousy  and  animosity  existing  between 
Clay  and  Jackson  was  an  important  factor  in  the  struggle.  Gen.  Jackson,  in 
his  retirement  at  the  Hermitage,  rapidly  approaching  the  end  of  life,  threw  the 
whole  weight  of  his  influence  into  the  struggle.  Mr.  Clay,  matchless  as  a  leader, 
drew  men  to  him  with  enthusiasm  and  devotion  never  before  witnessed,  but  his 
antagonists  were  as  intense  in  their  hatred  as  his  friends  were  in  their  love. 

Polk  was  triumphantly  elected.  New  York  gave  him  her  electoral  vote.  Of 
the  popular  votes  cast,  58,879  were  cast  for  Mr.  Birney,  the  Abolition  candidate, 
of  which  Illinois  gave  149. 

With  the  election  of  Mr.  Polk  as  President,  the  Democratic  party  reached 
the  zenith  of  its  political  influence  and  power.  The  Southern  wing  had  the  lead- 
ership, but  there  were  absolutely  no  divisions  in  the  party. 

The  annexation  of  Texas  was  approved  by  the  popular  vote. 
Mr.  Calhoun,  who  had  succeeded  Mr.  Webster  as  Secretary  of  State  in  Presi- 
dent Tyler's  Cabinet,  had  already  negotiated  a  treaty  with  Texas  for  the  annexa- 
tion of  that  Republic ;  the  treaty  was  pending  in  the  Senate  with  no  prospect 
of  approval,  when  the  election  was  held.  Mr.  Calhoun  decided  not  to  press  for 
the  approval  of  the  treaty,  but  to  rely  upon  the  adoption  of  a  joint  resolution  for 
the  admission  of  Texas.  This  was  done  with  the  approval  of  Mr.  Polk.  The  joint 
resolution  was  passed  by  both  Houses  of  Congress,  and  approved  by  Mr.  Tyler 
March  ist,  1845.  ^n  due  Bourse  Texas  ratified  the  action  of  Congress,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Union  December  25,  1845. 

In  the  admission  of  Texas  Congress  extended  the  "Missouri  Compromise" 
line  of  36  deg.  30  min.  to  this  Territory,  prohibiting  slavery  north  of  that  line  of 
latitude. 

Mexico  had  never  recognized  the  independence  of  Texas.  A  state  of  war 
existed  between  Mexico  and  Texas  at  the  time  of  annexation.  The  passage 
through  Congress  of  the  annexation  resolution  caused  the  Mexican  Minister 
to  ask  for  his  passport,  and  to  leave  this  country.  The  Mexican  Government  re- 
fused, all  intercourse  with  the  American  Minister,  and  he  finally  returned  to  the 
United  States.  There  was  no  established  boundary  between  Mexico  and  Texas, 

15 


but  Texas  claimed  to  the  Rio  Grande  River.  All  of  the  country  lying  north  of 
the  river  was  represented  in  the  Texas  Congress. 

President  Polk  concentrated  an  efficient  military  force  on  the  western  fron- 
tier of  Texas.  This  army  was  commanded  by  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  who  was 
ordered  to  repel  any  invasion  of  the  Texas  Territory,  which  might  be  attempted 
by  the  Mexican  forces. 

On  April  24,  1846,  Gen.  Arista  notified  Gen.  Taylor  that  he  "considered  hos- 
tilities commenced,  and  he  should  prosecute  them."  The  Mexican  forces  crossed 
the  Rio  Grande  River ;  they  attacked  a  party  of  United  States  dragoons  composed 
of  sixty-three  officers  and  men,  killed  nineteen  and  captured  the  balance — war 
was  begun. 

Gen.  Taylor  met  the  Mexican  army  at  Palo  Alto  on  May  8th,  and  at  Resseca 
de  la  Palma  on  May  9th,  and  in  the  two  battles  gained  splendid  victories.  Upon 
the  recommendations  of  Mr.  Polk,  Congress  passed  laws  for  men  and  money  to 
carry  on  the  war.  Gen.  Taylor  invaded  Mexico  from  Texas.  Gen.  Scott  cap- 
tured Vera  Cruz  and  invaded  Mexico  from  that  place  as  a  base. 

It  is  not  the  plan  of  this  work  to  detail  the  brilliant  military  achievement  of 
those  campaigns. 

On  August  4th,  1846,  President  Polk  sent  a  message  to  Congress  in  which 
he  stated  the  importance  of  adjusting  the  boundary  between  the  parties,  and  said : 
"Should  the  Mexican  Government,  in  order  to  accomplish  these  objects,  be 
willing  to  cede  any  portion  of  their  territory  to  the  United  States,  we  ought  to 
pay  them  a  fair  equivalent".  The  President  asked  for  an  appropriation  of  $2,000,- 
ooo,  "for  the  purpose  of  defraying  any  extraordinary  expenses,  which  may  be 
incurred  in  the  intercourse  between  the  United  States  and  foreign  nations".  Mr. 
McKay,  of  North  Carolina,  chairman  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means,  imme- 
diately introduced  a  bill  making  the  appropriation  as  desired.  The  bill  was 
considered  and  debated.  Upon  the  suggestion  of  Mr.  Adams,  who  supported 
the  bill,  it  was  amended  so  as  to  apply  to  making  a  treaty  of  peace  with  Mexico. 
The  House  seemed  ready  to  pass  the  bill.  Mr.  David  Wilmot,  of  Pennsylvania, 
a  Democrat  from  a  strong  Democratic  district,  was  recognized  by  the  chair.  He 
offered  an  amendment,  a  proviso,  declaring  it  to  be  "an  express  and  fundamental 
condition  to  the  acquisition  of  any  territory  from  Mexico,  that  neither  slavery 
nor  involuntary  servitude  shall  ever  exist  therein". 

Mr.  Wilmot  had  supported  Mr.  Polk  for  President,  had  just  entered  Con- 
gress, and  was  not  known  beyond  his  district.  He  had  no  prestige  as  a  party 
leader,  but  the  Wilmot  Proviso,  upon  its  own  intrinsic  merits,  immediately 
brought  on  one  of  the  longest,  most  able,  and  most  exciting  debates  that  ever 
engaged  the  attention  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  The  people  through- 
out the  country,  North  and  South,  were  profoundly  agitated  by  the  question.  It 
proved  to  be  the  wedge  for  the  rending  of  old  parties.  The  Whigs  and  the 
Democrats  of  the  South  all  opposed  it,  but  it  divided  both  the  Democratic  and 
Whig  parties  of  the  North.  The  proviso  was  adopted  by  the  House,  men  of  both 
parties  supporting  it.  Of  the  Democrats,  Hannibal  Hamlin,  Simon  Cameron, 
Preston  King,  John  Wentworth,  Allen  G.  Thurman,  and  Robert  McClellan  were 
conspicuous.  Most  of  the  Northern  Whigs  in  the  Senate  voted  for  the  proviso. 
Daniel  Webster,  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  Joseph  R.  Ingersol,  Washington  Hunt  and 
James  Pollock  led  the  Whig  column  in  the  Senate.  Mr.  Webster  cast  his  vote 
for  the  proviso  in  deference  to  public  opinion  in  Massachusetts,  but  the  agitation 
of  the  slavery  question  caused  him  great  concern  for  the  peace  of  the  country. 

The  proviso  failed  in  the  Senate.  At  the  next  session  a  similar  bill  was  in- 
troduced appropriating  three  million  dollars,  to  enable  the  President  to  negotiate 
peace  with  Mexico.  Mr.  Wilmot  moved  his  proviso,  and  it  was  agreed  to  in 
committee  of  the  whole,  but  when  the  bill  was  reported  to  the  House  the. proviso 
was  lost  by  a  vote  of  97  for  and  102  against  its  adoption.  The  treaty  of  peace 
was  made  with  Mexico  February  2nd,  1848,  whereby  a  large  area  of  territory 
was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  and  was  ratified  by  the  Senate. 

The  territory  thus  acquired  was  free  territory  under  the  laws  of  Mexico,  and 
was  accepted  without  any  restriction  by  Congress  against  slavery. 

The  United  States  was  now  possessed  of  a  territory  with  a  frontage  of  1,200 
miles  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  extending  eastward  to  the  western  lines  of 

16 


Missouri,  Iowa  and  Wisconsin,  without  an  organized  territorial  government  for 
any  portion  of  this  mighty  empire. 

A  bill  was  introduced  for  the  organization  of  a  territorial  government  for 
Oregon.  The  title  of  the  United  States  to  this  country  was  based  upon  its  dis- 
covery in  1792.  by  Captain  Gray,  a  Yankee  skipper ;  by  the  exploration  of  Clarke 
and  Lewis  in  1804,  and  by  settlement  and  occupation.  It  was  never  a  slave  terri- 
tory, and  yet  a  heated  debate  arose  over  the  bill  for  its  organization,  when  it  was 
proposed  to  exclude  slavery. 

The  bill  passed  August  14,  1848,  with  the  proviso  prohibiting  slavery. 

It  was  now  obvious  to  discerning  men  that  the  question  of  the  extension  of 
slavery  had  become  the  leading  political  idea  with  Democrats  and  Whigs  of  the 
Southern  States,  and  that  the  question,  coupled  with  the  threat  of  disunion,  would 
be  mooted  in  Congress  as  long  as  there  was  a  territory  to  be  organized  or  a  State 
to  be  admitted. 

Gold  was  discovered  in  California  in  1848,  and  an  immense  tide  of  immigra- 
tion flowed  into  that  unorganized  territory. 

The  Democratic  National  Convention  met  at  Baltimore  May  ist,  1848.  and 
nominated  Gen.  Lewis  Cass  and  Gen.  Win.  O.  Butler  as  candidates  for  President 
and  Vice-President.  Upon  the  slavery  question  the  platform  declared :  "That  all 
efforts  of  the  abolitionists  or  others,  made  to  induce  Congress  to  interfere  with 
questions  of  slavery,  or  to  take  incipient  steps  in  relation  thereto,  are  calculated 
to  lead  to  the  most  dangerous  and  alarming  consequences". 

There  were  two  delegations  from  New  York  to  the  convention,  but  neither 
was  admitted.  The  "Hunker"  faction  endorsed  the  nominations,  but  the  "Barn- 
burners" faction  declined  to  do  so.  They  called  a  convention  to  meet  at  Buffalo. 
It  was  largely  attended,  from  nearly  all  the  States,  by  Free  Soil  Democrats. 
Martin  Van  Buren  and  Charles  Francis  Adams  were  nominated  for  President 
and  Vice-President. 

An  aggressive  platform  was  adopted  on  the  slavery  question.  They  de- 
clared "that  Congress  had  no  more  power  to  make  a  slave  than  to  make  a  king; 
no  more  power  to  institute  or  abolish  slavery  than  to  institute  or  abolish  a 
monarchy".  "The  only  safe  measure  of  preventing  the  extension  of  slavery  into 
the  Territory,  now  free,  is  to  prohibit  its  extension  in  all  such  Territories  by  an 
act  of  Congress".  "We  inscribe  on  our  banner,  'Free  Soil,  Free  Speech,  Free 
Labor  and  Free  Men". 

The  Whigs  met  in  national  convention  June  ist,  1848,  at  Philadelphia.  The 
great  leaders,  Clay  and  Webster,  were  put  aside,  and  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor  nomi- 
nated for  President  and  Millard  Fillmore  for  Vice-President.  The  Whig  platform 
was  mainly  directed  to  lauding  Gen.  Taylor ;  little  was  said  about  political  issues, 
and  not  a  word  about  slavery.  The  convention  refused  to  adopt  a  resolution 
favoring  the  application  of  the  Wilmot  Proviso  to  the  Territories.  Gen.  Taylor 
was  a  citizen  of  Louisiana  and  a  slave-holder,  and  was  regarded  as  a  safer  man 
for  the  South  than  Gen.  Cass.  Gen.  Taylor  received  a  majority  of  the  electoral 
votes,  both  North  and  South,  and  was  elected.  But  the  vote  in  New  York  for 
Cass  and  Van  Buren  was  much  greater  than  the  vote  for  Gen.  Taylor.  The  36 
electoral  votes  of  New  York  were  cast  for  Gen.  Taylor  and  decided  the  contest. 

It  thus  happened  that  Gen.  Cass  in  1848,  like  Henry  Clay  in  1844,  was  beaten 
for  President  by  the  defection  of  Free  Soilers  in  New  York.  This  Free  Soil 
column  was  led  for  Mr.  Van  Buren  by  Dean  Richmond,  Samuel  J.  Tilden,  San- 
ford  B.  Church  and  other  prominent  Democrats. 

Gen.  Taylor  was  inaugurated  President  March  5th,  1849. 

As  the  time  for  the  meeting  of  Congress  approached,  the  importance  of  the 
questions  to  be  brought  before  the  body  excited  general  interest  throughout  the 
country. 

Congress  met  December,  1849.  The  first  duty  was  to  select  a  speaker. 
Hovvell  Cobb  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  and  Robert  C.  Winthrop  by  the 
Whigs.  For  three  weeks  the  struggle  continued  without  an  election. 

The  Southern  Whigs,  led  by  Robert  Toombs  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens, 
refused  to  vote  for  Mr.  Winthrop.  The  Whig  caucus  had  refused  to  consider 
a  resolution  declaring  that  Congress  ought  not  to  put  any  restriction  to  slavery 
in  the  Territories  and  ought  not  to  abolish  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

17 


This  was  a  capital  offence  in  the  eyes  of  Mr.  Toombs  and  his  friends.  They 
withdrew  from  the  caucus  and  opposed  the  election  of  the  Whig  candidate  for 
speaker. 

The  Senate  contained  the  most  able  and  eminent  men  of  the  country.  Clay, 
Webster,  Calhoun,  Cass,  Benton,  Douglas,  Davis,  Seward,  Chase,  Bell,  Hamlin, 
Hale,  represented  every  phase  of  public  opinion,  North  and  South,  upon  the 
questions  at  issue. 

Mr.  Clay,  a  natural  leader  of  men,  with  unsurpassed  ability  for  constructive 
legislation,  was  accorded  leadership.  He  prepared  a  bill  covering  all  the  im- 
portant questions  of  interest  and  controversy. 

California  was  to  be  admitted  as  a  free  State  under  the  constitution  framed 
by  a  convention  elected  upon  the  initiation  of  the  people. 

New  Mexico  and  Utah  were  to  have  Territorial  Government,  with  authority 
to  come  in  as  slave  States  if  the  people  so  decided. 

The  slave  trade  was  to  be  abolished  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

A  more  effective  law  was  to  be  enacted  for  the  return  of  fugitive  slaves. 

Texas  was  granted  $10,000,000  for  relinquishing  about  200  square  miles  of 
territory  and  having  her  bondholders  release  the  guarantee  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Calhoun,  in  the  Senate,  led  the  South.  He  believed  that  the  negro  race 
was  designed  by  nature  for  slavery  to  the  white  man ;  that  slavery  was  a  wise 
and  beneficent  institution  for  the  pecuniary  benefit  of  the  whites  and  for  the  civil- 
i/ing  and  christianizing  of  the  blacks.  He  insisted  that  slave-holders  had  the 
same  rights  of  property  in  slaves  in  the  Territories  as  the  owners  of  horses  and 
cattle,  and  that  it  was  the  duty  of  Congress  to  pass  laws  for  their  protection.  He 
insisted  that  unless  this  was  done,  the  Union  would  be  dissolved  by  the  South 
rebelling  and  starting  up  a  new  government. 

This  was  the  theme  of  every  Southern  man,  Whig  or  Democrat. 

Free  Soil  sentiment  of  the  North  was  strongly  represented  in  both  Houses 
of  Congress,  and  full  expression  was  given  to  their  opinions.  The  debate  was 
long  and  exciting. 

Mr.  Clay's  bill  failed  to  pass  as  a  whole,  but  bills  covering  all  the  subjects 
and  substantially  in  the  same  form  as  proposed  by  him  were  adopted  and  became 
laws. 

President  Taylor  and  Senator  Calhoun  died  in  the  midst  6!  the  great  political 
struggle. 

Mr.  Fillmore  became  President  and  approved  all  the  measures. 

The  country  accepted  the  legislation  as  a  satisfactory  compromise. 

But  the  slave  power  was  not  appeased,  nor  was  the  free  soil  sentiment  fully 
satisfied. 

Both,  however,  acquiesced. 


18 


CHAPTER   III. 

ELECTION  OF  PRESIDENT  PIERCE — KANSAS-NEBRASKA  LEGISLATION — SLAVERY 
AGITATION  RENEWED — SPLIT  IN  DEMOCRATIC  AND  WHIG  PARTIES — ANTI- 
NEBRASKA  CONGRESS  ELECTED — LYMAN  TRUMBULL  ELECTED  TO  U.  S. 
SENATE. 

In  1852  the  public  mind  was  at  rest  on  the  slavery  question. 

The  compromise  measures  of  1850  were  accepted  by  the  great  mass  of  the 
people,  North  and  South,  as  a  permanent  settlement  of  the  Slavery  Question  as 
it  was  related  to  the  Territories. 

The  Democratic  party  nominated  Gen.  Franklin  Pierce  of  New  Hamp- 
shire and  William  R.  King  of  Alabama  as  candidates  for  President  and  Vice- 
President.  The  Whig  party  nominated  Gen.  Winfield  Scott  of  New  Jersey  and 
William  A.  Graham  of  North  Carolina.  The  Free  Soil  party  nominated  John  P. 
Hale  of  New  Hampshire  and  George  W.  Julien  of  Indiana. 

On  the  slavery  question  the  Democratic  platform  "Resolved  that  the 
Democratic  party  will  resist  all  attempts  of  renewing,  in  Congress,  or  out  of  it, 
the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  under  whatever  shape  or  color  the  attempt 
may  be  made."  The  Whig  platform  was  of  the  same  tenor,  and  quite  as  emphatic 
against  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question.  Both  platforms  declared  that  the 
compromise  measures  of  1850  were  a  settlement  of  the  "dangerous  and  exciting 
questions  which  they  embrace."  The  Free  Soil  platform  declared  "that  slavery 
is  a  sin  against  God  and  a  crime  against  man,"  and  demanded  its  abolition. 
"That  the  fugitive  slave  law  is  repugnant  to  the  Constitution."  That  the  com- 
promise measures  of  1850  were  "wholly  inadequate  to  the  settlement  of  the  ques- 
tions of  which  they  are  claimed  to  be  an  adjustment." 

The  canvass  was  unattended  with  excitement  and  developed  no  special 
features  of  interest.  Mr.  Pierce  was  elected.  He  received  254  electoral  votes, 
Gen.  Scott  received  42  electoral  votes  and  Mr.  Hale  received  no  electoral  votes. 
Of  the  popular  vote  Pierce  received  1,601,474,  Scott  1,386,578  and  Hale  156,149 
votes. 

The  XXXIII  Congress  chosen  at  the  same  election  was  divided  as  follows: 

Senate — 38  Democrats,  22  Whigs,  2  Free  Soil.    Total  62. 

House — 159  Democrats,  71  Whigs,  4  Free  Soil.    Total  234. 

The  Democratic  party  wras  returned  to  power  by  a  majority  of  the  popular 
vote,  with  large  majorities  in  both  houses  of  Congress,  while  the  Free  Soil  vote, 
never  large,  had  fallen  off  over  135,000  in  four  years. 

President  Pierce  in  his  first  message,  December,  1853,  referred  to  the  com- 
promise measures  of  1850  and  stated  "it  had  given  renewed  vigor  to  our  institu- 
tions and  restored  a  sense  of  repose  and  security  to  the  public  mind." 

But  this  repose  was  soon  to  be  disturbed.  A  bill  to  organize  the  Territory 
of  Nebraska  was  introduced  in  the  Senate  in  January,  1854. 

Senator  Dixon  of  Kentucky,  successor  of  Mr.  Clay,  now  deceased,  gave 
notice  that  when  the  bill  should  come  before  the  Senate  he  would  move  that  "the 
Missouri  compromise  be  repealed,  and  that  the  citizens  of  the  several  States  shall 
be  at  liberty  to  take  and  hold  their  slaves  within  any  of  the  Territories."  This 
action  of  Senator  Dixon  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  country  and  the  pub- 
lic mind  was  at  once  aroused  to  a  state  of  uneasy  expectancy. 

Senator  Douglas  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Territories.  This 
bill  was  referred  to  his  committee.  In  due  course  he  reported  to  the  Senate  a  bill 
for  the  organization  of  Territorial  governments  for  both  Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

19 


The  bill  contained  the  following  clauses  for  each  Territory : 

"That  the  legislative  power  of  the  Territory  shall  extend  to  all  rightful 
subjects  of  legislation  consistent  with  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and 
the  provisions  of  this  act  *  *  the  said  Territory  or  any  portion  of  the  same 
shall  be  received  into  the  Union  with  or  without  slavery,  as  their  constitution 
may  prescribe  at  the  time  of  their  admission."  "That  the  Constitution  and  laws  of 
the  United  States  which  are  not  locally  inapplicable,  shall  have  the  same  force 
and  effect  within  the  said  Territory  of  Kansas  as  elsewhere  within  the  United 
States."  "Except  the  Eighth  Section  of  the  Act  preparatory  to  the  admission  of 
Missouri  into  the  Union  approved  March  6th,  1820,  which  being  inconsistent 
with  the  principle  of  non-intervention  by  Congress  with  slavery  in  the  States  and 
Territories  as  recognized  by  the  legislation  of  1850,  commonly  called  the  com- 
promise measures,  is  hereby  declared  inoperative  and  void,  it  being  the  true  in- 
tent of  this  act  not  to  legislate  slavery  into  any  Territory  or  State,  nor  to  exclude 
it  therefrom,  but  to  leave  the  people  thereof  perfectly  free  to  form  and  regulate 
their  domestic  institutions  in  their  own  way,  subject  only  to  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States." 

The  section  of  the  act  for  the  admission  of  Missouri  declared  void,  as  here- 
tofore quoted,  is  as  follows : 

"Sec.  8.  Be  it  further  enacted  that  in  all  the  Territory  ceded  by  France  to 
the  United  States,  under  the  name  of  Louisiana,  which  lies  north  of  thirty-six 
degrees  and  thirty  minutes  north  latitude,  not  included  within  the  limits  of  the 
State  contemplated  by  this  act,  slavery  and  involuntary  servitude,  otherwise  than 
as  the  punishment  for  crime,  shall  be  and  is  hereby  forever  prohibited." 

This  bill  was  debated  in  Congress  for  four  months.  The  proposition  to 
throw  open  to  slavery  the  territory  which  had  been  dedicated  to  freedom  by  the 
Missouri  compromise,  and  to  invite  a  struggle  between  the  people  of  the  slave 
and  free  States  for  supremacy  in  organizing  the  Territories,  was  regarded  by 
many  as  a  breach  of  faith  and  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  the  country. 

The  excitement  in  Congress  and  throughout  the  country  was  intense. 
Southern  Congressmen  and  the  Southern  press  claimed  the  right  for  slave-holders 
to  take  their  slaves  into  any  Territory  and  hold  them  there  by  virtue  of  the  Consti- 
tution without  reference  to  the  National  or  Territorial  laws.  Xtn  the  North  it  was 
claimed  that  slavery  was  local,  depending  upon  .State  laws  for  its  existence ;  that 
Congress  had  power  and  it  was  its  duty  to  prevent  the  spread  ,pf  slavery  into  the 
Territories.  Mr.  Douglas  sought  to  place  the  question  upon  a  middle  ground, 
that  is,  not  to  legislate  slavery  either  into  or  out  of  the  Territory,  but  to  leave  the 
question  to  be  settled  by  the  people  of  the  Territory. 

Every  Southern  Democrat  in  the  House  voted  for  the  bill  except  Thomas 
H.  Benton,  who  was  then  serving  in  the  House  from  St.  Louis,  and  Mr.  Millson 
of  Virginia.  Every  Southern  Whig  in  the  House,  except  seven,  voted  for  the  bill. 

In  the  Senate  every  Southern  Senator  voted  for  the  bill,  except  Senators 
Houston  of  Texas  and  Bell  of  Tennessee. 

More  than  40  Northern  Democrats  voted  against  the  bill  on  its  final  passage. 

Mr.  Richardson  of  Illinois  had  the  management  of  the  bill  in  the  House; 
his  Democratic  colleagues  all  favored  the  measure  except  John  Wentworth  and 
Colonel  William  H.  Bissell,  who  opposed  the  measure  with  all  their  power.  Mr. 
\Ventworth  eight  years  before  had  voted  for  the  Wilmot  proviso,  and  had  not 
changed  his  position  upon  the  great  question  of  excluding  slavery  from  the  Ter- 
ritories. The  Whig  members,  Norton,  Knox,  W^ashburne  and  Yates,  all  made 
strong  speeches  in  opposition  to  the  passage  of  the  bill.  Mr.  Yates  addressed  the 
House  on  March  28,  using  these  prophetic  words :  "This  will  be  no  party  meas- 
ure. The  great  enormity  of  its  introduction  into  our  National  councils  is  that  it 
tends  to  make  two  parties,  divided  not  as  heretofore,  but  by  geographical  lines — 
a  Northern  party  and  a  Southern  party.  Who  can  foresee  the  malignity  and  bit- 
terness of  the  strife  which  is  to  ensue.  I  would  not  anticipate  or  suffer  myself  to 
think  of  that  awful  day  when  the  South  and  the  North  should  be  marshaled  in 
hostile  array  against  each  other ;  when  American  should  meet  American  on  the 
bloody  field  of  strife ;  when  the  fiery  and  impetuous  valor  of  the  South  should 
come  in  contact  with  the  cool,  determined  bravery  of  the  North.  No,  sir ;  I 
trust  that  day  will  never  come." 

20 


Mr.  Washburne  spoke  April  5.  He  declared  that  "the  questions  involved  in 
the  bill  have  taken  a  deep  hold  upon  the  public  mind,  and  there  is  no  power  on 
earth  that  could  control  its  workings.  You  might  as  well  ask  the  sea  to  stand  still 
as  to  ask  the  North  to  submit  in  silence  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise." 

On  May  19  Mr.  Knox  made  an  effective  speech,  closing  with  these  em- 
phatic words :  "I  repeat,  sir,  I  never  can,  and  never  will,  and  no  earthly  power 
will  make  me  vote  directly  or  indirectly,  to  spread  slavery  over  territory  where  it 
does  not  exist.  Never,  while  reason  holds  her  seat  in  my  brain.  Never,  while  my 
heart  sends  the  vital  fluid  through  my  veins.  Never !" 

The  bill  passed  Congress  and  was  approved  by  President  Pierce  May  30, 
1854.  The  Missouri  compromise  line  was  forever  expunged.  The  great,  final 
conflict  between  freedom  and  slavery  in  the  United  States  was  begun.  The 
friends  of  slavery  were  determined  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State,  and  the  friends 
•of  Free  Soil  were  equally  determined  to  make  it  a  free  State. 

The  anti-slavery  excitement  in  the  North  over  the  passage  of  this  law  was 
intense ;  it  pervaded  all  parties  and  every  Northern  State.  The  Whig  organ- 
ization disappeared  utterly,  as  unfitted  to  such  an  emergency.  Many  leading 
Democrats  renounced  their  allegiance  to  the  Democratic  organization  and  heart- 
ily joined  in  an  "Anti-Nebraska"  movement.  Public  meetings  were  called  in 
various  parts  of  the  country  and  resolutions  were  adopted  condemning  the  Kan- 
sas-Nebraska law  and  recommending  the  organization  of  a  new  party. 

Senator  Douglas  visited  the  State  Fair  in  Springfield  in  October  and  spoke 
in  favor  of  the  measure.  Mr.  Lincoln  answered  the  Senator's  speech  and 
sounded  a  key-note  of  opposition  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  Territories. 
Mr.  Lincoln  spoke  at  Peoria  and  at  numerous  other  places,  condemning  the 
measure  as  being  in  the  interest  of  slavery  and  a  violation  of  plighted  faith.  His 
speeches  aroused  great  interest  and  enthusiasm.  He  advised  men  everywhere  to 
unite  without  reference  to  former  party  lines  in  an  effort  to  carry  the  November 
election  for  members  of  the  Legislature  and  for  members  of  Congress.  But  Mr. 
Lincoln  took  no  part  in  a  convention  called  by  Owen  Lovejoy  and  others  to  meet 
at  Springfield  in  October,  during  the  Fair. 

Mr.  Lovejoy  was  known  to  be  an  intense  abolitionist,  and  Mr.  Lincoln  and 
other  prominent  leaders  of  the  Anti-Nebraska  movement  were  unwilling  to  iden- 
tify themselves  with  a  convention  which  would  be  characterized  as  an  abolition 
convention. 

The  work  of  organization  went  on  with  energy  in  the  Central  and  North- 
ern part  of  the  State.  In  the  Alton  Congressional  District  the  Anti-Nebraska 
Democrats  nominated  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull  for  Congress  and  he  was  elected. 
F.  B.  Washburne,  James  H.  Woodwprth,  Jesse  O.  Norton  and  James  Knox  were 
elected  as  Anti-Nebraska  Whigs  in  the  ist.  2d,  3d  and  4th  districts,  making  five 
Anti-Nebraska  members  while  only  four  Democrats  were  elected  from  Illinois. 

The  XXXIV  Congress  was  made  up  as  follows : 

Senate — 42  Democrats,  15  Republicans,  5  Americans.    Total  62. 

House — 83  Democrats,  108  Republicans,  43  Americans.     Total  234. 

Many  of  those  styled  Americans  were  Free  Soil  Whigs  who  co-operated 
with  the  Republicans  in  organizing  the  House.  Hon.  Nathaniel  P.  Banks,  a 
Massachusetts  Republican,  was  elected  speaker. 

LTpon  the  Illinois  Legislature,  which  met  January,  1855,  devolved  the  duty 
of  electing  a  Senator  to  succeed  Gen.  Shields,  who  was  a  candidate  for  re-election. 
A  majority  were  "Anti-Nebraska"  men,  but  they  were  not  yet  ready  to  act  har- 
moniously together. 

On  the  first  ballot  Abraham  Lincoln  received  45  votes,  Gen.  James  Shields 
41  votes,  Lyman  Trumbull  5  votes,  and  8  members  voted  for  seven  other  candi- 
dates. The  votes  for  Gen.  Shields  were  given  by  men  who  stood  resolutely  by 
the  Democratic  party  and  who  endorsed  Gen.  Shields'  action  in  supporting  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  Bill.  The  votes  cast  for  Mr.  Lincoln  were  Free  Soil  Whigs. 
The  votes  for  Judge  Trumbull  were  Anti-Nebraska  Democrats,  who  were  not  yet 
ready  to  affiliate  with  the  Anti-Nebraska  Whigs.  Three  Senators,  John  M. 
Palmer,  Burton  C.  Cook  and  Norman  B.  Jndd.  and  two  Representatives,  George 
T.  Allen  and  Henry  S.  Baker,  steadily  voted  for  Judge  Trumbull.  The  Demo- 

21 


crats  finally  dropped  Gen.  Shields  and  concentrated  their  vote  upon  Governor 
Mattison.  Mr.  Lincoln  lacked  but  six  votes  of  election ;  he  became  satisfied  that 
he  would  not  be  able  to  secure  those  votes,  so  he  advised  his  friends  to  vote  for 
Judge  Trumbull.  On  the  loth  ballot  the  Judge  received  51  votes  and  was  elected. 
So,  through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  Illinois  sent  to  the  XXXIV  Congress 
an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat  as  a  Senator,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  the 
Republican  leaders  of  that  body. 

The  political  revolution  of  1854,  which  resulted  in  overthrowing  the  power 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  a  majority  of  the  Northern  States  and  in  the  lower 
House  of  Congress,  was  brought  to  a  successful  issue  without  a  national  conven- 
tion. It  was  the  result  of  a  spontaneous  uprising  of  the  people  to  protest  against 
the  spread  of  slavery.  The  people  of  the  Southern  States  were  solidly  united  in 
affirming  certain  great  propositions.  They  affirmed  that  the  enslavement  of  the 
negro  was  right,  that  the  perpetuation  of  the  social  fabric — the  preservation  of 
law  and  order,  and  the  progress  of  the  South — demanded  the  enslavement  of  the 
blacks.  They  affirmed  that  under  the  Constitution  they  had  the  right  to  take  and 
hold  their  negro  property  into  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  and  form  a 
slave  State  if  the  majority  of  the  people  demanded  it.  They  claimed  the  Consti- 
tutional right  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  if  they  saw  fit  to  do  so. 

This  new  party,  soon  to  be  christened  by  a  national  convention  as  the  Re- 
publican party,  met  these  issues  fairly  and  squarely.  They  denied  the  divine 
origin  of  slavery  and  characterized  it  as  a  child  of  the  dark  ages  and  inconsistent 
with  free  government.  They  recognized  the  right  of  the  Southern  States  to  de- 
termine for  themselves  when  or  whether  they  would  abolish  slavery,  but  they  de- 
nied utterly  that  slavery  was  national  and  insisted  that  Congress  not  only  had  the 
power  but  it  was  its  duty  to  forever  prohibit  slavery  in  the  Territories. 

Issues  which  had  heretofore  divided  the  country,  the  tariff,  internal  im- 
provements, the  public  lands,  national  banks,  the  army,  the  navy  and  the  puolic 
defense  were  all  put  aside  and  the  country  divided  upon  the  great  issue  between 
freedom  and  slavery  in  the  Territories. 


22 


CHAPTER  IV. 

BLEEDING    KANSAS — TERRITORIAL    LEGISLATURE  ELECTED    BY    PRO-SLAVERY 
MEN  FROM  MISSOURI — BONA  FIDE   RESIDENTS    DRIVEN    FROM    POLLS  — 
NON-RESIDENT  PBO-SLAVERY  MEN  FILL  OFFICES    IN    THE    TERRITORY- 
DETERMINED  EFFORT  OF  ADMINISTRATION  TO  MAKE  KANSAS  A  SLAVE  STATE. 

The  act  of  Congress  for  the  organization  of  the  Territories  of  Nebraska  and 
Kansas,  approved  1854,  was  the  signal  for  an  immense  immigration  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States  into  those  Territories.  The  large  area  of  each  Terri- 
tory, the  beauty  of  the  country,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the  salubrity  and 
healthfulness  of  the  climate,  all  combined  to  make  both  Territories  desirable  for 
the  establishment  of  homes  and  the  building  up  of  two  great  States. 

The  settlements  in  Nebraska  were  made  almost  exclusively  by  people  from 
the  free  States,  but  in  Kansas  it  was  different ;  many  persons  emigrated  from  slave 
States  to  that  Territory. 

Atchinson,  Doniphan  and  Kickapoo  were  settled  by  pro-slavery  men,  while 
Lawrence,  Topeka,  Manhattan,  Pawnee  and  several  other  towns  were  settled  by 
free  State  men. 

An  emigrant  aid  society  was  organized  at  Boston  to  encourage  emigration 
and  to  build  mills,  churches,  school  houses,  etc.  About  one  hundred  of  the 
early  settlers  at  Lawrence  came  out  under  the  auspices  of  this  society.  Societies 
of  a  similar  character  were  organized  in  other  States,  the  aim  undoubtedly  being 
to  ecourage  bonafide  emigration  of  persons  favorable  to  making  Kansas  a  free 
State.  These  acts  gave  great  offence  to  the  people  of  Missouri. 

At  Westport,  Mo.,  the  "self-defensive  organization"  was  set  on  foot  July 
29th,  1854,  with  the  declared  object  "to  be  ready  whenever  called  upon  by  citizens 
of  Kansas  Territory  to  assist  in  removing  any  and  all  emigrants  who  go  to 
Kansas  under  the  auspices  of  Northern  emigrant  aid  societies."  Public  meetings 
were  held  at  various  places  in  Missouri  to  denounce  this  movement  in  the  North- 
ern States  to  encourage  emigration  to  Kansas.  Leading  slave-holders  in  the 
Southern  States  seemed  to  take  it  for  granted  that  Kansas  would  be  made  a  slave 
State  and  were  indignant  at  the  idea  that  Northern  men  with  anti-slavery  views 
should  have  the  temerity  of  settling  in  that  Territory,  while  Northern  emigrants 
felt  that  the  Territory  was  open  for  settlement  by  any  one  who  saw  fit  to  go  there. 

It  soon  became  obvious  that  Kansas  was  to  become  the  theater  of  a  great 
struggle  between  freedom  and  slavery. 

The  emigration  to  Kansas  was  composed  of  educated,  well-to-do  people. 
Many  persons  who  had  risen  to  positions  of  distinction  at  their  old  homes  removed 
to  Kansas  to  cast  in  their  lot  in  building  a  new  State.  Farms  were  "located  and 
improved,  towns  were  established,  mills,  churches,  school  houses  and  hotels  were 
built,  newspapers  were  established  and  the  busy  hum  of  industry  was  soon 
heard  in  all  parts  of  the  Territory.  A  few  months'  time  developed  the  fact  that 
the  emigrants  from  the  free  States  outnumbered  those  from  the  slave  States,  and 
that  the  sentiments  of  a  majority  of  the  emigrants  were  favorable  to  making 
Kansas  a  free  State. 

Andrew  H.  Reeder,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  appointed  Governor.  He  reached 
the  Territory  October  6th,  1854.  He  caused  a  census  to  be  taken  of  the  people, 
which  was  completed  February  28th,  1855.  The  population  numbered  8,307;  of 
these  2,905  were  voters  and  242  were  slaves. 

The  Governor  ordered  an  election  for  a  Territorial  Legislature  tor  March 
3Oth,  1855.  He  divided  the  Territory  into  eighteen  districts,  and  appointed  judges 
and  clerks  of  election.  The  people  prepared  for  the  election  by  selecting  candi- 
dates for  the  Legislature. 

On  the  day  of  this  election,  as  had  occurred  at  the  election  of  November 
29th,  1854,  for  a  Territorial  delegate  to  Congress,  large  bodies  of  armed  men 
from  Missouri  appeared  at  all  the  voting  places  and  took  possession  of  the  polls 

23 


and  held  the  election.    The  result  was  that  the  Legislature  chosen  by  these  men 
were  pro-slavery  men  and  nearly  all  citizens  of  Missouri. 

This  election  and  the  election  of  Territorial  delegate  clearly  showed  that  an 
organization  existed  in  Missouri  for  the  purpose  of  controlling  the  affairs  of 
Kansas  by  force  and  fraudulent  voting.  United  States  Senator  Atchison,  of  Mis- 
souri, in  a  speech  delivered  in  Platte  County,  Mo.,  a  short  time  before  the  elec- 
tion, said :  "When  you  reside  in  one  day's  journey  of  the  Territory,  and  when 
you  know  your  peace,  your  quiet,  and  your  property  depend  upon  your  action, 
you  can,  without  an  exertion,  send  five  hundred  of  your  young  men  who  will 
"vote  in  favor  of  your  institution.  Should  each  county  in  the  State  of  Missouri 
only  do  its  duty,  the  question  will  be  decided  quickly  and  peaceably  at  the  ballot 
box." 

Dr.  Stringfellow,  at  St.  Joseph,  in  a  speech  said :  "I  advise  you,  one  and  all, 
to  enter  every  election  district  in  Kansas  in  defiance  of  Reeder  and  his  vile  myrmi- 
dons, and  vote  at  the  point  of  the  bowie-knife  and  revolver." 

A  subsequent  investigation  showed  that  of  the  2,905  voters  on  the  census 
returns,  only  831  were  found  on  the  poll  books.  The  Missourians  had  polled 
4,908  illegal' votes,  and  bv  this  sudden  invasion  of  armed  men  had  overborne  the 
bonafide  settlers  and  carried  the  election. 

This  gross  act  of  usurpation  aroused  the  indignation  of  the  people  of  all 
parties  throughout  the  Northern  States ;  it  was  obvious  that  the  slave  power 
proposed  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State  whether  a  majority  of  the  people  of  the 
Territory  were  in  favor  of  slavery  or  not. 

A  series  of  outrages  followed  close  upon  this  election.  April  I4th,  the  press 
of  the  Parkville  Luminary  was  destroyed  and  the  editor  driven  away  because 
he  published  an  article  condemning  the  Missouri  invasion  of  Kansas.  April 
3Oth  a  vigilance  committee  was  organized  at  Leavenworth,  and  addressed  by 
Chief  Justice  Lecomp,  of  the  United  States  Territorial  Court,  and  several  citi- 
zens were  notified  to  leave  the  Territory  for  expressing  "abolition  sentiments." 
May  1 7th  William  Phillipps  was  tarred  and  feathered,  ridden  on  a  rail  and  sold 
at  auction  by  a  negro,  because  he  protested  against  the  frauds  at  the  Leaven- 
worth  election.  July  2cl  the  bogus  Legislature  met  at  Rawnee,  organized,  ex- 
pelled Conway,  the  only  free  State  member  elected  to  the  council,  and  the  seat  of 
government  was  removed  to  Shawnee,  Missouri,  about  four  miles  from  West- 
port,  Mo.  On  July  i6th  the  Legislature  convened  at  Shawnee,  Missouri.  The 
most  important  statutes  were :  "An  act  to  establish  a  tribunal  for  the  transaction 
of  county  business  and  to  define  its  powers  and  duties,"  "An  act  to  punish  of- 
fences against  slave  property,"  and  "An  act  to  punish  decoying  slaves  from  their 
masters." 

By  the  first  act  the  Legislature  assumed  the  right  of  electing  the  boards  of 
county  commissioners  and  invested  these  boards  with  authority  to  "appoint  all 
sheriffs,  coroners,  assessors,  collectors,  justices  of  the  peace,  constables  and  all 
other  officers,  commisioners  or  agents  provided  for  by  law",  thus  depriving  the 
people  of  all  power  in  connection  with  the  affairs  of  government.  The  other 
acts  contained  eight  sections  creating  felonies  in  respect  to  slave  property,  each 
of  which  provided  for  inflicting  the  penalty  of  death. 

The  pro-slavery  leaders  in  Missouri  were  not  content  with  enacting  laws 
for  the  Territory ;  they  wished  to  hold  the  offices  also.  Mr.  Jones,  a  citizen  of 
Westport,  Missouri,  was  sheriff  of  Douglas  County,  of  which  Lawrence  was  the 
county  seat.  Sheriff  Jones  administered  his  office  in  a  way  to  keep  the  citizens 
of  Lawrence  in  a  continual  broil.  In  December,  1855,  under  the  guise  of  en- 
forcing a  peace  warrant,  he  caused  about  fifteen  hundred  armed  Missourians  to 
assemble  around  Lawrence  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  requiring  every  citizen 
to  surrender  his  arms,  which,  of  course,  they  refused  to  do.  Governor  Shannon, 
who  had  just  been  appointed,  arrived  on  the  scene  in  time  to  avert  bloodshed. 

The  bonafide  residents  brought  their  home  politics  with  them  when  they 
emigrated  to  Kansas,  but  the  exciting  and  extraordinary  scenes  through  which 
they  had  passed  from  the  spring  of  1854  to  December,  1855,  had  broken  down  all 
former  party  divisions,  and  the  great  majority  of  the  people  now  stood  shoulder 
to  shoulder  as  a  free  State  party  of  Kansas.  And  "Bleeding  Kansas"  became 
a  political  battle  cry. 

24 


The  free  State  men  held  a  convention  at  Big  Spring,  September  5th.  They 
passed  resolutions  repudiating  the  laws  of  the  bogus  Legislature  and  nominated 
Governor  Reeder  for  delegate  to  Congress.  September  I7th  another  conven- 
tion was  held  at  Topeka  under  the  leadership  of  General  James  H.  Lane  and 
Charles  Robinson.  This  convention  decided  to  form  a  constitution  and  State 
government  and  petition  Congress  for  admission  into  the  Union.  To  this  end  an 
executive  committee  was  formed  with  General  Lane  as  chairman,  an  election 
was  held,  delegates  were  elected,  and  the  constitutional  convention  met  at  Topeka 
October  23d.  Governor  Reeder  was  also  elected  as  a  delegate  to  Congress  at 
the  same  election. 

On  November  nth  the  convention  had  completed  its  business,  and  sub- 
wiitted  the  constitution  for  adoption  by  the  people.  The  constitution  provided  for 
the  election  of  State  officers,  a  Legislature,  etc.,  the  4th  of  March,  1856,  being 
fixed  as  the  date  for  organizing  the  State  government.  The  constitution  was 
adopted,  candidates  for  the  Legislature  were  elected,  and  a  great  convention  was 
held  at  Lawrence  to  nominate  State  officers.  Lane  and  Robinson  were  candi- 
dates. General  Lane  had  served  in  the  Mexican  War  and  had  distinguished 
himself  under  Gen.  Taylor  at  Bueria  Vista.  He  had  also  served  in  Congress  from 
Indiana  as  a  Democrat.  Dr.  Robinson  was  a  Whig.  Both  were  ardently  in 
favor  of  making  Kansas  a  free  State.  Dr.  Robinson  was  nominated  for  Governor. 
In  due  time  the  election  was  held  and  State  officers  and  a  Legislature  were 
elected. 

In  the  meantime  the  pro-slavery  party  had  been  active.  The  President  had 
been  induced  to  remove  Governor  Reeder  and  appoint  Wilson  Shannon,  of  Ohio, 
Governor.  He  assumed  office  September  ist,  1855. 

On  October  6th  Dr.  Stringfellow,  of  Missouri,  who  had  been  speaker  of  the 
bogus  Kansas  Legislature,  wrote  a  letter  to  Alabama,  which  was  published  in 
the  Montgomery  Advertiser,  calling  for  aid. 

November  I4th  a  law  and  order  convention  was  held  at  Leavenworth,  which 
was  attended  by  Governor  Shannon  and  the  Territorial  judges.  Resolutions  were 
passed  denouncing  the  free  State  movement. 

A  number  of  free  State  men  were  killed.  Dow  was  killed  by  Coleman  at 
Hickory  Point,  November  2ist.  Coleman  fled  to  Westport  and  put  himself 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  Jones,  Sheriff  of  Douglas'  Countv,  Kansas.  They 
secured  a  police  warrant  against  one  Branson,  with  whom  Dow  had  boarded. 
Branson  was  arrested  at  night.  Fifteen  of  his  neighbors,  including  two  men  from 
Lawrence,  being  warned  of  his  arrest,  rallied  and  rescued  him  from  Sheriff  Jones. 
Sheriff  Jones  wrote  the  Governor  that  "an  open  rebellion  had  already  com- 
menced" and  called  for  3,000  men  "to  carry  out  the  laws."  Governor  Shannon 
issued  an  order  calling  out  the  militia.  November  2Qth  large  bodies  of  organized 
and  armed  Missourians  responded  to  the  call,  numbering  about  1,500  men. 
Lawrence  was  the  objective  point.  That  town  organized  for  defence  under 
Robinson  and  Lane ;  they  threw  up  entrenchments  and  citizens  from  various 
parts  of  the  Territory  went  to  Lawrence  to  aid  in  its  defence.  Lawrence  was 
besieged  by  the  militia,  under  Richardson,  the  commander-in-chief.  Thos. 
Barber,  a  free  State  man,  was  fired  upon  and  killed  as  he  rode  from  Lawrence 
towards  his  home.  December  Qth,  1855,  Governor  Shannon,  Robinson  and  Lane 
held  a  conference,  at  which  the  Governor  learned  that  Lawrence  had  taken  no 
part  in  resisting  Sheriff  Jones.  The  "Treaty  of  Lawrence"  was  signed -and  the 
militia,  much  disgusted,  returned  to  their  homes. 

December  I5th,  1855,  Senator  Atchison  wrote  to  Georgia  for  aid.  The  letter 
was  published  in  the  Atlanta  Examiner.  December  i8th,  the  jail  at  Leavenworth 
was  burned  by  a  pro-slavery  mob,  who  rescued  one  of  their  men.  December  2Oth 
the  Territorial  Register  printing  office,  a  free  State  paper  at  Leavenworth,  was 
destroyed  by  a  Missouri  mob. 

January  24th,  1856,  the  President  sent  a  message  to  Congress  endorsing  the 
bogus  Legislature  and  declaring  that  the  formation  of  the  free  State  government 
was  an  act  of  rebellion.  February  nth  the  President  issued  a  proclamation  de- 
nouncing the  State  government  organized  by  the  free  State  movement,  and  on 
February  i6th  the  President  authorized  Governor  Shannon  to  employ  United 
States  troops  to  enforce  the  laws  enacted  by  the  bogus  Legislature  of  Kansas. 

25 


CHAPTER  V. 

PITTSBURGH  CONVENTION,  FEB.  22,  1856 — EDITORIAL  CONVENTION  AT  DECA- 
TUR,  FEB.  22,  1856 — BLOOMINGTON  CONVENTION,  MAY  29,  1856 — DEMO- 
CRATIC CONVENTION  AT  SPRINGFIELD,  MAY  i,  1856 — DEMOCRATIC  NA- 
TIONAL CONVENTION,  CINCINNATI,  JUNE  2,  1856 — REPUBLICAN  NATIONAL 
CONVENTION,  PHILADELPHIA,  JUNE  17,  1856  —  WHIG  AND  AMERICAN 
NOMINATIONS. 

The  people  of  the  North  had  taken  note  of  the  determined  effort  of  the 
slave  power  to  make  Kansas  a  slave  State.  The  people  of  the  Territory  had  not 
been  permitted  to  govern  themselves,  had  not  been  permitted  to  elect  their  own 
legislature  and  their  own  local  officers,  but  had  been  overborne  by  an  invading 
force  of  armed  men  acting  in  the  interest  of  slavery. 

The  Republican  party  had  carried  a  majority  of  the  Congressional  elections 
in  1854,  but  had  no  national  organization.  On  January  15,  1856,  at  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,  a  call  was  issued  by  the  chairmen  of  nine  Republican  State  Com- 
mittees for  an  "informal  convention  at  Pittsburgh  on  the  22nd  day  of  February, 
1856,  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  the  national  organization  and  providing  for 
a  national  delegate  convention  of  the  Republican  party".  This  convention  met 
on  the  day  fixed,  in  Lafayette  Hall,  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  and  Wood  Streets, 
Pittsburgh,  Pa.  It  was  a  mass  convention,  with  representatives  from  twenty-four 
States  and  four  Territories.  The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  Lawrence 
Brainerd,  of  Vermont,  who  nominated  John  A.  King,  of  New  York,  as  temporary 
chairman,  and  he  was  unanimously  chosen.  William  Penn  Clark,  of  Iowa,  and 
James  W.  Stone,  of  Massachusetts,  were  appointed  secretaries.  The  convention 
was  opened  by  prayer  by  Owen  Lovejoy,  of  Illinois. 

At  the  second  meeting  Simeon  Draper,  chairman,  reported  the  following 
permanent  organization :  President,  Francis  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  of  Maryland  ;  one  vice- 
president  from  each  State  and  Territory,  and  as  secretaries,  Russell  Evrett  of 
Pennsylvania  ;  Daniel  R.  Tilden,  of  Ohio  ;  Isaac  Dayton,  of  New  York  ;  John  C. 
Vaughan,  of  Illinois,  and  James  W.  Stone,  of  Massachusetts. 

Mr.  Blair  was  escorted  to  the  chair  by  Preston  King  of  New  York  and 
Jacob  Brinkerhoff  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Blair  did  not  make  a  speech,  but  presented  an 
address  of  "The  Republicans  of  Maryland  to  the  Republicans  of  the  Union", 
which  was  read  to  the  convention.  It  was  a  powerful  arraignment  of  modern 
democracy  as  compared  with  democracy  of  the  days  of  Jackson.  Coming  from 
Mr.  Blair,  who  had  been  the  editor  of  the  "Globe"  at  the  national  capital  during 
Jackson's  administration,  and  had  been  the  close  personal  and  political  friend  of 
that  great  man,  it  created  a  profound  impression. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  many  of  the  most  distinguished  and  nota- 
ble men  of  the  country.  These  men  represented  all  the  old  parties :  Francis  P. 
Blair,  Horace  Greeley,  Preston  King,  Zachariah  Chandler,  Joseph  Medill,  Owen 
Lovejoy,  William  Dennison,  William  H.  Gibson,  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  Geo.  W. 
Julian,  David  Wilmot,  Henry  J.  Raymond,  and  hundreds  of  others. 

This  convention  represented  and  voiced  the  sentiments  of  the  people  every- 
where who  were  opposed  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  measure  and 
opposed  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  territory  dedicated  to  freedom.  At  its 
third  session  a  permanent  national  organization  of  the  Republican  party  was 
effected  by  the  appointment  of  a  committee  with  authority  to  call  a  national  con- 
vention for  the  nomination  of  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President  to  be 
voted  for  by  the  Republicans  of  the  United  States  at  the  November  election,  1856. 

26 


The  committee  on  address  presented  a  lengthy  report  which  had  been  mainly 
prepared  by  Hon.  Henry  J.  Raymond,  editor  of  the  New  York  Times.  This 
address  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  was  an  able  document  and  amongst 
other  things  contained  the  following:  "We  do  therefore  declare  to  the  people 
of  the  United  States  as  objects  for  which  we  unite  in  political  action:  i.  We  de- 
mand and  shall  attempt  to  secure  the  .repeal  of  all  laws  which  allow  the  introduc- 
tion of  slavery  into  territory  once  consecrated  to  freedom  and  will  resist  by  every 
constitutional  means  the  existence  of  slavery  in  any  of  the  Territories  of  the 
United  States.  2.  We  will  support  by  every  lawful  means  our  brethren  in  Kansas 
in  their  constitutional  and  manly  resistance  to  the  usurped  authority  of  their  law- 
less invaders  and  will  give  the  full  weight  of  our  political  power  in  favor  of  the 
immediate  admission  of  Kansas  to  the  Union  as  a  free,  sovereign  and  independent 
State." 

Thus  the  great  national  Republican  party  of  the  United  States  was  organized 
in  response  to  a  mighty  wave  of  public  opinion  in  favor  of  freedom. 

This  Pittsburgh  Convention  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  country; 
its  action  was  a  challenge  to  the  Democratic  party,  and  it  became  clear  that  a 
great  political  battle  was  to  be  fought  in  1856. 

The  Democratic  party  with  a  solid  South  was  well  organized  and  prepared 
for  the  conflict. 

While  this  convention  in  Pittsburgh  was  in  session  an  important  meeting 
was  being  held  at  Decatur,  Illinois ;  it  is  known  as  the  Editorial  Convention,  and 
had  its  origin  in  a  call  issued  by  the  Morgan  Journal,  edited  by  Mr.  Paul  Selby. 
The  call  read  as  follows : 

''Editorial  Convention.  All  editors  in  Illinois  opposed  to  the  Nebraska  Bill 
are  requested  to  meet  in  convention  at  Decatur  on  the  22nd  day  of  February  for 
the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  the  organization  of  the  anti-Nebraska 
forces  in  this  State  for  the  coming  contest.  All  editors  favoring  the  movement 
will  please  forward  a  copy  of  their  paper  containing  their  approval,  to  the  office 
of  Illinois  State  Chronicle,  Decatur." 

This  call  received  the  formal  endorsement  of  twenty-five  papers,,  as  follows : 
Journal,  Jacksonville ;  Chronicle,  Winchester ;  Chronicle,  Decatur ;  Whig, 
Quincy ;  Press,  Pittsfield ;  Gazette,  Lacon  ;  Tribune,  Chicago ;  Staats-Zeitung, 
Chicago;  Republican,  Oqnawka ;  Republican,  Peoria;  Prairie-State,  Danville; 
Advertiser,  Rock  Island  ;  Fultonian,  Vermont ;  Journal  (Ger.),  Quincy  ;  Beacon, 
Freeport ;  Pantagraph,  Bloomington  ;  True  Democrat,  Joliet ;  Telegraph,  Lock- 
port  ;  Gazette,  Kankakee ;  Guardian,  Aurora ;  Gazette,  Waukegan ;  Chronicle, 
Peru;  Advocate,  Belleville ;  Journal,  Chicago ;  and  Journal,  Sparta.'  A  number 
of  these  papers  had  formerly  supported  the  Democratic  party. 

The  following  named  editors  were  in  attendance  at  the  convention :  N.  Y. 
Ralston,  Quincy  Whig ;  Chas.  H.  Ray,  Chicago  Tribune ;  O.  P.  Wharton,  Rock 
Island  Advertiser ;  E.  C.  Dougherty,  Rockford  Register ;  T.  J.  Pickett,  Peoria 
Republican  ;  George  Schneider,  Chicago  Staats-Zeitung  ;  Chas.  Faxon,  Princeton 
Post ;  A.  N.  Ford,  Lacon  Gazette ;  B.  F.  Shaw,  Dixon  Telegraph ;  W.  J.  Ursey, 
Decatur  Chronicle ;  Paul  Selby,  Jacksonville  Journal ;  Simpson  Whitely,  Aurora 
Guardian ;  E.  W.  Blaisdell,  Rockford  Register ;  D.  L.  Phillips,  Jonesboro 
Gazette.  Paul  Selby  was  made  chairman  of  the  convention  and  W.  J.  Ursey 
secretary. 

This  convention  adopted  a  series  of  resolutions  and  appointed  a  State  cen- 
tral committee  with  authority  to  call  a  State  convention. 

In  the  evening  after  the  convention  adjourned  the  delegates  were  given  a 
banquet  at  the  Cassell  House,  in  the  parlors  of  which  hotel  the  convention  was 
held. 

A  number  of  able  speeches  were  made  in  response  to  toasts,  but  the  speech 
of  the  evening  was  delivered  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  who  had  accepted  an  invitation 
to  attend  the  banquet. 

His  speech  was  able  and  eloquent ;  he  advocated  a  line  of  political  policy 
then,  strictly  in  accordance  with  the  views  he  expressed  two  years  later.  He  ap- 
proved and  encouraged  the  movement  for  a  State  convention.  In  fact,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln remained  away  from  the  Pittsburgh  convention  for  the  sole  purpose,  by 
counsel  and  speech,  to  take  part  in  the  Editorial  Convention  at  Decatur. 

27 


The  first  Republican  State  convention  in  Illinois  was  held  at  Bloomington 
.May  29,  1856.  The  convention  was  called  by  the  State  central  committee  ap- 
pointed February  22,  1856,  by  the  Editorial  Convention  held  at  Decatur. 

The  call  for  the  Bloomington  convention  was  signed  as  follows : 

First  District,  S.  M.  Church,  Rockford.  Second  District,  John  Evans,  Chi- 
cago. Third  District,  G.  D.  F.  Parks,  Joliet.  Fourth  District,  T.  J.  Pickett, 
Peoria.  Fifth  District,  E.  A.  Dudley,  Quincy.  Sixth  District,  William  H.  Hern- 
don,  Springfield.  Seventh  District,  J.  C.  Pugh,  Decatur.  Eighth  District,  Joseph 
Gillespie,  Edwardsville.  At  large,  Ira  C.  Wilkinson,  Rock  Island. 

The  anti-Nebraska  men  of  all  parties  endorsed  the  movement  for  organizing 
.a  new  party.  The  assemblage  at  Bloomington  was  large  and  enthusiastic.  John 
M.  Palmer  was  elected  temporary  chairman,  .made  an  able  and  eloquent  address 
in  opening  the  convention,  and  was  made  president,  with  Richard  M.  Yates,  John 
H.  Bryan,  James  M.  Ruggles,  John  Clark,  William  Ross,  D.  L.  Phillips,  G.  D.  A. 
Parks,  Abner  C.  Harding  and  J.  H.  Marshall,  vice-presidents ;  and  Henry  S. 
Baker,  Madison ;  Charles  L.  Wilson,  Cook ;  John  Tillson,  Adams ;  Washington 
Bushnell,  LaSalle ;  B.  J.  F.  Hanna,  Randolph,  as  secretaries. 

The  following  ticket  was  nominated:  William  H.  Bissell  for  Governor; 
Francis  Hoffman  for  Lieutenant-Governor ;  O.  M.  Flatch  for  Secretary  of  State; 
Jesse  K.  Dubois  for  Auditor:  James  Miller  for  Treasurer.  Mr.  Hoffman,  a  man 
of  foreign  birth,  was  found  ineligible  for  lack  of  required  time  of  residence,  and 
John  Wood  of  Quincy  was  named  in  his  place. 

The  following  platform  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  foregoing  all  former  differences  of  opinions  upon  other 
questions,  we  pledge  ourselves  to  unite  in  opposition  to  the  present  administration 
and  to  the  party  which  upholds  and  supports  it  and  to  use  all  honorable  and  con- 
stitutional means  to  wrest  the  Government  from  the  unworthy  hands  which- now 
control  it  and  to  bring  it  back  in  its  administration  to  the  principles  and  practices 
of  Washington,  Jefferson  and  their  great  and  good  compatriots  of  the  Revolution. 

Resolved,  That  foregoing  all  former  differences  of  opinions  upon  other 
questions,  we  pledge  ourselves  to  unite  in  opposition  to  the^present  administration 
of  the  Government;  that  under  the  Constitution  Congress  possesses  the  power 
to  prohibit  slavery  in  the  Territories ;  and  that,  whilst  we  will  maintain  all  con- 
stitutional rights  of  the  South,  we  also  hold  that  justice,  humanity,  the  principles 
of  freedom  as  expressed  in  our  Declaration  of  Independence  and  our  national 
constitution,  and  the  purity  and  perpetuity  of  our  Government  require  that  that 
power  shall  be  exerted  to  prevent  the  extension  of  slavery  into  territory  here- 
tofore free. 

Resolved,  That  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise  was  unwise  and  in- 
jurious ;  an  open  and  aggravated  violation  of  the  plighted  faith  of  the  States,  and 
that  the  attempt  of  the  present  administration  to  force  slavery  into  Kansas  against 
the  known  wishes  of  the  legal  voters  of  that  Territory  is  an  arbitrary  and  tyrannous 
violation  of  the  rights  of  the  people  to  govern  themselves,  and  that  we  will  strive 
by  all  constitutional  means  to  secure  to  Kansas  and  Nebraska  the  legal  guaranty 
ugainst  slavery  of  which  they  were  deprived  at  the  cost  of  the  violation  of  the 
plighted  faith  of  the  nation. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  devoted  to  the  Union  and  will,  to  the  last  extremity, 
defend  it  against  the  efforts  now  being  made  by  the  dis-unionists  of  this  admin- 
istration to  compass  its  dissolution,  and  that  we  will  support  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  in  all  its  provisions  regarding  it,  as  the  sacred  bond  of  our 
Union  and  the  only  safeguard  for  the  preservation  of  the  rights  of  ourselves  and 
our  posterity. 

Resolved,  That  we  are  in  favor  of  the  immediate  admission  of  Kansas  as  a 
member  of  this  Confederacy  under  the  constitution  adopted  by  the  people  of  said 
Territory. 

Resolved,  That  the  spirit  of  our  institutions  as  well  as  the  Constitution  of 
our  country,  guarantees  the  liberty  of  conscience  as  well  as  political  freedom,  and 
that  we  will  proscribe  no  one  by  legislation  or  otherwise  on  account  of  religious 
•opinions,  or  in  consequence  of  place  of  birth. 

Many  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  State  attended  this  convention : 
Abraham  Lincoln,  O.  H.  Browning,  Jesse  W.  Fell,  Thomas  J.  Henderson  and  all 

28 


the  vice-presidents  and  secretaries.  Besides  the  delegates,  the  crowd  was  large 
and  enthusiastic.  A  number  of  persons  made  speeches,  amongst  them  O.  H. 
Browning  and  Richard  Yates. 

Mr.  Lincoln  delivered  the  closing  address.  It  was  one  of  his  noblest  and 
best  efforts ;  it  was  extemporaneous,  no  stenographic  record  was  made  of  it,  but 
those  who  heard  it  remember  it  as  a  thrilling  oration  of  argument  and  eloquence. 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  excited  great  influence  in  the  selection  of  the  candidates.  His 
idea  was  to  have  men  from  both  the  Democratic  and  Whig  parties  whose  position 
and  standing  would  unite  all  the  anti-Nebraska  elements  in  the  State. 

The  people  of  Illinois  were  deeply  interested  in  the  political  canvass  of  1856. 
A  new  alignment  in  politics  was  to  be  made.  All  old  party  issues  were  for  the 
time  pushed  aside,  except  the  single  question  of  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the 
Territories. 

The  new  party  made  no  assault  upon  slavery  in  the  States ;  that  institution 
was  firmly  rooted  in  the  financial,  industrial,  political  and  social  organization  of  the 
Southern  States  and  was  protected  by  the  Constitution  and  was  beyond  the  reach 
of  Congress  or  the  people  of  the  free  States.  Illinois  Republicans  did  not  propose 
to  try  to  disturb  it  where  it  existed. 

The  Democratic  convention  of  1856  met  at  Springfield  May  ist  and  nomi- 
nated the  following  ticket  for  State  officers:  William  A.  Richardson,  Governor; 
Richard  Jones  Hamilton,  Lieutenant-Governer ;  William  H.  Synder,  Secretary 
of  State;  Samuel  K.  Casey,  Auditor;  John  Moore,  Treasurer;  J.  H.  St.  Mathew, 
Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  a  man  of  recognized  ability ;  he  was  a  close  friend  of 
Senator  Douglas,  had  served  six  terms  in  Congress  and  was  the  leader  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  the  passage  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Act.  The  ticket 
was  a  very  strong  one  and  insured  the  full  support  of  the  party.  The  Whig 
party  made  no  nominations  for  State  officers.  The  American  or  Know  Nothing 
party  nominated  Buckner  S.  Morris  for  Governor;  T.  B.  Hickman  for  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor; William  H.  Young  for  Secretary  of  State;  Dewitt  C.  Barber  for 
Auditor ;  James  Miller  for  Treasurer,  and  E.  Jenkins  for  Superintendent  of  Public 
Instruction. 

The  Democratic  national  convention  met  in  Cincinnati  June  2,  1856.  Sena- 
tor Douglas  of  Illinois  was  a  prominent  candidate  for  President.  The  conven- 
tion, however,  nominated  James  Buchanan  of  Pennsylvania  for  President  and 
John  C.  Breckenridge  for  Vice-President.  A  lengthy  platform  was  adopted. 
Upon  the  burning  question  of  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  Territories,  the 
following  declaration  was  made :  ''That  we  may  more  distinctly  meet  the  issue 
on  which  a  sectional  party  subsisting  exclusively  on  slavery  agitation,  now  relies 
to  test  the  fidelity  of  the  people  North  and  South,  to  the  Constitution  and  Union." 

Resolved,  That  claiming  fellowship  with  and  desiring  the  co-operation  of 
all  who  regard  the  preservation  of  the  Union  under  the  Constitution  as  the  para- 
mount issue  and  repudiating  all  sectional  parties  and  platforms  concerning 
domestic  slavery  which  seek  to  embroil  the  States  and  incite  to  treason  and  armed 
resistance  to  law  in  the  Territories,  and  whose  avowed  purpose,  if  consummated, 
must  end  in  civil  war  and  dis-union,  the  American  Democracy  recognize  and  adopt 
the  principles  contained  in  the  organic  laws  establishing  the  Territories  of  Ne- 
braska and  Kansas  as  embodying  the  only  sound  and  safe  solution  of  the  slavery 
question,  upon  which  the  great  national  idea  of  the  people  of  this  whole  country 
can  repose  in  its  determined  conservation  of  the  Union,  and  non-interference  of 
Congress  with  slavery  in  the  Territories  or  in  the  District  of  Columbia. 

That  this  was  the  basis  of  the  compromise  of  1850,  confirmed  by  both  the 
Democratic  and  Whig  parties  in  national  conventions,  ratified  by  the  people  in 
the  election  of  1852  and  rightly  applied  to  the  organization  of  the  Territories  in 
1854.  That  by  the  uniform  application  of  the  Democratic  principle  to  the  organ- 
ization of  Territories  and  the  admission  of  new  States,  with  or  without  domestic 
slavery,  as  they  may  elect,  the  equal  rights  of  all  the  States  will  be  preserved  in- 
tact, the  original  compacts  of  the  Constitution  maintained  inviolate,  and  the  per- 
petuity and  expansion  of  the  Union  insured  to  its  utmost  capacity  of  embracing 
in  peace  and  harmony  every  future  American  State  that  may  be  constituted  or 
annexed  with  a  republican  form  of  government. 

29 


Resolved,  That  we  recognize  the  right  of  the  people  of  all  the  Territories, 
including  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  acting  through  the  legally  and  fairly  expressed 
will  of  the  majority  of  the  actual  residents,  and  whenever  the  number  of  their 
inhabitants  justifies  it,  to  form  a  Constitution,  with  or  without  domestic  slavery, 
and  be  admitted  into  the  Union  upon  terms  of  perfect  equality  with  the  other 
States. 

On  March  26,  1856,  a  call  was  issued  for  a  national  Republican  convention 
to  meet  at  Philadelphia  on  the  i/th  day  of  June,  1856.  This  call  read  as  follows: 

"The  people  of  the  United  States,  without  regard  to  past  political  differences 
or  divisions,  who  are  opposed  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  to 
the  policy  of  the  present  administration  to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  Ter- 
ritories, in  favor  of  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  free  State,  and  restoring  the 
action  of  the  Federal  Government  to  the  principles  of  Washington  and  Jefferson, 
are  invited  by  the  national  committee,  appointed  by  the  Pittsburgh  convention 
on  Feb.  22,  1856,  to  send  from  each  State  three  delegates  from  every  Congres- 
sional district  and  six  delegates  at  large  to  meet  at  Philadelphia  on  the  I7th  day 
of  June  next  for  the  purpose  of  recommending  candidates  to  be  supported  for 
the  offices  of  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States". 

The  call  was  signed  by  Edwin  D.  Morgan,  of  New  York,  chairman ;  Francis 
F.  Blair,  Maryland ;  John  M.  Niles,  Connecticut ;  David  Wilmot,  Pennsylvania ; 
Alfred  P.  Stone,  Ohio ;  E.  S.  Leland,  Illinois ;  William  Spooner,  Wisconsin, 
and  a  member  from  each  State  and  Territory  of  the  Union  except  seven  Southern 
States. 

This  convention  met  in  Music  Fund  Hall,  Philadelphia,  on  Tuesday,  June 
17.  1856,  at  ii  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  was  in  session  three  days.  About  two  thousand 
delegates  and  alternates  were  in  attendance.  The  following  named  States  and 
Territories  were  represented :  California,  Connecticut,  Delaware,  Illinois,  In- 
diana, Iowa,  Kentucky,  Maine.  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  Michigan,  New  Hamp- 
shire, New  Jersey.  New  York,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  Vermont,  Virginia,  Wis- 
consin, the  District  of  Columbia  and  the  Territories  of  Kansas,  Minnesota  and 
Nebraska. 

Edwin  D.  Morgan,  chairman  of  the  national  committee,  called  the  convention 
to  order,  in  an  earnest  and  eloquent  speech.  He  closed1  by  nominating  Robert 
Emmet  of  New  York,  a  kinsman  of  the  great  Irish  patriot,  for  temporary  chair- 
man. Geo.  G.  Fogg,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  Thos.  G.  Mitchell,  of  Ohio,  were 
appointed  temporary  secretaries.  Geo.  Hoaclley  of  Ohio  and  Moses  H.  Grinnell 
escorted  Judge  Emmet  to  the  chair.  The  chairman  delivered  an  able  address 
declaring  that  although  fifty  years  a  Democrat,  "he  denounced  democracy  rather 
than  part  with  freedom." 

Illinois  was  represented  by  a  strong  delegation,  composed  of  George 
Schneider,  Jesse  O.  Norton,  Cyrus  Aldrich,  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  N.  M.  Knapp,  John 
M.  Palmer,  John  Olney,  S.  M.  Church,  N.  B.  Judd,  Owen  Lovejoy,  C.  B.  Law- 
rence, W.  B.  Archer,  and  others. 

The  usual  committees  were  appointed.  Col.  Henry  S.  Lane  of  Indiana  was 
made  president  of  the  convention  and  one  vice-president  from  each  State  and 
Territory  represented.  Col.  Lane  delivered  an  eloquent  address.  He  declared 
that  "the  anniversary  of  Bunker  Hill  is  a  fitting  time,  and  the  shades  of  Inde- 
pendence Hall  the  proper  place,  in  which  to  inaugurate  a  new  era  in  our  history, 
the  regeneration  and  independence  of  the  North."  He  said  that  he  had  been  a 
follower  of  Henry  Clay,  but  the  Nebraska  swindle  impelled  him  to  sacrifice  his 
old  party  predilections.  Caleb  B.  Smith  of  Ohio,  Owen  Lovejoy  of  Illinois,  and 
Henry  Wilson  of  Massachusetts  were  called  upon  and  addressed  the  convention. 
Hon.  Edwin  D.  Morgan  of  New  York  was  continued  as  chairman  of  the  national 
committee. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  convention  David  Wilmot  of  Pennsylvania,  chair- 
man of  the  committee  on  resolutions,  presented  the  platform. 

The  resolutions  embodying  the  burning  issues  of  the  hour  are  given  below. 

Resolved,  That  the  Constitution  confers  upon  Congress  sovereign  power 
over  the  Territories  of  the  United  States  for  their  government,  and  that  in  the 
exercise  of  this  power  it  is  both  the  right  and  the  inoperative  duty  of  Congress 
to  prohibit  in  the  Territories  those  twin  relics  of  barbarism,  polygamy  and  slavery. 

30 


Resolved,  That  while  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  ordained 
and  established,  in  order  to  form  a  more  perfect  union,  establish  justice,  insure 
domestic  tranquility,  provide  for  the  common  defense,  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare, and  secure  the  blessings  of  liberty,  and  contains  ample  provisions  for  the 
protection  of  the  life,  liberty  and  property  of  every  citizen,  the  dearest  constitu- 
tional rights  of  the  people  of  Kansas  have  been  fraudulently  and  violently  taken 
from  them ;  their  Territory  has  been  invaded  by  an  armed  force ;  spurious  and 
pretended  legislative,  judicial  and  executive  officers  have  been  set  over  them, 
by  whose  usurped  authority,  sustained  by  the  military  power  of  the  government, 
tyrannical  and  unconstitutional  laws  have  been  enacted  and  enforced ;  the  rights 
of  the  people  to  keep  and  bear  arms  have  been  infringed ;  test  oaths  of  an  extra- 
ordinary and  entangling  nature  have  been  imposed,  as  a  condition  of  exercising 
the  rights  of  suffrage  and  holding  office ;  the  right  of  an  accused  person  to  a 
speedy  and  public  trial  by  an  impartial  jury  has  been  denied,  the  right  of  the 
people  to  be  secure  in  their  persons,  houses,  papers,  and  effects  against  unrea- 
sonable searches  and  seizures,  has  been  violated ;  they  have  been  deprived  of 
life,  liberty  and  property  without  due  process  of  law ;  that  the  freedom  of  speech 
and  of  the  press  has  been  abridged ;  the  right  to  choose  their  representatives  has 
been  made  of  no  effect;  murders,  robberies  and  arsons  have  been  instigated  or 
encouraged,  and  the  offenders  have  been  allowed  to  go  unpunished ;  that  all 
these  things  have  been  done  with  the  knowledge,  sanction,  and  procurement' of 
the  present  national  administration,  and  that  for  this  high  crime  against  the  Con- 
stitution, the  Union  and  humanity,  we  arraign  the  administration,  the  President, 
his  advisers,  agents,  supporters,  apologists  and  accessories,  either  before  or  after 
the  facts,  before  the  country  and  before  the  world,  and  that  it  is  our  fixed  purpose 
to  bring  the  actual  perpetrators  of  these  atrocious  outrages  and  their  accomplices, 
to  a  sure  and  condign  punishment  hereafter. 

Resolved,  That  Kansas  should  be  immediately  admitted  as  a  State  of  the 
Union  with  her  present  free  Constitution,  as  at  once  the  most  effectual  way  of  se- 
curing to  her  citizens  the  enjoyment  of  the  rights  and  privileges  to  which  they  are 
entitled,  and  of  ending  the  civil  strife  now.  raging  in  her  territory. 

The  convention  gave  profound  attention  to  the  reading  of  the  platform ;  it 
was  unanimously  adopted  with  great  enthusiasm.  The  declaration  against  the 
"twin  relics  of  barbarism,  polygamy  and  slavery",  was  greeted  with  tremendous 
applause. 

An  informal  ballot  was  taken  for  a  candidate  for  President.  It  resulted  as 
follows:  Fremont,  359;  McLean,  190;  William  H.  Seward,  7;  Charles  Sumner, 
2;  Nathaniel  P.  Banks,  i. 

A  formal  ballot  was  then  taken.  Fremont  received  520 ;  McLean,  37,  and 
Seward,  I.  The  nomination  was  made  unanimous  by  Chairman  Lane,  putting 
the  question  thus :  "All  who  favor  making  John  C.  Fremont  the  unanimous 
candidate  for  the  Presidency  will  signify  the  same  by  giving  three  cheers."  In- 
stantly an  American  flag  was  drawn  across  the  platform  inscribed :  "John  C. 
Fremont  for  President."  The  convention  adjourned  until  the  next  morning. 

Upon  motion  an  informal  ballot  was  taken  for  a  candidate  for  Vice-President, 
Col.  William  B.  Archer  of  Illinois  and  Judge  Rufus  P.  Spaulding  of  Ohio  acting 
as  tellers.  The  vote  resulted  as  follows:  Dayton,  253;  Lincoln,  no;  N.  P. 
Banks,  46;  David  Wilmot,  43;  Sumner,  35;  Coleamer,  15;  John  H.  King  of 
New  York,  9;  Samuel  C.  Pomeroy  of  Kansas,  8;  Thomas  H.  Ford  of  Ohio,  7; 
Cassius  M.  Clay,  3  ;  Henry  Carey,  3  ;  Joshua  R.  Giddings,  2  ;  Whitfield  S.  John- 
son, 2;  Aaron  S.  Pennington,  I. 

Thomas  H.  Elliott  of  Massachusetts  requested  the  convention  to  refrain  from 
voting  for  Mr.  Banks  and  Mr.  Sumner,  as  they  were  needed  in  the  House  and 
Senate.  Thaddeus  Stephens  withdrew  the  name  of  David  Wilmot. 

A  formal  ballot  was  ordered,  when  John  M.  Palmer  withdrew  the  name  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  candidate  for  Vice-President  and  urged  that  the  vote  for 
William  L.  Dayton  be  made  unanimous.  Mr.  Dayton  received  all  the  votes  cast 
except  31  ;  20  of  these  were  cast  for  Mr.  Lincoln  and  n  for  six  other  persons. 
These  votes  were  then  withdrawn  and  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

Thus  Fremont  and  Dayton  became  the  first  candidates  of  the  Republican 
party  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

31 


Millard  Fillmore  and  Andrew  Jackson  Donaldson  were  nominated  as  can- 
didates for  President  and  Vice-President,  first,  by  the  national  convention  of  the 
American  party  held  in  Philadelphia  Feb.  22,  1856,  and  later  by  the  Whig  party 
at  the  national  convention  held  at  Baltimore  Sept.  17,  1856. 

The  Whig  platform  reaffirmed  the  principles  of  that  party  and  upon  the  great 
issue  then  exciting  the  public  mind  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted : 

"Resolved,  That  all  who  revere  the  Constitution  and  the  Union  must  look 
with  alarm  at  the  parties  in  the  field  in  the  Presidential  campaign.  One  claiming 
oniy  to  represent  sixteen  Northern  States  and  the  other  appealing  mainly  to  the 
passions  and  prejudices  of  the  Southern  States ;  that  the  success  of  either  faction 
must  add  fuel  to  the  flame  which  now  threatens  to  wrap  our  dearest  interests  in  a 
common  ruin. 

Resolved,  That  the  only  remedy  for  an  evil  so  appalling  is  to  support  a 
candidate  pledged  to  neither  of  the  geographical  sections,  nor  arrayed  in  political 
antagonism,  but  holding  both  in  a  just  and  equal  regard.  We  congratulate 
the  friends  of  the  Union  that  such  a  candidate  exists  in  Millard  Fillmore. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  present  exigency  of  political  affairs  we  are  not  called 
upon  to  discuss  the  subordinate  questions  of  administration  in  the  exercising  of 
the  constitutional  power  of  the  government.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  civil 
war  is  raging  and  that  the  Union  is  in  peril ;  and  we  proclaim  the  conviction  that 
the  restoration  of  Mr.  Fillmore  to  the  Presidency  will  furnish  the  best  if  not  the 
only  means  of  restoring  peace." 

The  Whig  party  made  a  solemn  declaration  "that  civil  war  is  raging  and  that 
the,  Union  is  in  peril",  but  its  platform  was  non-committal  upon  the  issues  involved 
in  the  controversy  in  Kansas.  The  Democratic  party  and  the  Republican  party 
were  face  to  face  upon  that  great  issue ;  the  Southern  Democracy  declaring  that 
the  election  of  Fremont  would  be  a  just  cause  for  and  would  be  followed  by  dis- 
union ;  while  the  Republican  platform  declared  "that  the  federal  Constitution,  the 
rights  of  the  States,  and  the  union  of  the  States,  shall  be  preserved." 

The  political  canvass  of  1856  was  one  of  great  excitement ;  the  people  every- 
where \vere  profoundly  interested  in  the  result.  The  Republican  State  ticket  in 
Illinois  was  exceedingly  strong.  William  H.  Bissell  had  been  a  Democrat ;  he 
had  served  with  distinction  in  the  Mexican  War  as  Colonel  of  the  Second  Illinois 
Volunteers  and  had  made  his  mark  in  Congress,  not  only  as  a  man  of  great 
ability,  but  also  as  a  man  of  courage,  as  shown  in  his  controversy  with  Jefferson 
Davis,  with  whom  he  was  on  the  eve  of  fighting  a  duel.  The  entire  ticket  was 
made  up  of  popular  men  and  the  canvass  brought  out  immense  crowds  all  over 
the  State. 

The  Democrats  were  aggressive  and  confident.  The  Republicans  were  none 
the  less  active.  The  story  of  the  outrages  of  the  slave  power,  and  the  wrongs 
of  the  Free  State  settlers  in  Kansas  found  willing  ears  all  over  the  North.  The 
health  of  Col.  Bissell  was  such  that  he  made  but  one  speech  during  the  canvass, 
but  able  men  addressed  large  meetings  everywhere.  There  was  a  very  large  vote 
at  the  election.  When  the  votes  were  counted  it  was  found  that  Fremont  had  a 
majority  in  the  sixteen  Northern  States;  he  had  received  1,340,618  votes,  and 
Buchanan  1,224,750,  giving  .Fremont  a  majority  in  the  popular  vote  of  115,868 
in  the  free  States. 

The  Republican  State  ticket  was  elected  in  Illinois.  Col.  Bissell  received 
111,375  votes,  being  over  15,000  more  than  the  vote  for  Fremont.  James 
Buchanan,  the  Democratic  candidate  for  President,  carried  the  State,  but  Mr. 
Richardson,  the  Democratic  candidate,  was  beaten  for  Governor,  although  he 
received  1,295  votes  more  than  Buchanan.  E.  B.  Washburne,  John  F.  Farns- 
worth,  Owen  Lovejoy  and  Wm.  Kellogg,  Republicans,  were  elected  to  Congress. 

The  Legislature  was  Democratic.  The  Republicans  throughout  the  country 
felt  that  although  they  lost  the  Presidential  election  they  had  gained  a  great 
moral  victory.  The  party  had  firmly  entrenched  itself  in  the  hearts  of  a  mighty 
array  of  intelligent  and  enthusiastic  voters  in  the  North  and  they  felt  that  the 
issue  of  freedom  in  the  Territories  would  be  won. 

While  these  great  political  movements  of  the  people,  for  the  nomination  and 
election  of  national  and  State  officers,  were  going  forward,  there  was  no  lull  in 
the  excitement  and  discord  in  Kansas.  The  contest  there  between  freedom  and 

32 


slavery  emphasized  and  gave  point  to  the  political  contests  in  all  the  Northern 
States. 

In  April,  1856,  the  demands  of  Dr.  Stringfellow  and  Senator  Atchison  for 
aid  were  responded  to  by  the  arrival  of  a  regiment  of  armed  men  from  Alabama, 
South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  commanded  by  Col.  Buford,  their  declared  purpose 
being  to  aid  in  driving  out  the  free  State  men.  These  men  and  many  Missourians 
were  taken  into  pay  by  the  marshal  of  the  Territory. 

Judge  Lecompte,  holding  court  at  Lawrence,  charged  the  grand  jury  at  Doug- 
lass County  to  find  indictments  for  high  treason  against  those  who  participated  in 
organizing  the  State  government.  Indictments  were  found  against  Robinson, 
Lane,  Reeder  and  others.  These  men  left  the  Territory  to  avoid  arrest,  but 
Dr.  Robinson,  while  descending  the  Missouri  River,  was  identified  and  detained 
by  a  mob  at  Lexington,  Missouri,  and  was  sent  back  to  Kansas,  where,  with  six 
others,  he  was  held  a  close  prisoner  for  four  months  without  bail  on  a  charge 
of  treason. 

On  May  I3th  the  United  States  Marshal  besieged  Lawrence  with  his  force 
of  militia  for  the  purpose  of  arresting  persons  alleged  to  have  aided  ex-Governor 
Reeder  in  resisting  arrest.  The  people  in  public  meeting  denied  the  fact  of  re- 
sistance alleged  by  the  marshal  and  the  besieging  posse  retired.  On  May  2ist 
the  deputy  marshal  visited  Lawrence  with  a  large  force  of  armed  men  from  Mis- 
souri, who  were  accompanied  by  Senator  Atchison.  No  resistance  was  offered 
by  the  people.  The  deputy  marshal  made  certain  arrests.  Sheriff  Jones  seized  a 
cannon  and  arms.  When  this  was  done  the  army  of  invasion  entered  the  town, 
Senator  Atchison  delivered  a  speech,  and  the  work  of  destruction  began. 

The  Free  State  Hotel  was  battered  with  a  cannon,  blown  up  and  burned. 
The  presses  of  two  newspapers  were  destroyed.  Dr.  Robinson's  residence  was 
burned  and  all  the  stores  and  other  houses  were  searched  and  plundered.  The 
damages  were  estimated  at  $150,000.  Buford's  men  spread  over  the  Territory 
for  plunder  and  to  drive  the  free  State  men  from  their  homes.  The  free  State 
men  armed  and  assembled  for  defense.  May  26th  a  fight  occurrd  at  Pottawatamie, 
where  three  free  State  men  and  five  pro-slavery  men  were  killed.  On  June  2nd  the 
free  State  men,  under  John  Brown,  attacked  a  body  of  pro-slavery  men  at  Pal- 
myria,  and  captured  thirty-one  prisoners  and  a  large  quantity  of  plunder.  On 
the  next  day  the  free  State  men  attacked  another  party  at  Franklin,  which  was 
armed  with  guns  and  a  cannon ;  one  man  was  killed,  two  wounded  and  the  stores 
captured. 

Mr.  Whitfield,  delegate  to  Congress,  advanced  into  the  Territory  June  6th 
with  a  body  of  Missourians,  but  was  driven  back  by  Col.  Sumner,  with  his  U.  S. 
dragoons.  On  June  /th  Ossawotamie  was  sacked  with  great  atrocity  by  a  party 
of  170  pro-slavery  men. 

June  2Oth  a  company  of  seventy  emigrants  from  Chicago,  while  on  the 
steamer  "Star  of  the  "West",  were  robbed  of  their  arms  at  Lexington ;  when  thev 
reached  Weston  all  their  property  was  taken  from  them  and  they  were  sent  down 
the  river.  On  June  26th  a  party  of  emigrants  from  Massachusetts,  on  the  steamer 
"Sultan",  and  on  June  28th  another  party  of  emigrants  from  Illinois,  were  robbed 
of  their  property  and  forced  to  go  down  the  river.  July  4th  the  free  State  legisla- 
ture reassembled  at  Topeka,  but  was  dispersed  by  Col.  Sumner,  U.  S.  A. 

The  outrages  along  the  Missouri  River  became  so  great  that  that  route  for 
Northern  emigrants  to  Kansas  was  abandoned  and  the  route  through  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  adopted.  Many  hundred  persons  entered  Kansas  by  this  route. 

During  the  months  of  July,  August,  September,  October  and  November, 
1856,  a  number  of  invading  forces  from  Missouri  entered  Kansas,  led  by  leading 
men,  determined  to  drive  out  the  free  State  men,  destroy  their  homes  and  capture 
their  property.  Houses  were  burned,  stores  were  robbed,  cattle  and  horses  were 
taken  and  driven  off  and  many  men  were  killed.  On  their  part  the  free  State  men 
formed  companies  and  on  many  occasions  attacked  the  invaders.  Kansas  was 
actually  in  the  condition  of  civil  war.  The  national  administration  had  confirmed 
the  usurpations  of  the  slave  power,  and  had  seconded  every  effort  to  crush  out 
the  spontaneous  movement  of  the  people  to  protest  against  those  usurpations  and 
to  petition  Congress  for  redress. 

33 


The  condition,  however,  became  so  alarming  that  Governor  Shannon  was. 
removed  and  John  W.  Geary,  of  Pennsylvania,  appointed  Governor.  He  assumed 
office  Sept.  n,  1856.  Governor  Geary  was  sincerely  devoted  to  establishing  peace 
and  order  in  Kansas.  He  at  once  issued  a  proclamation  disbanding  the  militia, 
which  had  been  organized  under  the  authority  of  Governor  Shannon  and  acting 
Governor  Woodson.  The  pro-slavery  men  were  reluctant  to  obey  these  orders, 
and  again  laid  siege  to  Lawrence,  but  the  Governor,  with  great  coolness  and 
courage,  accompanied  by  the  dragoons,  threw  himself  between  the  besiegers  and 
the  town  and  put  an  end  to  the  contest.  By  the  end  of  November,  Governor 
Geary's  policy  had  resulted  in  sending  to  their  homes  the  armed  men  from  Mis- 
souri, and  the  disbandment  of  the  companies  of  free  State  men  who  had  organized 
for  self  defense.  But  these  pacific  measures  came  too  late  to  have  any  effect  upon, 
the  elections. 


34 


CHAPTER  VI. 

GOVERNOR  WILLIAM  H.  BISSELL'S  ADMINISTRATION,  1857-1860. 

William  H.  Bissell  was  born  in  Yates  County,  New  York,  April  25,  1811. 
He  was  by  profession  a  physician.  When  he  came  to  Illinois  he  settled  in  Mon- 
roe County,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  medicine.  He  was  a  man  ot  pleas- 
ing address  and  popular  manners,  and  impressed  himself  favorably  upon  his  asso- 
ciates as  a  man  of  ability. 

In  1840  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  as  a  Democrat,  and  immediately 
took  a  leading  part  in  public  affairs.  He  developed  great  ability  as  a  public 
speaker.  This  experience  caused  an  important  change  in  his  life.  He  studied 
law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  was  soon  appointed  state's  attorney  for  his 
circuit.  His  rise  as  a  lawyer  was  rapid.  He  soon  reached  the  first  rank  in  the 
profession,  both  in  the  preparation  of  cases  and  as  an  advocate.  A  man  of  educa- 
tion and  of  fine  literary  tastes,  his  speeches  were  not  only  forcible  in  argument 
and  delivery,  but  elegant  in  diction. 

When  the  Mexican  War  broke  out  he  raised  a  regiment  for  the  service ;  he 
was  appointed  colonel  of  the  Second  Illinois  Infantry,  this  being  one  of  the 
seven  regiments  of  Illinois  troops  that  participated  in  that  war.  Colonel  Bissell 
proved  himself  to  be  a  good  soldier.  He  served  under  General  Taylor  in  his 
great  campaign  in  Mexico  and  distinguished  himself  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista. 

In  1848,  after  his  return  from  the  war,  he  was  elected  to  Congress  and  re- 
elected  in  1850  and  1852.  A  leading  position  was  accorded  to  him;  he  was  at- 
tending to  business,  and  was  at  once  recognized  as  able  and  eloquent  in  debate. 
It  was  Colonel  Bissell's  fortune  to  be  a  member  of  Congress  at  a  time  when  the 
slavery  question  agitated  the  country  and  seriously  engaged  the  attention  of 
C'ongress.  In  the  course  of  the  debate  in  the  House  Mr.  Brown  of  Mississippi 
made  a  serious  attack  upon  the  Northern  States  in  regard  to  slavery,  and  Mr. 
Seddon  of  Virginia,  in  a  speech  disparaged  the  courage  of  Northern  troops  at 
the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  claiming  that  Colonel  Jefferson  Davis'  regiment  of 
Mississippi  volunteers  saved  the  day.  Colonel  Bissell  replied  to  those  speeches. 
He  defended  the  North  against  Mr.  Brown's  assault  in  a  masterly  manner.  In 
reply  to  the  claims  of  Mr.  Seddon,  he  said :  "I  affirm  distinctly,  sir,  that  at  the 
time  the  Second  Indiana  Regiment  gave  way  through  an  unfortunate  order  of 
their  colonel,  the  Mississippi  regiment,  for  whom  the  claim  is  gratuitously  set 
up,  was  not  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  scene  of  action,  nor  yet  had  fired  a  gun 
or  pulled  a  trigger.  I  affirm  further,  sir,  that  the  troops  which  at  that  time  met 
and  resisted  the  enemy,  and  thus,  to  use  the  gentleman's  own  language,  'snatched 
victory  from  the  jaws  of  defeat/  were  the  Second  Kentucky,  the  Second  Illinois 
and  part  of  the  First  Illinois  Regiments.  It  gives  me  no  pleasure,  sir,  to  be 
compelled  to  allude  to  this  subject,  nor  can  I  see  the  necessity  or  propriety  of  its 
introduction  in  this  debate.  It  having  been  introduced,  however,  I  could  not  sit 
in  silence  and  witness  the  infliction  of  such  cruel  injustice  upon  men,  living  and 
dead,  whose  well-earned  fame  I  were  a  monster  not  to  protect.  The  true,  brave 
hearts  of  too  many  of  them,  alas,  have  already  mingled  with  the'  soil  of  a  foreign 
country ;  but  their  claims  upon  the  justice  of  their  countrymen  can  never  cease, 
nor  can  my  obligations  to  them  be  ever  forgotten  or  disregarded. 

"No,  sir,  the  voice  of  Hardin,  that  voice  which  so  often  has  been  heard 
in  this  hall,  as  mine  now  is,  though  far  more  eloquently,  the  voice  of  Hardin, 
yea,  and  McKee  and  the  accomplished  Clay,  each  wrapped  now  in  his  bloody 

35 


shroud,  their  voices  would  reproach  me  from  the  grave  had  I  failed  in  this  act 
of  justice  to  them  and  to  others  who  fought  and  fell  by  their  side. 

"You  will  suspect  me,  Mr.  Chairman,  of  having  warm  feelings  on  this  sub- 
ject. Sir,  I  have,  and  have  given  them  utterance  as  a  matter  of  duty.  In  all  this, 
however,  I  by  no  means  detract  from  the  gallant  conduct  of  the  Mississippi 
regiment.  At  other  time  and  places  on  that  bloody  field  they  did  all  that  their 
warmest  admirers  could  desire.  But  let  me  ask  again,  why  was  the  subject 
introduced  into  this  debate  ?  Why  does  this  gentleman  say  'troops  of  the  North 
gave  way'  when  he  means  only  a  single  regiment?  Why  is  all  this,  but  for  the 
purpose  of  disparaging  the  North  for  the  benefit  of  the  South?  Why,  but  for 
furnishing  materials  for  that  ceaseless,  never-ending  theme  of  Southern 
chivalry  ?" 

After  vindicating  the  Northern  States  from  aggressions  upon  the  South, 
Colonel  Bissell  concluded  by  saying,  "We  are  ready  to  meet  you  now  on  any 
fair  grounds  and  fight  with  you  side  by  side  for  your  rights  and  ours  ;  and  defend 
those  rights  under  the  constitution  from  encroachment  in  any  quarter.  But,  sir, 
we  want  to  hear  no  more  about  disunion.  We  are  attached  to  the  Union — aye, 
devotedly  are  we  attached  to  it.  We  regard  it  as  the  ark  of  safety  for  the  Ameri- 
can people.  We  know  that  the  realization  of  the  hopes  for  human  freedom 
throughout  the  world  depends  upon  its  perpetuity.  And  shall  we  ruthlessly 
crush  those  hopes  forever?  Shall  that  beacon  light  which  our  fathers  raised  to 
cheer  and  guide  the  friends  of  freedom  be  extinguished  by  us?  Extinguish  it 
if, you  will,  but  know  that  when  you  do  it  the  world  is  enshrouded  in  darkness 
more  frightful  than  Egyptian  night.  I  know  the  people  of  my  State.  I  know  the 
people  of  the  great  West  and  Northwest,  and  I  know  their  devotion  to  the 
American  Union,  and  I  feel  warranted  in  saying  in  my  place  here  that  when  you 
talk  to  them  about  destroying  this  Union,  there  is  not  a  man  throughout  that 
vast  region  who  will  not  raise  his  hand  and  swear  by  the  Eternal  God,  as  I  do 
now,  it  shall  never  be  done  if  our  army  can  save  it.  Illinois  proffered  to  the 
country  nine  regiments  to  aid  in  the  vindication  of  her  rights  in  the  war  with 
Mexico.  And  should  danger  threaten  the  Union  from  any  source,  or  in  any 
quarter,  in  the  North  or  in  the  South,  she  will  be  ready  to  furnish  twice,  thrice, 
yes,  four  times  that  number  to  march  where  that  danger  may  be,  to  return  when 
it  is  past  or  return  no  more." 

This  speech  gave  great  offense  to  Southern  members  and  resulted  in  Senator 
Jefferson  Davis  challenging  Colonel  Bissell  to  fight  a  duel.  Although  the  settle- 
ment of  difficulties  in  this  way  was  contrary  to  public  opinion  in  the  North  and 
particularly  in  Illinois,  Colonel  Bissell  immediately  accepted  the  challenge, 
choosing  as  the  weapon  to  be  used  the  army  musket,  to  be  loaded  with  a  ball  and 
three  buck-shot,  the  combatants  to  take  position  forty  yards  apart,  with  the 
liberty  to  advance  to  ten. 

This  action,  no  doubt,  took  Colonel  Davis  and  his  Southern  friends  by  sur- 
prise. President  Taylor,  the  father-in-law  of  Davis,  was  a  friend  and  admirer  of 
Colonel  Bissell,  and  was  unwilling  to  have  the  duel  come  off.  By  the  interposition 
of  friends,  the  matter  was  settled  by  Colonel  Bissell  making  the  statement  in 
regard  to  the  Mississippi  regiment:  "I  am  willing  to  award  them  the  credit 
due  to  their  gallant  and  distinguished  services  in  that  battle."  This  sentiment, 
it  will  be  observed,  was  contained  in  the  text  of  the  offensive  speech,  and  in  fact 
constituted  no  withdrawal  whatever,  but  the  friends  of  Colonel  Davis  were  willing 
to  accept  it,  and  the  difficulty  was  settled. 

This  episode  brought  Colonel  Bissell  into  great  prominence  throughout  the 
country.  His  attitude  on  the  then  pending  questions  clearly  indicated  his  un- 
willingness to  support  the  unreasonable  demands  of  the  slave  power.  His  nom- 
ination and  election  as  Governor  showed  his  great  personal  popularity. 

Governor  Bissell  was  inaugurated  Jan.  12,  1857.  In  consequence  of  his  crip- 
pled condition,  the  ceremony  took  place  at  the  Executive  Mansion.  The  Demo- 
crats had  a  majority  in  both  branches  of  the  Legislature.  The  ill  feeling  of  the 
campaign  was  carried  into  the  Legislature,  and  both  Houses  were  kept  in  a 
state  of  unrest  and  excitement  during  the  whole  of  the  session.  Upon  the  mo- 
tion to  print  the  Governor's  address,  a  violent  attack  was  made  upon  him  on  the 
ground  that  he  was  ineligible  to  take  the  oath  of  office,  because  of  having  ac- 

36 


WILLIAM  H.  B1SSELL. 


37 


cepted  the  challenge  of  Jefferson  Davis  to  fight  a  duel.  John  A.  Logan  took 
the  lead  in  this  attack  :  the  Governor  was  ably  defended  by  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  C.  B. 
Denio,  and  others.  They  claimed  that  the  alleged  offense  was  committee  outside 
the  State  of  Illinois,  and  beyond  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Constitution.  While 
partisan  feeling  was  invoked  against  the  Governor  because  of  this  act,  there  was 
a  strong  undercurrent  of  respect  because  of  the  splendid  courage  he  had  exhib- 
ited in  the  affair.  The  most  important  contest  in  the  Legislature  was  over  the 
Apportionment  bills.  Each  party  presented  a  measure  for  re-districting  the 
State.  The  Democratic  measure  passec  both  Houses,  and  with  an  Appropriation 
Bill  was  forwarded  to  the  Governor,  who  by  mistake  signed  the  Apportionment 
Bill,  thinking  it  was  the  Appropriation  Bill,  and  returned  it  to  the  House  ;  finding 
his  mistake  he  sent  a  message  recalling  the  bill,  which  being  refused,  he  for- 
warded to  the  House  a  message  vetoing  the  act.  The  House  refused  to  receive 
the  message,  and  ordered  the  bill  to  be  filed  with  the  Secretary  of  State.  The 
Republicans  filed  a  protest  against  this  action. 

These  proceedings  created  great  excitement  amongst  the  members  and  inter- 
fered seriously  with  the  orderly  transaction  of  business.  The  only  important 
measures  passed  at  this  session  were  the  laws  to  establish  a  normal  university 
near  Bloomington,  and  a  new  penitentiary  building  at  Joliet.  The  session  ad- 
journed February  19,  without  a  quorum.  Among  the  many  prominent  members 
of  that  Legislature  who  became  influential  factors  in  the  Republican  party  were 
Norman  B.  Judd,  Burton  C.  Cook,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  G.  A.  D.  Parkes.  John 
A.  Logan,  Samuel  W.  Moulton,  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  E.  C.  Ingersoll,  Shelby  M. 
Cullom,  William  Lathrop,  Moses  M.  Bane,  ana  L.  S.  Church. 

At  the  election  of  1858,  James  Miller  was  re-elected  State  Treasurer  and 
Newton  Bateman  was  elected  Superintendent  of  Public  Schools.  Again  the  State 
of  Illinois  was  carried  by  the  Republican  State  ticket,  and  again  a  majority  of 
the  Legislature  was  elected  by  the  Democratic  party,  thereby  securing  to  Judge 
Douglas  a  re-election  to  the  United  States  Senate.  The  House  of  Representa- 
tives was  organized  in  January,  1859,  by  the  election  of  William  R.  Morrision, 
Speaker.  This  Legislature  was  distinguished  for  the  ability  of  its  members. 
Henry  W.  Blodgett,  Ebenezer  Peck,  Leonard  Swett,  Alonzo  W.  Mack,  Stephen 
A.  Hurlbert,  and  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall  are  a  few  of.  those  who  have  occupied 
prominent  positions  in  the  country.  The  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  having 
upheld  the  action  of  Governor  Bissell  in  vetoing  the  Apportionment  Bill  of  the 
last  session,  the  Democrats  of  the  Legislature  decided  to  pass  an  Apportionment 
Bill.  A  bill  strictly  on  partisan  lines  was  prepared  by  the  Democratic  com- 
mittee ;  an  analysis  showed  that  the  Democratic  counties  with  a  population  of 
477,678,  were  given  41  Representatives,  while  the  Republican  counties  with  a 
population  of  646,748,  were  given  only  34  Representatives.  The  Republicans 
contested  the  passage  of  this  bill  at  every  step.  The  future  legislative  supremacy 
of  the  Democratic  party  in  the  State  centered  in  this  measure,  and  everything 
was  subordinated  to  it,  the  Democrats  being  determined  to  pass  the  bill.  The 
bill  was  passed  February  15,  ana  presented  to  the  Governor  for  his  action.  On 
February  22,  the  Governor  sent  to  the  House  a  message  vetoing  the  bill.  The 
majority  of  the  Republican  members,  knowing  that  the  veto  message  would  be 
presented,  left  the  hall.  The  private  secretary  of  the  Governor  presented  himself 
to  the  House  with  the  message  and  began  reading  it.  He  was  interrupted  by  the 
Speaker,  who  declared  that  there  was  no  quorum  present.  The  Speaker  directed 
the  sergeant-at-arms  to  remove  the  private  secretary,  but  amid  great  confusion 
the  reading  of  the  message  was  concluded  and  left  in  the  hands  of  the  page  to 
be  delivered  to  the  Speaker.  The  Speaker  refused  to  receive  the  document  and 
the  private  secretary  declined  to  accept  the  return  of  it.  The  message  was  placed 
upon  the  Speaker's  desk,  who  indignantly  threw  it  upon  the  floor.  Upon  a  call 
of  the  House  it  appeared  that  there  was  no  quorum  present,  and  the  House  ad- 
journed amid  great  excitement.  A  few  Republican  members  had  been  left  be- 
hind to  watch  the  interests  of  their  party.  These  gentlemen,  viz :  Hurlbert,  Swett, 
Mack,  Church,  and  John  A.  Davis,  prepared  and  filed  a  protest  against  the  action 
of  the  Speaker  and  of  the  House  in  refusing  to  receive  the  Governor's  veto.  This 
protest  was  entered  upon  the  Journal.  Democratic  members  also  prepared  a  pro- 
test against  the  action  of  the  Republican  members,  which  was  signed  by  Messrs. 


Campbell,  Barrett,  Detrich,  Sloss,  James  M.  Davis,  and  Green.  No  quorum  ap- 
peared, and  on  February  24  the  Legislature  adjourned  sine  die. 

Appropriations  had  been  made  early  in  the  session  for  continuing  the  work 
on  the  Joliet  Penitentiary ;  for  paying  the  interest  on  the  public  debt  and  for  the 
support  of  the  charitable  institutions  at  Jacksonville,  so  no  serious  inconvenience 
resulted  from  this  sudden  adjournment  of  the  Legislature.  During  the  session 
an  exciting  and  somewhat  amusing  incident  occurred.  It  was  understood  that 
*m  effort  would  be  made  to  amend  the  Chicago  charter;  the  Republicans  be- 
lieved that  it  would  be  a  partisan  measure  in  the  interest  of  the  Democracy,  so 
they  decided  to  resist  its  passage.  They  were  not  advised  who  would  introduce 
the  bill,  but  were  watching  diligently  for  it.  At  one  of  the  evening  sessions,  Mr. 
Hicks,  of  Gallatin  County,  arose,  holding  a  large  package  in  his  hand.  .  A  murmur 
instantly  was  heard  in  the  hall — "Here  it  comes !"  "There  is  the  new  Chicago 
Charter!"  etc.  Mr.  Hicks  was  recognized  by  the  Speaker,  and  introduced  "A 
Bill  to  amend  the  Chicago  Charter."  Pandemonium  instantly  broke  loose.  The 
Speaker  directed  the  reading  of  the  bill  by  the  title.  A  demand  was  made  to  read 
the  bill  in  full.  The  clerk  began  the  reading  of  the  bill,  but  was  interrupted  mo- 
mentarily by  dilatory  motions  of  every  conceivable  kind.  Filibustering  continued 
until  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  when,  by  agreement,  the  bill  was  referred  to 
a  committee,  from  whose  files  it  was  never  taken. 

It  was  during  this  session  of  the  Legislature  that  the  fraud  in  the  refunding 
of  over  $388,000  of  Illinois  and  Michigan  scrip  was  discovered.  This  scrip  was 
issued  as  a  temporary  loan,  and  was  afterwards  redeemed,  but  by  neglect  not 
cancelled.  During  Governor  Mattison's  administration,  the  two  packages  con- 
taining the  old  canal  scrip  were  forwarded  to  Springfield  for  storage  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  Capitol.  The  uncancelled  scrip  was  stolen,  and  it  was  shown  that 
some  of  it  had  been  purchased  on  the  market  in  Springfield.  About  $100,000 
of  this  scrip  was  refunded  in  State  bonds,  which  had  been  deposited  as  security 
with  the  Treasurer  for  bank  note  issues,  and  over  $223,000  of  the  scrip  had  been 
redeemed  in  cash.  Governor  Mattison  had  received  all  the  bonHs  and  cash  upon 
this  scrip.  The  discovery  of  this  fraud  created  a  great  sensation  at  Springfield 
and  throughout  the  State.  Governor  Mattison's  standing  as  a  man,  and  as  a 
public  officer,  was  above  reproach,  and  his  political  opponents  were  reluctant  to 
believe  that  he,  knowingly,  participated  in  this  fraud.  As  soon  as  the  facts  be- 
came known,  through  a  Senate  committee  composed  of  Messrs.  Cook,  Kuyken- 
dall  and  Applington,  Governor  Mattison,  in  a  letter  to  the  committee,  stated  that 
he  "had  unconsciously  and  innocently  been  made  the  instrument  through  whom 
a  gross  fraud  upon  the  State  had  been  attempted,"  and  offered  to  indemnify  the 
State  against  loss.  An  act  was  passed  to  indemnify  the  State,  and  under  its  pro- 
visions Governor  Mattison  executed  a  mortgage  upon  real  estate  to  secure  the 
debt.  The  administration  of  Governor  Bissell  was  in  every  way  a  success,  not 
only  in  respect  to  the  business  of  his  own  office,  but  in  connection  with  the 
business  of  all  of  the  departments.  It  was  during  this  administration  that  the 
great  movement  began  for  the  enlargement  and  improvement  of  the  school  facil- 
ities of  the  State  and  the  extension  and  improvement  of  the  charitable  and  penal 
institutions. 

At  the  time  of  the  election  of  Governor  Bissell  a  free  banking  law  was  in 
force  in  Illinois.  The  banks  incorporated  under  this  system  were  authorized  to 
issue  circulating  notes  secured  by  the  deposit  of  bonds  issued  by  any  of  the 
States  of  the  Union.  A  great  number  of  banks  were  organized,  and  over  eleven 
million  dollars  of  circulation  was  issued ;  the  majority  of  the  banks  were  located 
in  out-of-the-way  and  obscure  places,  obviously  to  make  it  inconvenient  for  the 
presentation  of  the  notes  for  redemption.  The  majority  of  these  corporations 
were  banks  of  issue  only — they  did  not  receive  deposits  or  loan  money — their 
profits  accrued  from  the  interest  on  the  bonds  deposited  to  secure  the  circulation. 
When  the  panic  of  1857  occurred,  a  number  of  the  States  whose  bonds  were  held 
as  security  for  circulation  failed  to  pay  their  interest ;  as  a  result  the  bonds  depre- 
ciated in  value  and  the  circulating  notes  followed  the  downward  course  of  the 
bonds.  These  "Wild  Cat"  banks  (as  they  were  called)  failed,  and  were  wound 
up  by  the  Auditor  of  the  State ;  this  business  was  conducted  by  Hon.  Jesse  K. 
Dubois,  Auditor.  In  the  course  of  the  liquidation  of  these  banks  the  note  holders 

39 


lost  about  five  million  dollars.  This  experience  of  the  people  of  Illinois  induced 
them,  later  on,  to  prohibit  in  their  Constitution  the  incorporation  of  banks  with 
authority  to  issue  circulating  notes. 

Governor  Bissell's  health  steadily  gave  way.  He  died  March  18,  1860,  and 
was  succeeded  in  office  by  Lieutenant-Governor  John  Wood,  who  with  ability 
filled  the  unexpired  term. 

John  Wood,  of  Quincy,  Illinois,  elected  Lieutenant-Governor  on  the  Repub- 
lican ticket  with  Governor  Bissell,  was  born  in  Moravia,  Cayuga  County,  New 
York,  December  20,  1798.  Dr.  Daniel  Wood,  his  father,  was  a  surgeon  and  cap- 
tain in  the  Continental  Army  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

John  Wood  removed  to  Illinois  in  1819;  in  1822  he  built  a  log  house  on 
the  land  upon  which  the  city  of  Quincy  now  stands.  Upon  the  death  of  Gov- 
ernor Bissell,  March  18,  1860,  Lieutenant-Governor  Wood  was  sworn  in  as 
Governor,  and  filled  the  office  with  great  ability  until  succeeded  by  Governor 
Yates,  January  14,  1861.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Yates  a  member  of 
the  Peace  Commission  which  met  in  Washington,  February,  1861.  He  was  also 
appointed  quartermaster  general  for  Illinois,.  In  1864  Governor  Wood  raised 
the  I3th  Regiment  of  Illinois  Volunteers — loo-day  men — and  was  soon  in  active 
service  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  He  filled  every  position  with  ability  and  fidelity. 

Governor  Wood  was  enterprising  and  public  spirited.  He  was  a  benevo- 
lent and  noble-hearted  man.  He  acquired  a  large  estate,  built  an  elegant  resi- 
dence, had  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  and  died  with  the  respect  of  all,  June  4,  1880. 


40 


CHAPTER  VII. 

DOUGLAS  AND  LINCOLN,  1858 — THE  GREAT  JOINT  DEBATE — IMPORTANT  QUES- 
TIONS DISCUSSED — ON  THE  DECLARATION  OF  INDEPENDENCE — ON  SLAV- 
ERY EXTENSION. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  people  of  Illinois  in  1858  to  elect  a  Legislature  and 
certain  State  officers.  That  Legislature  was  to  elect  a  successor  of  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  in  the  United  States  Senate.  The  Republicans  had  carried  the  State  two 
years  before  and  had  high  hopes  of  electing  this  Legislature. 

The  Republicans  held  a  State  Convention  at  Springfield,  June  i6th,  and 
nominated  Miller  and  Bateman  as  candidates  for  Treasurer  and  School  Superin- 
tendent. The  convention  also  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  candidate  for  the 
United  States  Senate.  This  action  was  taken  not  alone  to  express  a  preference  for 
him,  but  for  the  purpose  of  giving  Mr.  Lincoln  the  unquestioned  leadership  of  the 
Republican  party  during  the  political  contest  of  that  year.  Mr.  Lincoln  appeared 
before  the  convention  and  in  accepting  the  nomination  delivered  a  speech  of  great 
ability  and  power. 

The  slavery  question  was  the  issue,  and  the  only  issue  of  the  hour.  In  the 
course  of  that  speech  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  utterance  to  those  prophetic  words  which 
proved  to  be  the  horoscope  of  the  republic.  He  said :  "We  are  now  far  into  the 
fifth  year  since  a  policy  was  instituted  with  the  avowed  object  and  confident 
promise  of  putting  an  end  to  slavery  agitation.  Under  the  operation  of  that 
policy  that  agitation  has  not  only  not  ceased,  but  has  constantly  augmented. 
In  my  opinion  it  will  not  cease  until  a  crisis  has  been  reached  and  passed.  'A 
house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand.'  I  believe  this  government  cannot 
endure  permanently  half  slave  and  half  free.  I  do  not  expect  the  Union  to  be 
dissolved.  I  do  not  expect  the  house  to  fall,  but  I  do  expect  it  will  cease  to  be 
divided.  It  will  become  all  one  thing,  or  all  the  other.  Either  the  opponents  of 
slavery  will  arrest  the  further  spread  of  it  and  place  it  where  the  public  mind  shall 
rest  in  the  belief  that  it  is  in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction,  or  its  advocates 
will  push  it  forward  till  it  shall  become  alike  lawful  in  all  the  States,  old  as  well 
as  new,  North  as  well  as  South." 

Continuing  his  speech,  Mr.  Lincoln  gave  a  graphic  account  of  what  had  been 
done  during  the  preceding  four  years  to  bring  about  the  agitation  and  discord 
on  the  slavery  question  then  existing.  He  alleged  that  it  was  the  result  of  that 
"now  almost  complete  legal  combination — piece  of  machinery  so  to  speak — com- 
pounded of  the  Nebraska  doctrine  and  the  Dred  Scott  decision."  He  stated  the 
grounds  upon  which  he  charged  preconcert  among  the  builders  of  that  machinery. 
He  said:  "The  people  were  to  be  left  perfectly  free,  'subject  only  to  the  Constitu- 
tion.' What  the  Constitution  had  to  do  with  it,  outsiders  could  not  see.  Plainly 
enough  now,  it  was  an  exactly  fitted  niche  for  the  Dred  Scott  decision  to  after- 
ward come  in  and  declare  the  perfect  freedom  of  the  people  to  be  just  no  freedom 
at  all.  Why  was  the  amendment,  expressly  declaring  the  right  of  the  people, 
voted  down?  Plainly  enough  now,  the  adoption  of  it  would  have  spoiled  the 
niche  for  the  Dred  Scott  decision.  Why  was  the  court  decision  held  up?  Why 
even  a  Senator's  individual  opinion  withheld,  till  after  the  presidential  election  ? 
Plainly  enough  now,  the  speaking  out  then  would  have  damaged  ,the  'perfectly 
free'  argument  upon  which  the  election  was  to  be  carried.  Why  the  outgoing 
President's  felicitation  on  the  endorsement?  Why  the  delay  of  a  reargument? 
Why  the  incoming  President's  advance  exhortation  in  favor  of  the  decision  ? 
These  things  look  like  the  cautious  patting  and  petting  of  a  spirited  horse,  pre- 
41 


paratory  to  mounting  him,  when  it  is  dreaded  that  he  may  give  the  rider  a  fall. 
And  why  the  hasty  after-endorsement  of  the  decision,  by  the  President  and  others  ? 
We  cannot  absolutely  know  that  all  these  exact  adaptations  are  the  result  of  pre- 
concert. But  when  we  see  a  lot  of  framed  timbers,  different  portions  of  which 
we  know  have  been  gotten  out  at  different  times  and  places  and  by  different 
workmen — Stephen,  Franklin,  Roger,  and  James,  for  instance — and  when  we 
see  these  timbers  joined  together,  and  see  they  exactly  make  the  frame  of  a  house 
-or  a  mill,  all  the  tenons  and  mortices  exactly  fitting,  and  all  the  lengths  and  pro- 
portions of  the  different  pieces  exactly  adapted  to  their  respective  places,  and 
not  a  piece  too  many  or  too  few — not  omitting  even  the  scaffolding,  or,  if  a  single 
piece  be  lacking,  we  see  the  place  in  the  frame  exactly  fitted  and  prepared  yet 
to  bring  such  piece  in — in  such  a  case,  we  find  it  impossible  not  to  believe  that 
Stephen  and  Franklin  and  Roger  and  James  all  understood  one  another  from 
the  beginning,  and  all  worked  upon  a  common  plan  or  draft  drawn  up  before 
the  first  blow  was  struck." 

He  also  called  attention  to  the  fact  that  by  the  Nebraska  bill  the  people  of  a 
State,  as  well  as  a  Territory,  were  to  be  left  "perfectly  free,"  "subject  only  to  the 
Constitution,"  and  that  the  object  of  lugging  a  "State"  into  this  merely  Terri- 
torial law  was  to  enable  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  in  some  subsequent 
decision  to  declare,  when  the  public  mind  has  been  sufficiently  imbued  with  Judge 
Douglas'  notion  of  not  caring  "whether  slavery,  be  voted  up  or  voted  down," 
that  ''the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  does  not  permit  a  State  to  exclude 
slavery  from  its  limits,"  which  would  make  slavery  "alike  lawful  in  all  the  States." 

On  the  evening  of  July  gth  Senator  Douglas  addressed  a  large  and  enthusi- 
astic meeting  in  Chicago;  Mr.  Lincoln  was  present.  The  Senator  alluded  to 
his  opposition  to  the  bill  to  admit  Kansas  as  a  slave  State  under  the  Lecompton 
Constitution ;  he  declared  that  he  opposed  "the  Lecompton  monstrosity  solely  on 
the  ground  that  it  was  a  violation  of  the  fundamental  principles  of  free  govern- 
ment ;  on  the  ground  that  it  was  not  the  act  and  deed  of  the  people  of  Kansas ; 
that  it  did  not  embody  their  will ;  that  they  were  averse  to  it ;"  and  hence  he 
"denied  the  right  of  Congress  to  force  it  upon  them,  either  as  a  free  State  or  a 
slave  State." 

Said  he:  "I  deny  the  right  of  Congress  to  force  a  slaveholding  State  upon 
an  unwilling  people.  I  deny  their  right  to  force  a  free  State  upon  an  unwilling 
people.  I  deny  their  right  to  force  a  good  thing  upon  a  people  who  are  unwilling 
to  receive  it.  The  great  principle  is  the  right  of  every  community  to  judge  and 
decide  for  itself,  whether  a  thing  is  right  or  wrong,  whether  it  would  be  good  or 
evil  for  them  to  adopt  it ;  and  the  right  of  free  action,  the  right  of  free  thought, 
the  right  of  free  judgment  upon  the  question  is  dearer  to  every  true  American 
than  any  other  under  a  free  government.  *  *  It  is  •  no  answer  to  this 

argument  to  say  that  slavery  is  an  evil,  and  hence  should  not  be  tolerated.  You 
must  allow  the  people  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  it  is  good  or  evil."  He 
then  adverted  to  the  arraignment  of  himself  by  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  took  direct  issue 
with  that  gentleman  on  his  proposition  that,  as  to  freedom  and  slavery,  "the 
Union  will  become  all  one  thing  or  all  the  other ;"  and  maintained  on  the  con- 
trary, that  "it  is  neither  desirable  nor  possible  that  there  should  be  uniformity  in 
the  local  institutions  and  domestic  regulations  of  the  different  States  of  this 
Union." 

Mr.  Douglas  charged  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  making  "a  crusade  against  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  on  account  of  the  Dred  Scott  decision,"  he 
took  exception  to  "the  reason  assigned  by  Mr.  Lincoln  for  resisting  the  decision 
of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  Dred  Scott  case — because  it  deprives  the  negro  of 
the  privileges,  immunities  and  rights  of  citizenship  which  pertain,  according  to 
that  decision,  only  to  the  white  man."  Mr.  Douglas  said:  "I  am  free  to  say  to 
you  that  in  my  opinion  this  government  of  ours  is  founded  on  the  White  basis. 
It  was  made  by  the  White  man  for  the  benefit  of  the  White  man,  to  be  admin- 
istered by  White  men,  in  such  manner  as  they  should  determine.  It  is  also  true 
that  a  Negro,  an  Indian,  or  any  other  man  of  inferior  race  to  a  White  man,  should 
be  permitted  to  enjoy,  and  humanity  requires  that  he  should  have,  all  the  rights, 
privileges,  and  immunities  which  he  is  capable  of  exercising  consistent  with  the 
safety  of  society.  *  *  *  But  you  may  ask  me  what  are  these  rights  and  these 

42 


privileges?  My  answer  is,  that  each  State  must  decide  for  itself  the  nature  and 
extent  of  these  rights.  *  *  *  Without  indorsing  the  wisdom  of  that  decision, 
I  assert  that  Virginia  has  the  same  power  by  virtue  of  her  sovereignty  to  protect 
slavery  within  her  limits  as  Illinois  has  to  banish  it  forever  from  our  own  borders. 
I  assert  the  right  of  each  State  to  decide  for  itself  on  all  these  questions,  and  I 
do  not  subscribe  to  the  doctrine  of  my  friend,  Mr.  Lincoln,  that  uniformity  is 
either  desirable  or  possible.  I  do  not  acknowledge  that  the  States  must  all  be 
free  or  must  all  be  slave.  I  do  not  acknowledge  that  the  Negro  must  Jiave  civil 
and  political  rights  everywhere  or  nowhere.  *  *  *  I  do  not  acknowledge 
any  of  these  doctrines  of  uniformity  in  the  local  and  domestic  regulations  in  the 
different  States.  *  *  *  Mr.  Lincoln  goes  for  a  warfare  upon  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States  because  of  their  judicial  decision  in  the  Dred  Scott 
case.  I  yield  obedience  to  the  decisions  in  that  court — to  the  final  determination 
of  the  highest  judicial  tribunal  known  to  our  Constitution.  He  objects  to  the 
Dred  Scott  decision  because  it  does  not  put  the  Negro  in  the  possession  of  the 
rights  of  citizenship  on  an  equality  with  the  White  man.  I  am  opposed  to  Negro 
equality.  *  *  *  I  would  extend  to  the  Negro,  and  the  Indian,  and  to  all 
dependent  races  every  right,  every  privilege,  and  every  immunity  consistent  with 
the  safety  and  welfare  of  the  White  races  ;  but  equality  they  never  should  have, 
either  political  or  social,  or  in  any  other  respect  whatever.  *  *  *  My  friends, 
you  see  that  the  issues  are  distinctly  drawn." 

On  the  next  evening,  July  loth,  Mr.  Lincoln  also  addressed  a  large  meeting, 
in  reply  to  Senator  Douglas.  On  July  i6th  Senator  Douglas  spoke  at  Bloom- 
ington,  Mr.  Lincoln  being  present.  They  both  addressed  large  meetings  at 
Springfield  July  i^th ;  the  one  in  the  afternoon,  the  other  at  night. 

On  July  24th  Mr.  Lincoln  wrote  Senator  Douglas  proposing  a  joint  debate. 
Mr.  Douglas  agreed  to  the  proposition,  and  on  July  3ist  it  was  arranged  that 
they  should  have  seven  meetings  for  joint  discussions,  each  to  occupy  an  hour 
and  a  half  at  each  meeting,  the  opening  speech  to  be  one  hour,  the  closing  speech 
half  an  hour,  the  opening  speeches  to  be  alternated,  Mr.  Douglas  to  open  the 
debate  at  the  first  meeting.  They  agreed  to  meet  at  the  following  places  and 
times:  Ottawa,  Aug.  21  st;  Freeport,  Aug.  27th  ;  Jonesboro,  Sept.  1 5th  ;  Charles- 
ton, Sept.  1 3th  ;  Galesburg,  Oct.  7th  ;  Onincy,  Oct.  I3th  ;  Alton,  Oct.  I5th. 

Senator  Douglas'  determined  opposition  to  the  passage  of  the  bill  for  the 
admission  of  Kansas  as  a  slave  State  under  the  Lecompton  Constitution  had 
elicited  warm  commendation  from  the  Republican  press.  Mr.  Greeley,  speaking 
through  the  New  York  Tribune,  said  of  Mr.  Douglas :  "No  public  man  in  our 
day  has  earned  a  nobler  fidelity  and  courage ;"  that  "if  Lincoln's  election  was  to  be 
secured  by  a  coalition  between  Republicans  and  a  little  faction  of  postmasters, 
tide  waiters,  and  federal  office  seekers,  who  for  the  sake  of  their  dirty  pudding, 
present  and  hoped  for,  pretend  to  approve  the  Lecompton  fraud,  it  would  be 
regretted  by  Republicans  of  other  States."  But  there  was  no  coalition  between 
the  Republicans  and  Buchanan  Democrats ;  their  antagonism  was  too  great  to 
admit  of  any  affiliation  whatever. 

The  campaign  of  Senator  Douglas  was  aggressive,  and  his  supporters  were 
earnest  and  enthusiastic.  Every  effort  was  made  to  arouse  the  interest  of  the 
people  in  his  behalf.  At  every  meeting  banners  waved,  cannons  roared,  and 
bands  of  martial  music  sounded. 

The  supporters  of  Mr.  Lincoln  while  less  ostentatious  in  their  demonstra- 
tions, were  none  the  less  enthusiastic.  Great  concourses  of  people  turned  out  to 
hear  these  champions.  The  debate,  in  the  interest  it  excited  throughout  the 
country,  became  a  national  affair  and  was  watched  with  profound  attention.  It 
was  confidently  believed  by  many  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  overmatched  in  the 
contest,  but  that  impression  was  soon  dispelled.  He  soon  showed  that  he  was 
a  master  in  the  art  of  debate,  was  fully  equipped  for  controversy,  and  was  able 
to  lift  the  issues  above  the  petty  strife  of  small  politicians  into  an  atmosphere  of 
profound  statesmanship.  His  felicitous  reply  to  the  charge  of  opposition  to  the 
Dred  Scott  decision  attracted  universal  attention  and  gave  great  satisfaction  to 
his  friends.  The  joint  debate  between  Abraham  Lincoln  and  Stephen  A.  Douglas, 
during  the  political  canvass  of  1858,  has  taken  its  place  permanently  in  the 
political  literature  of  the  country.  These  men  were  representative  leaders  of  their 

43 


parties.  They  were  both  resourceful  and  adroit  in  the  art  of  attack  and  defence, 
and  they  had  studied  the  philosophy  of  the  issues  involved  so  as  to  be  able  to 
present  the  strong  points  of  their  own  positions  and  the  weak  sides  of  their 
opponents.  It  is  not  the  plan  of  this  work  to  give  space  for  the  twenty-one 
speeches  delivered  during  that  debate,  but  to  present  the  issues  that  arose  in  that 
memorable  contest. 

Senator  Douglas  opened  the  debate — he  gave  a  brief  history  of  the  position 
taken  by  the  Democratic  and  Whig  parties  upon  the  slavery  question,  showing 
that  both  parties  supported  the  compromise  measures  of  1850,  which  he  insisted 
were  carried  out  in  the  Nebraska-Kansas  bill,  which  declared  that  "It  is  the  true 
intent  and  meaning  of  this  act  not  to  legislate  slavery  into  any  State  or  Territory, 
or  to  exclude  it  therefrom,  but  to  leave  the  people  thereof  perfectly  free  to  form 
and  regulate  their  domestic  institutions  in  their  own  way,  subject  only  to  the 
Federal  Constitution."  He  claimed  that  up  to  that  time  "there  had  been  no 
division  in  this  country  in  regard  to  that  principle  except  the  opposition  of  the 
Abolitionists."  He  charged  that  in  1854  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Trumbull  made 
a  bargain  to  the  effect  that  "Lincoln  should  have  Shield's  place  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  which  was  then  about  to  become  vacant,  and  that  Trumbull  should 
have  my  seat  when  my  term  expired  ;"  that  "Lincoln  went  to  work  to  Abolitionize 
the  old  Whig  party  all  over  the  State,  pretending  that  he  was  then  as  good  a 
Whig  as  ever,  and  Trumbull  went  to  work  in  his  part  of  the  State,  preaching 
Abolitionism  in  its  milder  and  lighter  form,  and  trying  to  Abolitionize  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  and  bring  old  Democrats,  handcuffed  and  bound  hand  and  foot,  into 
the  Abolition  camp." 

Mr.  Douglas  then  read  certain  resolutions  which  had  been  adopted  at  a 
mass  convention  in  Springfield  in  October,  1854,  for  the  purpose,  as  he  said, 
of  putting  certain  questions  to  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  said :  "I  desire  to  know  whether 
Mr.  Lincoln  to-day  stands  as  he  did  in  1854  in  favor  of  the  unconditional  repeal 
of  the  fugitive  slave  law ;  against  the  admission  of  any  more  slave  States  into  the 
Union,  even  if  the  people  want  them ;  against  the  admission  of  a  new  State  into 
the  Union  with  such  a  constitution  as  the  people  of  that^  State  may  see  fit  to 
make ;  whether  he  stands  to-day  pledged  to  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia ;  to  the  prohibition  of  the  slave  trade  between  the  different 
States ;  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  north  as 
well  as  south  of  the  Missouri  compromise  line ;  whether  he  is  opposed  to  the 
acquisition  of  any  more  territory  unless  slavery  is  prohibited  therein."  "I  ask 
Abraham  Lincoln  these  questions  in  order  that  when  I  trot  him  down  to  lower 
'Egypt'  I  may  put  the  same  questions  to  him.  My  principles  are  the  same  every- 
where. I  can  proclaim  them  alike  in  the  North,  the  South,  the  East  and  the 
West.  My  principles  will  apply  wherever  the  Constitution  prevails  and  the 
American  flag  waves.  I  desire  to  know  whether  Mr.  Lincoln's  principles  will 
bear  transportation  from  Ottawa  to  Jonesboro.  I  put  these  questions  to  him 
to-day  distinctly,  and  ask  an  answer." 

Senator  Douglas  took  up  Mr.  Lincoln's  speech  of  June  i6th,  in  which  he 
expressed  the  belief  that  "this  government  cannot  endure  permanently  half  slave 
and  half  free,"  and  asked:  "Why  can  it  not  exist  divided  into  free  and  slave 
States?  Washington,  Jefferson,  Franklin,  Madison,  Hamilton,  Jay,  and  the 
great  men  of  that  day  made  this  Government  divided  into  free  States  and  slave 
States  and  left  each  State  perfectly  free  to  do  as  it  pleased  on  the  subject  of 
slavery.  Why  can  it  not  exist  on  the  same  principles  on  which  our  fathers  made 
it?"  He  said:  "I  believe  that  this  new  doctrine  preached  by  Lincoln  and  his 
party  will  dissolve  the  Union,  if  it  succeeds.  They  are  trying  to  array  all  the 
Northern  States,  in  one  body,  against  the  South ;  to  excite  a  sectional  war 
between  the  free  States  and  the  slave  States,  in  order  that  the  one  or  the  other 
may  be  driven  to  the  wall." 

Mr.  Lincoln  referred  to  the  alleged  senatorial  deal  between  himself  and  Mr. 
Trumbull;  he  declared  it  was  a  gross  and  palpable  misrepresentation  and  not 
true.  In  regard  to  the  resolutions  read  by  Mr.  Douglas  as  the  Republican 
platform  of  1854,  he  stated:  "I  never  had  anything  to  do  with  them,  and  I  think 
that  Trumbull  never  had.  Judge  Douglas  cannot  show  that  either  of  us  ever 
did  have  anything  to  do  with  them.  As  to  himself,  he  had  refused  to  go  into 

44 


45 


the  Springfield  convention  and  went  away  from  Springfield  when  the  convention 
was  in  session  to  attend  court  in  Tazewell  County."  He  denied  the  charge  of 
"Lincoln  agreeing  to  Abolitionize  and  sell  out  the  old  Whig  party."  Mr.  Lincoln 
read  from  a  printed  speech  made  by  him  at  Peoria  to  show  the  position  he  took  in 
1854.  In  that  speech,  referring  to  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri  compromise,  he 
said:  "I  think,  and  shall  try  to  show,  that  it  is  wrong;  wrong  in  its  direct  effect, 
letting  slavery  into  Kansas  and  Nebraska,  and  wrong  in  its  prospective  principle, 
allowing  it  to  spread  to  every  other  part  of  the  wide  world  where  men  can  be 
found  inclined  to  take  it.  This  declared  indifference,  but,  as  I  must  think,  covert 
real  zeal  for  the  spread  of  slavery,  I  cannot  but  hate.  I  hate  it  because  of  the 
monstrous  injustice  of  slavery  itself.  I  hate  it  because  it  deprives  our  republican 
example  of  its  just  influence  in  the  world — enables  the  enemies  of  free  institu- 
tions, with  plausibility,  to  taunt  us  as  hypocrites — causes  the  real  friends  of  free- 
dom to  doubt  our  sincerity,  and  especially  because  it  forces  so  many  really  good 
men  amongst  ourselves  into  an  open  war  with  the  very  fundamental  principles 
of  civil  liberty — criticising  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  insisting  that 
there  is  no  right  principle  of  action  but  self-interest.  *  *  *  When  Southern 
people  tell  us  they  are  no  more  responsible  for  the  origin  of  slavery  than  we,  I 
acknowledge  the  fact.  When  it  is  said  that  the  institution  exists,  and  that  it  is 
very  difficult  to  get  rid  of  it  in  any  satisfactory  way,  I  can  understand  and  appre- 
ciate the  saying.  I  surely  will  not  blame  them  for  not  doing  what  I  should  not 
know  how  to  do  myself.  If  all  earthly  power  were  given  me,  I  should  not  know 
what  to  do,  as  to  the  existing  institution.  My  first  impulse  would  be  to  free  all 
the  slaves,  and  send  them  to  Liberia — to  their  own  native  land.  But  a  moment's 
reflection  would  convince  me  that  whatever  of  high  hope  (as  I  think  there  is) 
there  may  be  in  this,  in  the  long  run,  its  sudden  execution  is  impossible.  *  *  * 
What  then?  Free  them  all,  and  keep  them  among  us  as  underlings?  Is  it  quite 
certain  that  this  betters  their  condition  ?  I  think  I  would  not  hold  one  in  slavery 
at  any  rate ;  yet  the  point  is  not  clear  enough  to  me  to  denounce  people  upon. 

"What  next  ?  Free  them,  and  make  them  politically  and  socially  our  equals  ? 
My  own  feelings  will  not  admit  of  this ;  and  if  mine  would,  we  well  know  that 
those  of  the  great  mass  of  white  people  will  not.  Whether  this  feeling  accords 
with  justice  and  sound  judgment,  is  not  the  sole  question,  if,  indeed,  it  is  any 
part  of  it.  A  universal  feeling,  whether  well  or  ill-founded,  cannot  be  safely 
disregarded.  We  cannot,  then,  make  them  equals.  It  does  seem  to  me  that 
systems  of  gradual  emancipation  might  be  adopted ;  but  for  their  tardiness  in  this 
I  will  not  undertake  to  judge  our  brethren  of  the  South  ;  when  they  remind  us 
of  their  constitutional  rights,  I  acknowledge  them,  not  grudgingly,  but  fully  and 
fairly ;  and  I  would  give  them  any  legislation  for  the  reclaiming  of  their  fugitives, 
which  should  not,  in  its  stringency,  be  more  likely  to  carry  a  free  man  into  slavery, 
than  our  ordinary  criminal  laws  are  to  hang  an  innocent  one. 

"But  all  this,  to  my  judgment,  furnishes  no  more  excuse  for  permitting 
slavery  to  go  into  our  own  free  territory  than  it  would  for  reviving  the  African 
slave  trade  by  law.  The  law  which  forbids  the  bringing  of  slaves  from  Africa, 
and  that  which  has  so  long  forbid  the  taking  of  them  to  Nebraska,  can  hardly 
be  distinguished  on  any  moral  principle ;  and  the  repeal  of  the  former  could  find 
quite  as  plausible  excuses  as  that  of  the  latter.  *  *  * 

"I  will  say  here,  while  upon  this  subject,  that  I  have  no  purpose,  directly 
or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  the  institution  of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it 
exists.  I  believe  I  have  no  .lawful  right  so  to  do,  and  I  have  no  inclination  to  do- 
so.  I  have  no  purpose  to  introduce  political  and  social  equality  between  the 
white  and  black  races.  There  is  a  physical  difference  between  the  two,  which,  in 
my  judgment,  will  probably  forever  forbid  their  living  together  upon  the  footing 
of  perfect  equality,  and  inasmuch  as  it  becomes  a  necessity  that  there  must  be 
a  difference,  I,  as  well  as  Judge  Douglas,  am  in  favor  of  the  race  to  which  I 
belong  having  the  superior  position. 

"I  have  never  said  anything  to  the  contrary,  but  I  hold  that,  notwithstanding 
all  this,  there  is  no  reason  in  the  world  why  the  negro  is  not  entitled  to  all  the 
natural  rights  enumerated  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence — the  right  to  life, 
liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  I  hold  that  he  is  as  much  entitled  to  these 
as  the  white  man.  I  agree  with  Judge  Douglas,  he  is  not  my  equal  in  many 

46 


respects — certainly  not  in  color,  perhaps  not  in  moral  or  intellectual  endowment. 
But  in  the  right  to  eat  the  bread,  without  the  leave  of  anybody  else,  which  his^ 
own  hand  earns,  he  is  my  equal  and  the  equal  of  Judge  Douglas,  and  the  equal  of 
every  living  man." 

Senator  Douglas  in  his  closing  speech  exhibited  irritation  at  the  charge  of 
conspiracy  preferred  by  Mr.  Lincoln.  He  charged  that  Mr.  Lincoln  had  failed 
to  answer  the  questions  propounded  to  him,  that  he  had  "dodged  the  issue."  Re- 
ferring to  the  charge  of  conspiracy  between  Presidents  Pierce,  Buchanan,  Judge 
Taney  and  himself,  Senator  Douglas  said  he  "would  deprive  Lincoln  of  the  op- 
portunity of  ever  repeating  it  again,  by  declaring  that  it  was,  in  all  its  bearings, 
an  infamous  lie.  *  *  I  am  not  green  enough,"  continued  Mr.  Douglas,  "to 

let  him  make  a  charge  which  he  acknowledges  he  does  not  know  to  be  true,  and 
then  take  up  my  time  in  answering  it,  when  I  know  it  to  be  false,  and  nobody 
else  knows  it  to  be  true.  I  have  not  brought  a  charge  of  moral  turpitude  against 
him.  When  he,  or  any  other  man,  brings  one  against  me,  instead  of  disproving 
it,  I  will  say  that  it  is  a  lie,  and  let  him  prove  it,  if  he  can.  *  *  *  Mr.  Lincoln 
wants  to  know  why  the  word  'State'  as  well  as  'Territory'  was  put  into  the 
Nebraska  bill.  I  will  tell  him.  It  was  put  there  to  meet  just  such  false  arguments 
as  he  has  been  adducing.  That  first,  not  only  the  people  of  the  Territories  should 
do  as  they  pleased,  but  that  when  they  come  to  be  admitted  as  States,  they  should 
come  into  the  Union  with  or  without  slavery,  as  the  people  determined.  I  meant 
to  knock  in  the  head  this  abolition  doctrine  of  Mr.  Lincoln's,  that  there  shall  be  no 
more  slave  States,  even  if  the  people  want  them.  And  it  does  not  do  for  him 
to  say,  or  for  any  other  Black  Republican  to  say,  that  there  is  nobody  in  favor 
of  the  doctrine  of  no  more  slave  States,  and  that  nobody  wants  to  interfere  with 
the  right  of  the  people  to  do  as  they  please. 

"What  was  the  origin  of  the  Missouri  difficulty  and  the  Missouri  compro- 
mise? The  people  of  Missouri  formed  a  constitution  as  a  slave  State,  and  asked 
admission  into  the  Union,  but  the  Freesoil  party  of  the  North  being  in  a  majority, 
refused  to  admit  her  because  she  had  slavery  as  one  of  her  institutions.  Hence 
this  first  slavery  agitation  arose  upon  a  State,  and  not  upon  a  Territory — and 
yet  Mr.  Lincoln  does  not  know  why  the  word  State  was  placed  in  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  bill.  The  whole  abolition  agitation  arose  on  that  doctrine  of  prohibiting 
a  State  from  coming  in  with  slavery  or  not,  as  it  pleased ;  and  that  same  doctrine 
is  here  in  this  Republican  platform  of  1854;  it  has  never  been  repealed;  and 
every  Black  Republican  stands  pledged  by  that  platform,  never  to  vote  for  any 
man  who  is  not  in  favor  of  it. 

"Yet  Mr.  Lincoln  does  not  know  that  there  is  a  man  in  the  world  who  is  in 
favor  of  preventing  a  State  from  coming  in  as  it  pleases,  notwithstanding  the 
Springfield  platform  says  that  they,  the  Republican  party,  will  not  allow  a  State 
to  come  in  under  such  circumstances.  He  is  an  ignorant  man.  Now  you  see 
that  upon  these  very  points  I  am  as  far  from  bringing  Mr.  Lincoln  up  to  the  line 
as  I  ever  was  before.  He  does  not  want  to  avow  his  principles.  I  do  want  to 
avow  mine,  as  clear  as  sunlight  in  midday. 

"Democracy  is  founded  upon  the  eternal  principle  of  right.  The  plainer 
these  principles  are  avowed  before  the  people,  the  stronger  will  be  the  support 
which  they  will  receive.  I  only  wish  I  had  the  power  to  make  them  so  clear  that 
they  would  shine  in  the  heavens  for  every  man,  woman  and  child  to  read.  The 
first  of  these  principles  that  I  would  proclaim  would  be  in  opposition  to  Mr. 
Lincoln's  doctrine  of  uniformity  between  the  different  States,  and  I  would  declare 
instead  the  sovereign  right  of  each  State  to  decide  the  slavery  question  as  well  as 
all  other  domestic  questions  for  themselves,  without  interference  from  any  other 
State  or  power  whatsoever.  When  that  principle  is  recognized,  you  will  have 
peace  and  harmony  and  fraternal  feeling  between  all  the  States  of  this  Union ; 
until  you  do  recognize  that  doctrine,  there  will  be  sectional  warfare  agitating 
and  distracting  the  country." 

Mr.  Lincoln  made  the  opening  and  closing  speeches  in  the  second  joint 
debate ;  he  had  forborne  to  reply  categorically  to  Mr.  Douglas'  questions,  until 
he  could  prepare  questions  to  be  answered  by  the  Senator.  Mr.  Lincoln  said : 
"I  now  propose  that  I  will  answer  any  of  the  interrogatories,  upon  condition  that 
he  will  answer  questions  from  me  riot  exceeding  the  same  number.  I  give  him 

47 


an  opportunity  to  respond.  The  Judge  remains  silent.  I  now  say  that  I  will 
answer  his  interrogatories,  whether  he  answers  mine  or  not ;  and  that  after  I 
have  done  so,  I  shall  propound  mine  to  him."  Mr.  Lincoln  then  took  up  and 
answered  seriatum  Judge  Douglas'  questions,  as  follows: 

Question  I.  "I  desire  to  know  whether  Lincoln  to-day  stands,  as  he  did 
in  1854,  in  favor  of  the  unconditional  repeal  of  the  fugitive  slave  law?" 

Answer.  "I  do  not  now,  nor  ever  did  stand  in  favor  of  the  unconditional 
repeal  of  the  fugitive  slave  law." 

Q.  2.  "I  desire  him  to  answer  whether  he  stands  pledged  to-day,  as  he  did 
in  1854,  against  the  admission  of  any  more  slave  States  into  the  Union,  even  if  the 
people  want  them?" 

A.  "I  do  not  now,  nor  ever  did,  stand  pledged  against  the  admission  of 
any  more  slave  States  into  the  Union." 

Q.  3.  "I  want  to  know  whether  he  stands  pledged  against  the  admission 
of  a  new  State  into  the  Union  with  such  a  constitution  as  the  people  of  that  State 
may  see  fit  to  make  ?" 

A.  "I  do  not  stand  pledged  against*  the  admission  of  a  new  State  into  the 
Union,  with  such  a  constitution  as  the  people  of  that  State  may  see  fit  to  make." 

Q.  4.  "I  want  to  know  whether  he  stands  to-day  pledged  to  the  abolition 
of  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia?" 

A.  "I  do  not  stand  to-day  pledged  to  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District 
of  Columbia." 

Q.  5.  "I  desire  him  to  answer  whether  he  stands  pledged  to  the  prohibition 
of  the  slave  trade  between  the  different  States  ?" 

A.  "I  do  not  stand  pledged  to  the  prohibition  of  the  slave  trade  between  the 
different  States." 

Q.  6.  "I  desire  to  know  whether  he  stands  pledged  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all 
the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  north  as  well  as  south  of  the  Missouri  com- 
promise line?" 

A.  "I  am  impliedly,  if  not  expressly,  pledged  to  a  belief  in  the  right  and 
duty  of  Congress  to  prohibit  slavery  in  all  the  United  States  Territories." 

Q.  7.  "I  desire  him  to  answer  whether  he  is  opposed  to  the  acquisition  of 
any  new  Territory  unless  slavery  is  first  prohibited  therein?" 

A.  "I  am  not  generally  opposed  to  honest  acquisition  of  territory ;  and,  in 
any  given  case,  I  would,  or  would  not,  oppose  such  acquisition,  accordingly  as 
I  might  think  such  acquisition  would,  or  would  not,  aggravate  the  slavery  ques- 
tion among  ourselves." 

Having  answered  as  to  whether  he  was  or  was  not  "pledged"  on  these 
various  points,  Mr.  Lincoln  proceeded :  "But  I  am  not  disposed  to  hang  upon 
the  exact  form  of  his  interrogatory.  1  am  rather  disposed  to  take  up  at  least 
some  of  these  questions  and  state  what  I  really  think  upon  them. 

"As  to  the  first  one,  in  regard  to  the  fugitive  slave  law,  I  have  never  hesitated 
to  say,  and  I  do  not  now  hesitate  to  say,  that  I  think,  under  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  the  people  of  the  Southern  States  are  entitled  to  a  Congressional 
fugitive  slave  law.  Having  said  that,  I  have  had  nothing  to  say  in  regard  to  the 
existing  fugitive  slave  law,  further  than  that  I  think  it  should  have  been  framed 
so  as  to  be  free  from  some  of  the  objections  that  pertain  to  it,  without  lessening 
its  efficiency. 

"In  regard  to  the  other  question  of  whether  I  am  pledged  to  the  admission 
of  any  more  slave  States  into  the  Union,  I  state  to  you  very  frankly  that  I  would 
be  exceedingly  sorry  ever  to  be  put  in  a  position  of  having  to  pass  upon  that 
question.  I  should  be  exceedingly  glad  to  know  that  there  would  never  be 
another  slave  State  admitted  into  the  Union ;  but  I  must  add  that  if  slavery  shall 
be  kept  out  of  the  Territories  during  the  Territorial  existence  of  any  one  given 
Territory,  and  then  the  people  shall — having  a  fair  chance,  and  a  clear  field,  when 
they  come  to  adopt  the  constitution — do  such  an  extraordinary  thing  as  to  adopt 
a  slave  constitution,  uninfluenced  by  the  actual  presence  of  the  institution  among 
them,  I  see  no  alternative,  if  we  own  the  country,  but  to  admit  them  into  the 
Union. 

"The  third  interrogatory  is  answered  by  the  answer  to  the  second,  it  being, 
as  I  conceive,  the  same  as  the  second. 

48 


"The  fourth  one  is  in  regard  to  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the  District  of 
Columbia.  In  relation  to  that,  I  have  my  mind  very  distinctly  made  up.  I  should 
be  exceedingly  glad  to  see  slavery  abolished  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  I 
believe  that  Congress  possesses  the  constitutional  power  to  abolish  it.  Yet,  as 
a  member  of  Congress,  I  should  not,  with  my  present  views,  be  in  favor  of  en- 
deavoring to  abolish  slavery  in  the  District  of  Columbia  unless  it  would  be  upon 
these  conditions:  First,  that  the  abolition  should  be  gradual;  second,  that  it 
should  be  on  a  vote  of  the  majority  of  qualified  voters  in  the  district ;  and  third, 
that  compensation  should  be  made  to  unwilling  owners.  With  these  three  con- 
ditions, I  confess  I  would  be  exceedingly  glad  to  see  Congress  abolish  slavery 
in  the  District  of  Columbia,  and,  in  the  language  of  Henry  Clay,  'sweep  from  our 
Capital  that  foul  blot  upon  our  nation.' 

"In  regard  to  the  fifth  interrogatory,  I  must  say  here  that  as  to  the  question 
of  the  abolition  of  the  slave  trade  between  the  different  States,  I  can  truly  answer, 
as  1  have,  that  I  am  pledged  to  nothing  about  it. 

"I  now  proceed  to  propound  to  the  Judge  the  interrogatories,  so  far  as  1 
have  framed  them,  only  reaching  to  number  four.  The  first  one  is : 

"Question  i.  If  the  people  of  Kansas  shall,  by  means  entirely  unobjectionable 
in  all  other  respects,  adopt  a  State  constitution,  and  ask  admission  into  the  Union 
under  it,  before  they  have  the  requisite  number  of  inhabitants  according  to  the 
English  bill — some  ninety-three  thousand — will  you  vote  to  admit  them  ? 

"Q.  2.  Can  the  people  of  a  United  States  Territory,  in  any  lawful  way, 
against  the  wish  of  any  citizen  of  the  United  States,  exclude  slavery  from  its 
limits  prior  to  the  formation  of  a  State  constitution? 

"Q.  3.  If  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  shall  decide  that  States 
cannot  exclude  slavery  from  their  limits,  are  you  in  favor  of  acquiescing  in, 
adopting  and  following  such  decision,  as  a  rule  of  political  action? 

"Q.  4.  Are  you  in  favor  of  acquiring  additional  territory,  in  disregard  of  how 
such  acquisition  may  affect  the  nation  on  the  slavery  question  ?" 

Mr.  Douglas  answering  these  questions,  said:  "First,  he  (Mr.  Lincoln)  de- 
sires to  know  if  the  people  of  Kansas  shall  form  a  constitution  by  means  entirely 
proper  and  unobjectionable,  and  ask  admission  into  the  Union  as  a  State,  before 
they  have  the  requisite  population  for  a  member  of  Congress,  whether  I  will  vote 
for  that  admission.  *  *  *  I  hold  it  to  be  a  sound  rule,  of  universal  applica- 
tion, to  require  a  Territory  to  contain  the  requisite  population  for  a  member  of 
Congress,  before  it  is  admitted  as  a  State  into  the  Union.  I  made  that  proposition 
in  the  Senate  in  1856,  and  I  renewed  it  during  the  last  session,  in  a  6T11  providing 
that  no  Territory  of  the  United  States  should  form  a  constitution  and  apply  for 
admission  until  it  had  the  requisite  population. 

"On  another  occasion  I  proposed  that  neither  Kansas  nor  any  other  Terri- 
tory should  be  admitted  until  it  had  the  requisite  population.  Congress  did  not 
adopt  any  of  my  propositions  containing  this  general  rule,  but  did  make  an 
exception  in  Kansas.  I  will  stand  by  that  exception.  Either  Kansas  must  come 
in  as  a  free  State,  with  whatever  population  she  may  have,  or  the  rule  must  be 
applied  to  all  the  other  Territories  alike.  I  therefore  answer  at  once,  that  it 
having  been  decided  that  Kansas  has  people  enough  for  a  slave  State,  I  hold  that 
she  has  enough  for  a  free  State. 

"I  hope  Mr.  Lincoln  is  satisfied  with  my  answer ;  and  now  I  would  like  to  get 
his  answer  to  his  own  interrogatory — whether  or  not  he  will  vote  to  admit  Kansas 
before  she  has  the  requisite  population?  I  want  to  know  whether  he  will  vote 
to  admit  Oregon  before  that  Territory  has  the  requisite  population  ?  Mr.  Trum- 
bull  will  not,  and  the  same  reason  that  commits  Mr.  Trumbull  against  the  admis- 
sion of  Oregon  commits  him  against  Kansas,  even  if  she  should  apply  for  ad- 
mission as  a  free  State.  *  *  *  I  would  like  Mr.  Lincoln  to  answer  this 
question.  I  would  like  him  to  take  his  own  medicine.  If  he  differs  with  Mr. 
Trumbull  let  him  answer  his  argument  against  the  admission  of  Otegon,  instead 
of  poking  questions  at  me. 

"The  next  question  propounded  to  me  by  Mr.  Lincoln  is :  Can  the  people  of  a 
Territory  in  any  lawful  way,  against  the  wishes  of  any  citizen  of  the  United  States, 
exclude  slavery  from  their  limits  prior  to  the  formation  of  a  State  constitution  ? 
I  answer  emphatically,  as  Mr.  Lincoln  has  heard  me  answer  a  hundred  times 

49 


from  every  stump  in  Illinois,  that  in  my  opinion,  the  people  of  a  Territory  can, 
bv  lawful  means,  exclude  slavery  from  their  limits  prior  to  the  formation  of  a 
State  constitution.  Mr.  Lincoln  knew  that  I  had  answered  that,  question  over 
and  over  again.  He  heard  me  argue  the  Nebraska  bill  on  that  principle  all  over 
the  State  in  1854,  in  1855  and  in  1856,  and  he  has  no  excuse  for  pretending  to 
be  in  doubt  as  to  my  position  on  that  question. 

"It  matters  not  what  way  the  Supreme  Court  may  hereafter  decide  as  to  the 
abstract  question  whether  slavery  may  or  may  not  go  into  a  Territory  under 
the  Constitution,  the  people  have  the  lawful  means  to  introduce  or  exclude  it  as 
they  please,  for  the  reason  that  slavery  cannot  exist  a  day  or  an  hour  anywhere 
unless  it  is  supported  by  local  police  regulations.  Those  police  regulations  can 
only  be  established  by  the  local  Legislature,  and  if  the  people  are  opposed  to 
slavery  they  will  elect  Representatives  to  that  body  who  will  by  unfriendly  legis- 
lation effectually  prevent  the  introduction  of  it  into  their  midst.  If,  on  the  con- 
trary, they  are  for  it,  their  legislation  will  favor  its  extension.  Hence,  no  matter 
what  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  may  be  on  that  abstract  question,  still 
the  right  of  the  people  to  make  a  slave  Territory  or  a  free  Territory  is  perfect  and 
complete  under  the  Nebraska  bill.  I  hope  Mr.  Lincoln  deems  my  answer  sat- 
isfactory on  that  point. 

'The  third  question,"  said  Mr.  Douglas,  "which  Mr.  Lincoln  presented  is,  if 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  shall  decide  that  a  State  of  this  Union 
cannot  exclude  slavery  from  its  own  limits,  will  I  submit  to  it?  I  am  amazed 
ttiat  Lincoln  should  ask  such  a  question.  *  *  *  He  might  as  well  ask  me, 
suppose  Mr.  Lincoln  should  steal  a  horse,  would  I  sanction  it ;  and  it  would 
be  as  genteel  in  me  to  ask  him,  in  the  event  he  stole  a  horse,  what  ought  to  be 
done  with  him.  He  casts  an  imputation  upon  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States,  by  supposing  that  they  would  violate  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
I  tell  him  that  such  a  thing  is  not  possible.  It  would  be  an  act  of  moral  treason 
that  no  man  on  the  bench  could  ever  descend  to.  Mr.  Lincoln  himself  would 
never,  in  his  partisan  feelings,  so  far  forget  what  was  right  as  to  be  guilty  of 
such  an  act. 

"The  fourth  question  of  Mr.  Lincoln  is,  are  you  in  faVor  of  acquiring  addi- 
tional territory,  in  disregard  as  to  how  such  acquisition  may  affect  the  Union 
on  the  slavery  questions?  This  question  is  very  ingeniously  and  cunningly  put. 
The  Black  Republican  creed  lays  it  down  expressly  that  under  no  circumstances 
shall  we  acquire  any  more  territory  unless  slavery  is  first  prohibited  in  the  country. 
I  ask  Mr.  Lincoln  whether  he  is  in  favor  of  that  proposition.  Are  you  (addressing 
Mr.  Lincoln)  opposed  to  the  acquisition  of  any  more  territory,  under  any  cir- 
cumstances, unless  slavery  is  prohibited  in  it?  That  he  does  not  like  to  answer. 

"When  I  ask  him  whether  he  stands  up  to  that  article  in  the  platform  of  his 
party,  he  turns,  Yankee  fashion,  and  without  answering  it,  asks  me  whether  I 
am  in  favor  of  acquiring  territory  without  regard  to  how  it  may  affect  the  Union 
on  the  slavery  question.  I  answer  that  whenever  it  becomes  necessary,  in  our 
growth  and  progress,  to  acquire  more  territory,  that  I  am  in  favor  of  it,  without 
reference  to  the  question  of  slavery — and  when  we  have  acquired  it,  I  will  leave 
the  people  free  to  do  as  they  please,  either  to  make  it  slave  or  free  territory,  as 
they  prefer. 

"It  is  idle  to  tell  me  or  you  that  we  have  territory  enough.  Our  fathers 
supposed  that  we  had  enough  when  our  territory  extended  to  the  Mississippi 
River,  but  a  few  years'  growth  and  expansion  satisfied  them  that  we  needed  more, 
and  the  Louisiana  territory,  from  the  west  branch  of  the  Mississippi  to  the  British 
Possessions,  was  acquired.  Then  we  acquired  Oregon,  then  California,  and  New 
Mexico.  We  have  enough  now  for  the  present,  but  this  is  a  young  and  growing 
nation.  It  swarms  as  often  as  a  hive  of  bees,  and  as  new  swarms  are  turned  out 
each  year,  there  must  be  hives  in  which  they  can  gather  and  make  their  honey. 
I  tell  you,  increase,  and  multiply,  and  expand,  is  the  law  of  this  nation's 
existence. 

"You  cannot  limit  this  great  republic  by  mere  boundary  lines,  saying,  'thus 
far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  further.'  Any  one  of  you  gentlemen  might  as  well  say 
to  a  son  twelve  years  old  that  he  is  big  enough,  and  must  not  grow  any  larger, 
and  in  order  to  prevent  his  growth,  put  a  hoop  around  him  to  keep  him  to  his 

so 


present  size.  What  would  be  the  result  ?  Either  the  hoop  must  burst  and  be  rent 
asunder,  or  the  child  must  die.  So  it  would  be  with  this  great  nation.*  *  * 
There  is  a  constant  torrent  pouring  into  this  country  that  requires  more  land, 
more  territory  upon  which  to  settle ;  and,  just  as  fast  as  our  interests  and  our 
destiny  require  additional  territory  in  the  north,  in  the  south,  or  on  the  islands  of 
the  ocean,  I  am  for  it,  and  when  we  acquire  it,  will  leave  the  people,  according 
to  the  Nebraska  bill,  free  to  do  as  they  please  on  the  subject  of  slavery  and  every 
other  question.  I  trust  now  that  Mr.  Lincoln  will  deem  himself  answered  on  his 
four  points.  *  *  *" 

To  give  the  reader  a  clear  view  of  the  opinions  expressed  by  Senator  Douglas 
and  Mr.  Lincoln  in  this  great  debate  upon  the  question  of  slavery,  the  power  of 
the  national,  State  and  Territorial  governments  over  the  question  of  slavery,  the 
rights  of  slaveholders,  and  the  duty  towards  the  negro  race,  the  following  extracts 
covering  the  principal  points  in  the  discussions  are  taken  from  their 
speeches : 

Mr.  Douglas  said :  "The  Abolition  party  really  think  that  under  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence  the  negro  is  equal  to  the  white  man,  and  that  negro  equality 
is  an  inalienable  right  conferred  by  the  Almighty,  and  hence  that  all  human  laws 
in  violation  of  it  are  null  and  void.  With  such  men  it  is  no  use  for  me  to  argue. 
I  hold  that  the  Declaration  of  Independence  had  no  reference  to  negroes  at  all 
when  they  declared  all  men  to  be  created  equal.  They  did  not  mean  negro,  nor 
the  savage  Indian,  nor  the  Fiji  Islanders,  nor  any  other  barbarous  race.  They 
were  speaking  of  white  men.  They  alluded  to  men  of  European  birth  and  Euro- 
pean descent — to  white  men,  and  to  none  others,  when  they  declared  that  doc- 
trine. *  *  *" 

Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "I  believe  the  entire  records  of  the  world,  from  the  date 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  up  to  within  three  years  ago,  may  be  searched 
in  vain  for  one  single  affirmation,  from  one  single  man,  that  the  negro  was  not 
included  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  I  think  I  may  defy  Judge  Douglas 
to  show  *  *  *  that  any  living  man  upon  the  whole  earth  ever  said  so  until 
the  necessities  of  the  present  policy  of  the  Democratic  party,  in  regard  to  slavery, 
had  to  invent  that  affirmation.  And  I  will  remind  Judge  Douglas  and  this  audi- 
ence that  while  Mr.  Jefferson  was  the  owner  of  slaves — as  undoubtedly  he  was — 
in  speaking  upon  this  very  subject,  he  used  the  strong  language  that  'he  trembled 
for  his  country  when  he  remembered  that  God  was  just,'  and  I  will  offer  the 
highest  premium  in  my  power  to  Judge  Douglas  if  he  will  show  that  he,  in  all 
his  life,  ever  uttered  a  sentiment  at  all  akin  to  that  of  Jefferson. 

"I  think  the  authors  of  that  notable  instrument  intended  to  include  all  men, 
but  they  did  not  mean  to  declare  all  men  equal  in  all  respects.  They  did  not 
mean  to  say  that  all  men  were  equal  in  color,  size,  intellecr,  moral  development, 
or  social  capacity.  They  defined  with  tolerable  distinctness  in  what  they  did 
consider  all  men  equal — equal  in  certain  inalienable  rights,  among  which  are  life, 
liberty,  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness.  This  they  said,  and  this  they  meant.  They 
did  not  mean  to  assert  the  obvious  untruth,  that  all  were  then  actually  enjoying 
that  equality,  or  yet,  that  they  were  about  to  confer  it  immediately  upon  them. 
In  fact  they  had  no  power  to  confer  such  a  boon.  They  meant  simply  to  declare 
the  right,  so  that  the  enforcement  of  it  might  follow  as  fast  as  circumstances 
should  permit.  They  meant  to  set  up  a  standard  maximum  for  free  society  which 
should  be  familiar  to  all ;  constantly  looked  to,  constantly  labored  for,  and  even, 
though  never  perfectly  attained,  constantly  approximated,  and  thereby  constantly 
spreading  and  deepening  its  influence  and  augmenting  the  happiness  and  value 
of  life  to  all  people,  of  all  colors,  everywhere. 

"I  assert  that  Judge  Douglas  and  all  his  friends  may  search  the  whole  records 
of  the  country,  and  it  will  be  a  matter  of  great  astonishment  to  me  if  they  shall 
be  able  to  find  that  one  human  being  three  years  ago  had  ever  uttered  the 
astounding  sentiment  that  'all  men,'  in  the  Declaration,  did  not  include  the  negro. 
Do  not  let  me  be  misunderstood.  I  know  that  more  than  three  years  ago  there 
were  men  who,  finding  this  assertion  constantly  in  the  way  of  their  schemes  to 
bring  about  the  ascendancy  and  perpetuation  of  slavery,  denied  the  truth  of  it. 
I  know  that  Mr.  Calhoun,  and  all  the  politicians  of  his  school,  denied  the  truth 
of  the  Declaration. 

51 


"And  when  this  new  principle — this  new  proposition  that  no  human  being 
ever  thought  of  three  years  ago — is  brought  forward,  I  combat  it  as  having  an 
evil  tendency,  if  not  an  .evil  design.  I  combat  it  as  having  a  tendency  to  dehuman- 
ize the  negro — to  take  away  from  him  the  right  of  ever  striving  to  be  a  man.  I 
combat  it  as  being  one  of  the  thousand  things  constantly  done  in  these  days  to 
prepare  the  public  mind  to  make  property,  and  nothing  but  property,  of  the  negro 
in  all  the  States  of  this  Union." 

ON  THE  DRED  SCOTT  DECISION.''        ;• 

Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "Another  of  issues  he  says  that  is  to  be  made  with  me, 
is  upon  his  devotion  to  the  Dred  Scott  decision,  and  my  opposition  to  it.  I  have 
expressed  heretofore,  and  I  now  repeat,  my  opposition  to  the  Dred  Scott  decision  ; 
but  I  should  be  allowed  to  state  the  nature  of  that  opposition.  *  *  *  What  is 
fairly  implied  by  the  term  Judge  Douglas  has  used,  'resistance  to  the  decision?' 
I  do  not  resist  it.  If  I  wanted  to  take  Dred  Scott  from  his  master,  I  would  be 
interfering  with  property  and  that  terrible  difficulty  that  Judge  Douglas  speaks  of, 
of  interfering  with  property,  would  arise.  But  I  am  doing  no  such  thing  as  that, 
but  all  that  I  am  doing  is  refusing  to  obey  it,  as  a  political  rule.  If  I  were  in 
Congress,  and  a  vote  should  come  up  on  a  question  whether  slavery  should  be 
prohibited  in  a  new  Territory,  in  spite  of  the  Dred  Scott  decision,  I  would  vote 
that  it  should.  That  is  what  I  would  do. 

"What  are  the  uses  of  decisions  of  courts?  They  have  two  uses.  As  rules 
of  property  they  have  two  uses.  First,  they  decide  upon  the  question  before  the 
court.  They  decide  in  this  case  that  Dred  Scott  is  a  slave.  Nobody  resists  that. 
Not  only  that,  but  they  say  to  everybody  else,  that  persons  standing  just  as  Dred 
Scott  stands,  are  as  he  is.  That  is,  they  say  that  when  a  question  comes  up  upon 
another  person,  it  will  be  so  decided  again,  unless  the  court  decides  in  another 
way — unless  the  court  overrules  its  decision.  Well,  we  mean  to  do  what  we  can 
to  have  the  court  decide  the  other  way.  That  is  one  thing  we  mean  to  try  to  do. 

"The  essence  of  the  Dred  Scott  case  is  compressed  into  the  sentence  which  I 
will  now  read:  'Now,  as  we  have  already  said  in  an  ea/lier  part  of  this  opinion, 
upon  a  different  point,  the  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is  distinctly  and  expressly 
affirmed  in  the  Constitution.'  I  repeat  it :  'The  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is 
distinctly  and  expressly  affirmed  in  the  Constitution.' 

"What  is  it  to  be  'affirmed'  in  the  Constitution  ?  Made  firm  in  the  Constitu- 
tion— so  made  that.it  cannot  be  separated  from  the  Constitution  without  breaking 
the  Constitution — durable  as  the  Constitution,  and  part  of  the  Constitution.  Now, 
remembering  the  provision  of  the  Constitution  which  I  have  read,  affirming  that 
that  instrument  is  the  supreme  law  of  the  land;  that  the  judges  of  every  State 
shall  be  bound  by  it,  any  law  or  constitution  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  not- 
withstanding ;  that  the  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is  affirmed  in  that  Constitution, 
is  made,  formed  into,  and  cannot  be  separated  from  it  without  breaking  it ; 
durable  as  the  instrument ;  part  of  the  instrument — what  follows  as  a  short  and 
even  syllogistic  argument  from  it? 

"I  think  it  follows — and  I  submit  to  the  consideration  of  men  capable  of 
arguing,  whether  as  I  state  it,  in  syllogistic  form,  the  argument  has  any  fault 
in  it — that : 

"Nothing  in  the  constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  can  destroy  a  right  dis- 
tinctly and  expressly  affirmed  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

"The  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is  distinctly  and  expressly  affirmed  in  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

"Therefore  nothing  in  the  constitution  or  laws  of  any  State  can  destroy  the 
right  of  property  in  a  slave. 

"I  believe  that  no  fault  can  be  pointed  out  in  that  argument.  Assuming  the 
truth  of  the  premises,  the  conclusion,  so  far  as  I  have  capacity  at  all  to  understand 
it,  follows  inevitably.  There  is  a  fault  in  it,  as  I  think ;  but  the  fault  is  not  in 
the  reasoning ;  but  the  falsehood  in  fact  is  a  fault  of  the  premises.  I  believe  that 
the  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is  not  distinctly  and  expressly  affirmed  in  the 
Constitution,  and  Judge  Douglas  thinks  it  is.  I  believe  that  the  Supreme  Court 
and  the  advocates  of  that  decision  may  search  in  vain  for  the  place  in  the  Consti- 
tution where  the  right  of  (property  in)  a  slave  is  distinctly  and  expressly  affirmed. 


STEPHEN  A.  DOUGLAS. 


"I  say,  therefore,  that  I  think  one  of  the  premises  is  not  true  in  fact.  But 
it  is  true  with  Judge  Douglas.  It  is  true  with  the  Supreme  Court,  who  pronounced 
it.  They  are  estopped  from  denying  it,  and  being  estopped  from  denying  it,  the 
conclusion  follows  that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  being  the  supreme 
law,  no  (State)  constitution  or  law  can  interfere  with  it.  It  being  affirmed  in 
the  decision  that  the  right  of  property  in  a  slave  is  distinctly  and  expressly 
affirmed  in  the  Constitution,  the  conclusion  inevitably  follows  that  no  State  law  or 
constitution  can  destroy  that  right." 

Senator  Douglas  in  reply  said :  "I  have  a  few  words  to  say  upon  the  Dred 
Scott  decision,  which  has  troubled  the  brain  of  Mr.  Lincoln  so  much.  He  insists 
that  that  decision  would  carry  slavery  into  the  free  States,  notwithstanding  that 
the  decision  says  directly  the  opposite ;  and  goes  into  a  long  argument  to  make 
you  believe  that  I  am  in  favor  of,  and  would  sanction  the  doctrine  that  would 
allow  slaves  to  be  brought  here  and  held  as  slaves  contrary  to  our  constitution 
and  laws." 

Mr.  Lincoln  said :  "We  have  in  this  nation  this  element  of  domestic  slavery. 
It  is  a  matter  of  absolute  certainty  that  it  is  a  disturbing  element.  It  is  the 
opinion  of  all  the  great  men  who  have  expressed  an  opinion  upon  it,  that  it  is  a 
dangerous  element.  We  keep  up  a  controversy  in  regard  to  it.  That  controversy 
necessarily  springs  from  differences  of  opinion,  and  if  we  can  learn  exactly — can 
reduce  to  the  lowest  elements — what  that  difference  of  opinion  is,  we  perhaps 
shall  be  better  prepared  for  discussing  the  different  systems  of  policy  that  we 
would  propose  in  regard  to  that  disturbing  element. 

"I  suggest  that  the  difference  of  opinion,  reduced  to  its  lowest  terms,  is  no 
other  than  the  difference  between  the  men  who  think  slavery  a  wrong  and  those 
who  do  not  think  it  a  wrong.  The  Republican  party  think  it  wrong ;  we  think 
it  is  a  moral,  a  social  and  a  political  wrong.  We  think  it  is  a  wrong  not  confining 
itself  merely  to  the  persons  or  the  States  where  it  exists,  but  that  it  is  a  wrong 
in  its  tendency,  to  say  the  least,  that  extends  itself  to  the  existence  of  the  whole 
nation.  Because  we  think  it  wrong,  we  propose  a  course  of  policy  that  shall  deal 
with  it  as  a  wrong.  We  deal  with  it  as  with  any  other  wrong,  in  so  far  as  we  can 
prevent  its  growing  any  larger,  and  so  deal  with  it  that*  in  the  run  of  time  there 
may  be  some  promise  of  an  end  to  it. 

"We  have  a  due  regard  to  the  actual  presence  of  it  amongst  us,  and  the 
difficulties  of  getting  rid  of  it  in  any  satisfactorv  way,  and  all  the  constitutional 
obligations  thrown  about  it.  I  suppose  that  in  reference  both  to  its  actual 
existence  in  the  nation,  and  to  our  constitutional  obligations,  we  have  no  right 
at  all  to  disturb  it  in  the  States  where  it  exists,  and  we  profess  that  we  have  no 
more  inclination  to  disturb  it  than  we  have  the  right  to  do  it. 

"We  go  further  than  that;  we  don't  propose  to  disturb  it  where,  in  one 
instance,  we  think  the  Constitution  would  permit  us.  We  think  the  Constitution 
would  permit  us  to  disturb  it  in  the  District  of  Columbia.  Still  we  do  not  propose 
to  do  that,  unless  it  should  be  in  terms  which  I  don't  suppose  the  nation  is  very 
likely  soon  to  agree  to — the  terms  of  making  the  emancipation  gradual,  and  com- 
pensating the  unwilling  owners. 

"W'here  we  suppose  we  have  the  constitutional  right,  we  restrain  ourselves 
in  reference  to  the  actual  condition  of  the  institution  and  the  difficulties  thrown 
about  it.  We  also  oppose  it  as  an  evil,  so  far  as  it  seeks  to  spread  itself.  We 
insist  on  the  policy  that  shall  restrict  it  to  its  present  limits.  We  don't  propose 
in  doing  this  we  violate  anything  due  to  the  actual  presence  of  the  institution  or 
anything  due  to  the  constitutional  guaranties  thrown  around  it." 

Upon  this  question  Mr.  Douglas  said:  "I  hold,  and  the  party  with  which  I 
am  identified  hold,  that  the  people  of  each  State,  old  and  new,  have  the  right 
to  decide  the  slavery  question  for  themselves,  and  when  I  used  the  remark  that 
I  did  not  care  whether  slavery  was  voted  up  or  down,  I  used  it  in  the  connection 
that  I  was  for  allowing  Kansas  to  do  just  as  she  pleased  on  the  slavery  question. 
*  *  *  Why  cannot  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  the  party  with  which  he  acts,  speak 
out  their  principles  so  that  they  may  be  understood  ?  Why  do  they  claim  to  be 
one  thing  in  one  part  of  the  State,  and  another  in  the  other  part  ? 

"In  his  Springfield  speech  Mr.  Lincoln  there  told  his  Abolition  friends  that 
this  government  could  not  endure  permanently,  divided  into  free  and  slave 

54 


States  as  our  fathers  made  it,  and  that  it  must  hecome  all  free  or  all  slave,  other- 
wise the  government  could  not  exist.  How,  then,  does  Lincoln  propose  to  save 
the  Union,  unless  by  compelling  all  the  States  to  become  free,  so  that  the  house 
shall  not  be  divided  against  itself?  He  intends  making  them  all  free;  he  will 
preserve  the  Union  in  that  way,  and  yet,  he  is  not  going  to  interfere  with  slavery 
anywhere  it  now  exists !  How  is  he  going  to  bring  it  about  ?  Why,  he  will 
agitate ;  he  will  induce  the  North  to  agitate  until  the  South  shall  be  worried  out 
and  forced  to  abolish  slavery. 

"Let  us  examine  the  policy  by  which  that  is  to  be  done.  He  first  tells  you 
that  he  would  prohibit  slavery  everywhere  in  the  Territories.  He  would  then 
confine  slavery  within  its  present  limits.  When  he  thus  gets  it  confined  and  sur- 
rounded, so  that  it  cannot  spread,  the  natural  laws  of  increase  will  go  on  until 
the  negroes  will  be  so  plenty  that  they  cannot  live  on  the  soil.  He  will  hem  them 
in  until  starvation  seizes  them,  and  by  starving  them  to  death,  he  will  put  slavery 
in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction.  If  he  is  not  going  to  interfere  with  slavery 
in  the  States,  but  intends  to  interfere  and  prohibit  it  in  the  Territories,  and  thus 
smother  slavery  out,  it  naturally  follows  that  he  can  extinguish  it  only  by  ex- 
tinguishing the  negro  race,  for  his  policy  would  drive  them  to  starvation.  This 
is  the  humane  and  Christian  remedy  that  he  proposes  for  the  great  crime  of 
slavery ! 

"He  tells  you  that  I  will  not  argue  the  question  whether  slavery  is  right  or 
wrong.  I  tell  you  why  I  will  not  do  it.  I  hold  that  under  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  each  State  of  this  Union  has  a  right  to  do  as  it  pleases  on  the 
subject  of  slavery.  *  *  *  J  do  not  choose  to  occupy  the  time  allotted  to  me 
in  discussing  a  question  that  we  have  no  right  to  act  upon.  I  thought  that  you 
desired  to  hear  us  upon  the  questions  coming  within  constitutional  power  or 
action.  Lincoln  will  not  discuss  these." 

In  the  closing  debate  at  Alton,  Mr.  Douglas  said:  "My  friends  there  never 
was  a  time  when  it  was  as  important  for  the  Democratic  party,  for  all  national 
men,  to  rally  and  stand  together,  as  it  is  today.  We  find  all  sectional  men  giving 
up  past  differences  and  combating  the  one  question  of  slavery,  and  when  we 
find  sectional  men  thus  uniting,  we  should  unite  and  resist  them  and  their  treason- 
able designs. 

"Such  was  the  case  in  1850,  when  Clay  left  the  quiet  and  peace  of  his  home, 
and  again  entered  upon  public  life  to  quell  agitation  and  restore  peace  to  a 
distracted  Union.  Then,  we  Democrats,  with  Cass  at  our  head,  welcomed  Henry 
Clay,  whom  the  whole  nation  regarded  as  having  been  preserved  by  God  for  the 
times.  He  became  our  leader  in  that  great  fight,  and  we  rallied  around  him  the 
same  as  the  Whigs  rallied  around  Old  Hickory  in  1832,  to  put  down  Nullifica- 
tion. Thus,  you  see,  that  whilst  Whigs  and  Democrats  fought  fearlessly  in  old 
times  about  banks,  the  tariff,  distribution,  the  specie-circular,  and  the  sub- 
treasury,  all  united  as  a  band  of  brothers  when  the  peace,  harmony,  or  integrity 
of  the  Union  was  imperilled. 

"It  was  in  1850,  when  Abolition  had  even  so  far  divided  this  country,  North 
and  South,  as  to  endanger  the  peace  of  the  Union,  Whigs  and  Democrats  united 
in  establishing  the  compromise  measures  of  that  year,  and  restoring  tranquility 
and  good  feeling.  These  measures  passed  on  the  joint  action  of  the  two  parties. 
They  rested  on  the  great  principle  that  the  people  of  each  State  and  each  Territory 
should  be  left  perfectly  free  to  form  and  regulate  their  domestic  institutions  to 
suit  themselves.  You  Whigs  and  we  Democrats  justified  them  in  that  principle. 

"In  1854,  when  it  became  necessary  to  organize  the  Territories  of  Kansas 
and  Nebraska,  I  brought  forward  the  bill  on  the  same  principle.  In  the  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Bill  you  find  it  declared  to  be  the  true  intent  and  meaning  of  the  act 
not  to  legislate  slavery  into  any  State  or  Territory,  nor  to  exclude  it  therefrom, 
but  to  leave  the  people  entirely  free  to  form  and  regulate  their  domestic  institu- 
tions in  their  own  way.  I  stand  on  that  same  platform  in  1858,  that  I  did  in  1850, 
1854,  and  1856.  *  *  *  * 

"I  hold  that  there  is  no  principle  on  earth  more  sacred  to  all  the  friends 
of  freedom  than  that  which  says  that  no  institution,  no  law,  no  constitution,  should 
be  forced  on  an  unwilling  people,  *  *  *  *  and  I  assert  that  the  Kansas  and 
Nebraska  Bill  contains  that  principle.  It  is  the  great  principle  contained  in  that 

SS 


bill.    It  is  the  principle  on  which  James  Buchanan  was  made  President ;  without 
that  principle  he  never  would  have  been  made  President  of  the  United  States. 

"I  will  never  violate  or  abandon  that  doctrine  if  I  have  to  stand  alone.  I 
have  resisted  the  blandishments  and  threats  of  power  on  the  one  side,  and  seduc- 
tion on  the  other,  and  have  stood  immovably  for  that  principle,  fighting  for  it 
when  assailed  by  Northern  mobs,  or  threatened  by  Southern  hostility.  I  have 
defended  it  against  the  North  and  the  South,  and  I  will  defend  it  against  whoever 
assails  it,  and  I  will  follow  it  wherever  its  logical  deductions  lead  me.  I  say  to 
you  that  there  is  but  one  hope,  one  safety  for  this  country,  and  that  is  to  stand 
immovably  by  that  principle  which  declares  the  right  of  each  State  and  each  Ter- 
ritory to  decide  these  questions  for  themselves.  This  Government  was  founded 
on  that  principle,  and  must  be  administered  in  the  same  sense  in  which  it  was 
founded." 

Mr.  Lincoln,  referring  to  the  action  of  the  makers  of  the  Constitution,  said : 
"Let  me  ask  why  they  made  provision  that  the  source  of  slavery — the  African 
slave  trade — should  be  cut  off  at  the  end  of  twenty  years  ?  Why  did  they  make 
provision  that  in  all  the  new  territory  we  owned  at  the  time,  slavery  should  be 
forever  inhibited?  Why  stop  its  spread  in  one  direction  and  cut  off  its  source 
iri  another,  if  they  did  not  look  to  its  being  placed  in  the  course  of  ultimate  ex- 
tinction? 

"Again,  the  institution  of  slavery  is  mentioned  in  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  only  two  or  three  times,  and  in  neither  of  these  cases  does 
the  word  'slavery'  nor  'negro  race'  occur;  but  covert  language  is  used  each  time, 
and  for  a  purpose  full  of  significance." 

He  quoted  the  language  of  the  Constitution  touching  the  prohibition  of  the 
African  slave  trade,  the  basis  of  representation  and  direct  taxation  and  the  re- 
clamation of  fugitive  slaves — in  each  of  which  the  word  "persons",  not  "slaves" 
nor  "negroes",  is  used,  while  it  is  applicable  only  to  slaves  or  negroes.  "In  all 
three  of  these  places,"  continued  he,  "being  the  only  allusions  to  slavery  in  the 
instrument,  covert  language  is  used.  Language  is  used  not  suggesting  that 
slavery  existed  or  that  the  black  race  were  among  us.  And  I  understand  the 
contemporaneous  history  of  those  times  to  be,  that  covert  language  was  used 
with  a  purpose,  and  that  purpose  was  that  in  our  Constitution,  which  it  was  hoped 
and  is  still  hoped,  will  endure  forever — when  it  should  be  read  by  intelligent  and 
patriotic  men,  after  the  institution  of  slavery  had  passed  from  among  us — there 
should  be  nothing  on  the  face  of  the  great  Charter  of  Liberty  suggesting  that 
such  a  thing  as  negro  slavery  ever  existed  among  us. 

"This  is  a  part  of  the  evidence  that  the  fathers  of  the  Government  expected 
and  intended  that  it  should  be  in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction.  And  when  I 
say  that  I  desire  to  see  the  further  spread  of  it  arrested,  I  only  say  I  desire  to 
see  that  done  which  the  fathers  have  first  done.  When  I  say  I  desire  to  see 
it  placed  where  the  public  mind  will  rest  in  the  belief  that  it  is  in  the  course  of 
ultimate  extinction,  I  only  say  I  desire  to  see  it  placed  where  they  placed  it. 

"It  is  not  true  that  our  fathers,  as  Judge  Douglas  assumes,  made  this  Gov- 
ernment part  slave  and  part  free.  Understand  the  sense  in  which  he  puts  it.  He 
assumes  that  slavery  is  a  rightful  thing  within  itself — was  introduced  by  the 
framers  of  the  Constitution.  The  exact  truth  is,  that  they  found  the  institution 
existing  among  us,  and  they  left  it  as  they  found  it.  But  in  making  the  Govern- 
ment they  left  this  institution  with  many  clear  marks  of  disapprobation  upon  it. 
They  found  slavery  among  them,  and  they  left  it  among  them  because  of  the 
difficulty — the  absolute  impossibility  of  its  immediate  removal. 

"And  when  Judge  Douglas  asks  me  why  we  cannot  let  it  remain  part  slave 
and  part  free,  as  the  fathers  of  the  Government  made  it,  he  asks  a  question  based 
upon  an  assumption  which  is  in  itself  a  falsehood ;  and  I  turn  upon  him  and  ask 
him  the  question :  When  the  policy  that  the  fathers  of  the  Government  had 
adopted  in  relation  to  this  element  among  us  was  the  best  policy  in  the  world — 
the  only  wise  policy — the  only  policy  that  we  can  ever  safely  continue  upon — that 
will  ever  give  us  peace,  unless  this  dangerous  element  masters  us  all  and  becomes 
a  national  institution — I  turn  upon  him  and  ask  him  why  he  did  not  leave  it 
alone?  I  turn  and  ask  him  why  he  was  driven  to  the  necessity  of  introducing  a 
new  policy  in  regard  to  it  ? 

56 


"He  has  himself  said  he  introduced  a  new  policy.  He  said  so  in  his  speech 
on  the  25th  of  March  of  the  present  year,  1858.  I  ask  him  why  he  could  not  let 
it  remain  where  our  fathers  had  placed  it  ?  1  ask,  too,  of  Judge  Douglas  and  his 
friends,  why  we  shall  not  again  place  this  institution  upon  the  basis  on  which  the 
fathers  left  it  ?  I  ask  you — where  he  infers  that  I  am  in  favor  of  setting  the  free 
and  slave  States  at  war — when  the  institution  was  placed  in  that  attitude  by  those 
who  made  the  Constitution,  did  they  make  any  war?  If  we  had  no  war  out  of  it 
when  thus  placed,  wherein  is  the  ground  of  belief  that  we  shall  have  war  out 
of  it,  if  we  return  to  that  policy?  Have  we  had  any  peace  upon  this  matter, 
springing  from  any  other  basis  ?  I  maintain  that  we  have  not.  I  have  proposed 
nothing  more  than  a  return  to  the  policy  of  the  fathers. 

"The  real  issue  in  this  controversy — the  one  pressing  upon  every  mind — is 
the  sentiment  on  the  part  of  one  class  that  looks  upon  the  institution  of  slavery 
as  a  wrong,  and  of  another  class  that  does  not  look  upon  it  as  a  wrong. 

"The  sentiment  that  contemplates  the  institution  of  slavery  in  this  country 
as  a  wrong  is  the  sentiment  of  the  Republican  party.  It  is  the  sentiment  around 
which  all  their  actions,  all  their  arguments,  circle — from  which  all  their  proposi- 
tions radiate.  They  look  upon  it  as  being  a  moral,  social,  and  political  wrong; 
and  while  they  contemplate  it  as  such,  they  nevertheless  have  due  regard  for  its 
actual  existence  among  us,  and  the  difficulties  of  getting  rid  of  it  in  any  satis- 
factory way,  and  to  all  the  constitutional  obligations  thrown  about  it.  Yet,  hav- 
ing a  due  regard  for  these,  they  desire  a  policy  in  regard  to  it  that  looks  to  its 
not  creating  any  more  danger.  They  insist  that  it  should,  as  far  as  may  be,  be 
treated  as  a  wrong,  and  one  of  the  methods  of  treating  it  as  a  wrong  is  to  make 
provision  that  it  shall  grow  no  larger. 

"They  also  desire  a  policy  that  looks  to  a  peaceful  end  of  slavery,  at  some 
time,  as  being  wrong.  *  *  *  *  What  is  it  that  we  hold  most  dear  amongst 
us  ?  Our  own  liberty  and  prosperity.  What  has  ever  threatened  our  liberty  and 
piosperity  save  and  except  this  institution  of  slavery?  If  this  be  true,  how  do 
you  propose  to  improve  the  condition  of  things  by  enlarging  slavery — by  spread- 
ing it  out  and  making  it  bigger?  You  may  have  a  wen  or  cancer  upon  your 
person  and  not  be  able  to  cut  it  out  lest  you  bleed  to  death ;  but  surely  it  is  no 
way  to  cure  it,  to  engraft  it  and  spread  it  over  your  whole  body !  That  is  no 
proper  way  of  treating  what  you  regard  as  a  wrong.  You  see  this  peaceful  way 
of  dealing  with  it  as  a  wrong — restricting  the  spread  of  it,  and  not  allowing  it  to 
go  into  new  countries  where  it  has  not  already  existed — that  is  the  peaceful  way, 
the  old-fashioned  way,  the  way  in  which  the  fathers  themselves  set  us  the 
example." 

Mr.  Douglas,  in  closing  the  memorable  debate,  said :  "Mr.  Lincoln  tries  to 
avoid  the  main  issue  by  attacking  the  truth  of  my  proposition,  that  our  fathers 
made  this  Government  divided  into  free  and  slave  States,  recognizing  the  right  of 
each  to  decide  all  its  local  questions  for  itself.  Did  they  not  thus  make  it? 

"It  is  true  that  they  did  not  establish  slavery  in  any  of  the  States,  or  abolish 
it  in  any  of  them  ;  but  finding  thirteen  States,  twelve  of  which  were  slave  and  one 
free,  they  agreed  to  form  a  Government  uniting  them  together,  as  they  stood 
divided  into  free  and  slave  States,  and  to  guaranty  forever  to  each  State  the 
right  to  do  as  it  pleased  on  the  slavery  question.  Having  thus  made  the  Gov- 
ernment, and  conferred  this  right  upon  each  State  forever,  I  assert  that  this  Gov- 
ernment can  exist  as  they  made  it,  divided  into  free  and  slave  States,  if  any  one 
State  chooses  to  retain  slavery. 

"He  says  that  he  looks  forward  to  a  time  when  slavery  shall  be  abolished 
everywhere.  I  look  forward  to  a  time  when  each  State  shall  be  allowed  to  do 
as  it  pleases.  If  it  chooses  to  keep  slavery  forever,  it  is  not  my  business,  but  its 
own  ;  if  it  chooses  to  abolish  slavery,  it  is  its  own  business — not  mine.  I  care  more 
for  the  great  principle  of  self-government,  the  right  of  the  people  to  rule,  than  I 
do  for  all  the  negroes  in  Christendom:  I  would  not  endanger  the  perpetuity  of 
this  Union,  I  would  not  blot  out  the  great  inalienable  rights  of  the  white  men 
for  all  the  negroes  that  ever  existed ! 

"Hence,  I  say,  let  us  maintain  this  Government  on  the  principles  that  our 
fathers  made  it,  recognizing  the  right  of  each  State  to  keep  slavery  as  long  as 
its  people  determine,  or  to  abolish  it  when  they  please.  *  *  Our  fathers,  I 

57 


say,  made  this  Government  on  the  principle  of  the  right  of  each  State  to  do  as  it 
pleases  in  its  own  domestic  affairs,  subject  to  the  Constitution ;  and  allowed  the 
people  of  each  to  apply  to  every  new  change  of  circumstances  such  remedy  as 
they  may  see  fit  to  improve  their  condition.  This  right  they  have  for  all  time 
to  come. 

"Mr.  Lincoln  went  on  to  tell  you  that  he  does  not  at  all  desire  to  interfere 
with  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists,  nor  does  his  party.  I  expected  him 
to  say  that  down  here.  Let  me  ask  him,  then,  how  he  expects  to  put  slavery  in 
the  course  of  ultimate  extinction  everywhere,  if  he  does  not  intend  to  interfere 
with  it  in  the  States  where  it  exists  ?  *  *  *  * 

"His  idea  is  that  he  will  prohibit  slavery  in  all  the  Territories,  and  thus  force 
them  to  become  free  States.  *  *  *  *  He  will  extinguish  slavery  in  the 
Southern  States  as  the  French  general  exterminated  the  Algerians  when  he 
smoked  them  out.  He  is  going  to  extinguish  slavery  by  surrounding  the  slave 
States,  hemming  in  the  slaves  and  starving  them  out  of  existence,  as  you  smoke 
a  fox  out  of  his  hole.  He  intends  to  do  that  in  the  name  of  humanity  and  Chris- 
tianity, in  order  that  we  may  get  rid  of  the  terrible  crime  and  sin  upon  our 
fathers,  of  holding  slaves. 

"Mr.  Lincoln  makes  out  that  line  of  policy  and  appeals  to  the  moral  sense  of 
justice  and  to  the  Christian  feeling  of  the  community  to  sustain  him.  He  says 
that  any  man  who  holds  to  the  contrary  doctrine  is  in  the  position  of  the  king 
who  claimed  to  govern  by  Divine  right.  Let  us  examine  for  a  moment  and  see 
what  principle  it  was  that  overthrew  the  Divine  right  of  George  the  Third  to 
govern  us. 

"Did  not  these  Colonies  rebel  because  the  British  Parliament  had  no  right 
to  pass  laws  concerning  our  property  and  domestic  and  private  institutions  with- 
out our.  consent  ?  We  demanded  that  the  British  Government  should  not  pass 
such  laws  unless  they  gave  us  representation  in  the  body  passing  them — and  this 
the  British  Government  insisted  on  doing — we  went  to  war,  on  the  principle  that 
the  home  government  should  not  control  and  govern  distant  colonies  without 
giving  them  a  representation.  ., 

"Now,  Mr.  Lincoln  proposes  to  govern  the  Territories  without  giving  them 
a  representation,  and  call  on  Congress  to  pass  laws  controlling  their  property 
and  domestic  concerns  without  their  consent  and  against  their  will.  Thus,  he 
asserts  for  his  party  the  identical  principle  asserted  by  George  III.  and  the  Tories 
of  the  Revolution ! 

"I  ask  you  to  look  into  these  things,  and  then  tell  me  whether  the  Democ- 
racy or  the  Abolitionists  are  right?  I  hold  that  the  people  of  a  Territory,  like 
those  of  a  State  (I  use  the  language  of  Mr.  Buchanan  in  his  letter  of  acceptance), 
have  the  right  to  decide  for  themselves  whether  slavery  shall  or  shall  not  exist 
within  their  limits.  The  point  upon  which  Chief  Justice  Taney  expresses  his 
opinion  is  simply  this,  that  slaves  being  property,  stand  on  an  equal  footing  with 
other  property,  and  consequently  that  the  owner  has  the  same  right  to  carry  that 
property  into  a  Territory  that  he  has  any  other,  subject  to  the  same  conditions. 

=!-.       >|c       >j=       # 

"If  the  people  want  the  institution  of  slavery  they  will  protect  and  encourage 
it ;  but  if  they  do  not  want  it  they  will  withhold  that  protection,  and  the  absence 
of  local  legislation  protecting  slavery  excludes  it  as  completely  as  a  positive  pro- 
hibition. You  slaveholders  of  Missouri  might  as  well  understand  what  you  know 
practically,  that  you  cannot  carry  slavery  where  the  people  do  not  want  it.  All 
you  have  a  right  to  ask  is,  that  the  people  shall  do  as  they  please ;  if  they  want 
slavery  let  them  have  it ;  if  they  do  not  want  it,  allow  them  to  refuse  to 
encourage  it. 

"If  we  will  only  live  up  to  this  great  fundamental  principle  (of  non-interfer- 
ence), there  will  be  peace  between  the  North  and  the  South.  *  *  *  The  only 
remedy  and  safety  is  that  we  shall  stand  by  the  Constitution  as  our  fathers  made 
it :  obey  the  laws  as  they  are  passed,  while  they  stand  the  proper  test ;  and  sustain 
the  decisions  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  the  constituted  authorities." 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  to  record  in  connection  with  this  debate,  that  when 
Mr.  Lincoln  had  prepared  the  series  of  questions  he  proposed  to  put  to  Judge 
Douglas,  he  called  together  a  number  of  his  prominent  friends  for  consultation 

S8 


and  submitted  the  questions  to  them ;  they  all  advised  against  propounding  the 
questions,  but  Mr.  Lincoln,  after  stating  his  reasons,  decided  to  have  the  Senator 
respond  to  his  list  of  questions.  The  speeches  were  made,  and  Senator  Douglas 
promptly  and  fully  answered  the  questions. 

The  one  question  to  which  Mr.  Lincoln  was  most  anxious  for  an  answer  was 
as  follows:  "Can  the  people  of  a  United  States  Territory,  in  any  lawful  way, 
against  the  wish  of  any  citizen  of  the  United  States,  exclude  slavery  from  their 
limits  prior  to  the  formation  of  a  State  Constitution  ?" 

Mr.  Douglas'  answer  to  that  question  was :  "It  matters  not  what  way  the 
Supreme  Court  may  hereafter  decide  as  to  the  abstract  question  whether  slavery 
may  or  may  not  go  into  a  Territory  under  the  Constitution,  the  people  have  the 
lawful  means  to  introduce  it  or  exclude  it  as  they  please,  for  the  reason  that 
slavery  cannot  exist  a  clay  or  an  hour  anywhere,  unless  it  is  supported  by  local 
police  regulations.  Those  police  regulations  can  only  be  established  by  the  local 
legislature,  and  if  the  people  are  opposed  to  slavery  they  will  elect  representatives 
to  that  body  who  will  by  unfriencly  legislation  effectually  prevent  the  introduc- 
tion of  it  into  their  midst." 

After  the  meeting  some  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  friends  expressed  regret  that  he 
had  put  the  question  to  Senator  Douglas;  he  replied  promptly:  "Well,  Judge 
Douglas  may  beat  me  for  the  Senator,  but  he  cannot  be  elected  President."  He 
had  the  sagacity  to  foresee  that  this  answer  would  forever  alienate  the  Southern 
Democratic  leaders  from  Judge  Douglas. 

This  opinion  was  fully  justified,  for  when  Congress  met  in  December  follow- 
ing, Senator  Jefferson  Davis  introduced  and  had  passed  by  the  Senate  a  series  of 
resolutions,  one  of  which  is  as  follows : 

"That  neither  Congress  nor  a  Territorial  Legislature,  whether  by  direct 
legislation  or  legislation  of  an  indirect  and  unfriendly  character,  possesses  power 
to  annul  or  impair  the  Constitutional  right  of  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  to 
take  his  slave-property  into  the  common  Territories,  and  there  hold  and  enjoy 
the  same  while  the  Territorial  condition  remains." 

So  absorbing  was  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  politics  of  the  country  in 
1858  that  no  other  issue  was  discussed  by  Lincoln  and  Douglas.  Each  made  a 
passing  allusion  to  the  acquisition  of  additional  territory  by  the  United  States, 
but  no  issue  was  made  upon  the  question. 

The  tariff  question,  the  financial  question,  the  homestead  question,  were  all 
pushed  aside,  the  public  mind  was  solely  occupied  with  the  issue  between  slavery 
and  freedom. 

This  debate  was  listened  to  by  tens  of  thousands  and  read  by  millions  of 
people.  Senator  Douglas  was  recognized  everywhere  as  a  man  of  great  natural 
ability,  thoroughly  versed  in  public  affairs,  and  one  of  the  most  powerful  men  in 
debate  in  the  United  States.  In  Abraham  Lincoln  he  had  met  his  equal,  in 
breadth  of  historical  knowledge,  in  clearness,  logic  and  power  of  statement,  in 
attack  and  defence  Lincoln  showed  himself  to  be  a  masterhand ;  he  lifted  the 
debate  at  once  to  the  plane  of  noble  and  progressive  statemanship.  His  reputa- 
tion as  a  sound  thinker,  a  man  of  splendid  intellectual  poise  and  of  great  ability, 
was  at  once  established  throughout  the  Northern  States. 

It  is  proper  to  say  that  the  friends  of  both  of  these  great  men  were  well  sat- 
isfied with  the  canvass ;  the  conflicting  opinions  of  political  parties  had  been  pre- 
sented clearly  and  forcibly.  The  people  went  to  the  polls  and  cast  their  ballots 
according  to  their  convictions. 

The  Republicans  elected  their  State  officers  by  a  vote  of  125430  against 
121,609  for  the  Democratic  candidates,  but  the  Democrats  carried  the  Legislature. 
On  joint  ballot  the  Democrats  had  54  votes  and  the  Republicans  46  votes.  Mr. 
Douglas  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States. 

The  Republicans  elected  four  Congressmen,  namely,  E.  B.  Washburne, 
John  F.  Farnsworth,  Owen  Lovejoy  and  William  Kellogg.  These  gentlemen 
canvassed  their  districts  with  great  spirit ;  in  fact,  they  were  all  men  of  splendid 
ability,  but  the  canvass  between  Lincoln  and  Douglas  overshadowed  all  others. 
Mr.  Lincoln's  speeches  were  accepted  throughout  the  country  as  a  clear  exposi- 
tion of  Republican  doctrine,  and  they  became  the  keynote  of  future  Republican 
national  platforms. 

59 


The  election  of  a  Legislature  favorable  to  his  return  to  the  Senate  was  re- 
garded by  Judge  Douglas  and  his  friends  as  a  great  personal  and  political  triumph. 

In  returning  to  the  national  capital,  Senator  Douglas  made  a  circuit  of  the 
country  and  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  by  the  people  at  St.  Louis,  Mem- 
phis, New  Orleans,  New  York,  Philadelphia,  Baltimore  and  Washington.  He 
was  the  political  idol  of  the  hour.  He  had  antagonized  the  national  administration 
upon  the  question  of  admitting  Kansas  as  a  slave  State,  and  had  unquestionably 
carried  the  great  body  of  the  Democracy  with  him.  Mr.  Douglas  was  now  the 
undisputed  leader  of  the  Democratic  party. 


60 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

BUCHANAN'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

MAJORITY  OF  CABINET  FROM  SOUTHERN  STATES — PRESIDENT  YIELDS  TO 
THEIR  DEMANDS  TO  MAKE  KANSAS  A  SLAVE  STATE,  THE  LEADING  MEAS- 
URE OF  THE  ADMINISTRATION — THE  LE  COMPTON  CONSTITUTION. 

James  Buchanan  was  elected  President  by  a  most  determined  and  aggressive 
campaign.  While  many  prominent  and  influential  men  had  abandoned  the  Demo- 
cratic party  and  aided  in  organizing  the  Republican  party,  the  leaders  of  the 
Democracy  entered  the  lists  with  confidence.  Mr.  Buchanan  carried  Pennsylvania 
by  a  majority  of  83,200,  California  by  31,507,  Indiana  by  24,295,  New  Jersey  by 
18,605,  and  Illinois  by  9,159.  He  was  supported  by  a  strong  working  majority 
in  both  branches  of  Congress.  While  in  1854  the  Anti-Nebraska  sentiment  had 
reduced  the  Democratic  membership  of  the  lower  house  of  Congress  from  159 
lo  83,  at  the  election  of  1856  the  Democratic  membership  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives had  been  increased  to  131,  giving  a  majority  of  25.  Democratic 
leaders  felt  that  they  had  weathered  the  political  storm,  and  that  with  a  wise 
and  satisfactory  administration,  the  Democratic  party  would  renew  its  strength 
and  enter  upon  a  long  lease  of  power. 

Mr.  Buchanan  was  a  man  of  recognized  ability ;  he  had  great  experience  in 
public  affairs.  Pennsylvania,  his  home  State,  always  anti-slavery,  had  supported 
him  with  great  enthusiasm,  and  it  was  believed  that  the  sound  judgment  and 
conservatism  of  that  people  would  be  reflected  in  his  administration. 

President  Buchanan  entered  office  with  the  good  will  and  confidence  of  the 
whole  American  people.  He  had  the  earnest  and  cordial  support  of  Senator 
Douglas,  who  was  a  most  potent  factor  in  Democratic  politics. 

The  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Cabinet  were  selected  from  the  South- 
ern States ;  men  of  prominence  and  experience  in  public  life.  They  represented 
the  advanced  ideas  of  the  Southern  Democracy  upon  the  constitutional  right 
of  slave  holders  to  take  their  slaves  into  the  Territories  as  other  property ;  and 
upon  the  constitutional  rights  of  States  to  secede  from  the  Union.  Upon  these 
two  great  questions  Mr.  Buchanan  was  as  potter's  clay  in  the  hands  of  these 
earnest  and  determined  political  managers.  Their  decision  was  that  Kansas  must 
be  made  a  slave  State,  and  the  whole  power  of  the  administration  was  directed  to 
accomplish  that  end.  The  free  State  movement  under  the  Topeka  Constitution 
was  firmly  resisted ;  the  effort  of  the  bona  fide  settlers  to  relieve  themselves 
from  the  laws  and  officers  imposed  upon  them,  by  invasion  and  usurpation,  was 
characterized  by  the  President  and  his  Cabinet  as  rebellion  and  treason.  The 
fact  that  more  than  nine-tenths  of  the  settlers  had,  through  public  meetings  and 
delegate  conventions,  protested  against  these  usurpations ;  and  that  men  of  all 
parties  in  the  Territory,  including  Democrats  of  prominence  and  character,  had 
united  in  the  free  State  movement,  claiming  that  the  citizens  of  the  Territory 
possessed  the  inherent  right  of  self-government  and  the  ri^ht  of  petition  for  the 
redress  grievances,  had  no  weight  whatever  with  the  President  and  his  advisors. 
The  pro-slavery  party  had  been  able  by  invasion  and  usurpation  to  seize  the 
law-making  and  executive  machinery  of  the  Territory,  and  the  administration 
was  determined  to  uphold  their  authority  to  the  end. 

By  an  act  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  passed  Feb.  17,  1857,  a  census  was 
ordered  to  form  the  basis  for  districting  the  territory  for  the  election  of  sixty 
delegates  to  frame  a  constitution.  There  were  thirty-four  counties,,  but  the  census 

61 


was  taken  in  only  fifteen,  laying  near  the  border  of  Missouri  and  the  sixty  dele- 
gates were  allotted  to  these  counties.  The  pro-slavery  party  controlled  the  elec- 
tion machinery  and  all  the  delegates  were  pro-slavery  men.  The  convention 
framed  a  pro-slavery  constitution,  which  provided  that  no  change  should  be  made 
prior  to  1864  and  that  at  the  election  for  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  all  white 
male  inhabitants  of  the  Territory  of  Kansas  in  said  Territory  upon  the  day  of  the 
election  were  entitled  to  vote.  The  returns  of  the  election  were  to  be  sent  to  the 
President  of  the  convention,  who  was  to  canvass  the  vote.  The  form  of  submit- 
ting the  constitution  to  vote  was : 

"For  the  constitution  with  slavery."  "For  the  constitution  without  slavery{" 
The  vote  as  reported  after  months  of  delay  was :  "For  the  constitution  with 
slavery,"  6,226;  "For  the  constitution  without  slavery,"  569.  The  Lecompton 
constitution  was  transmitted  to  President  Buchanan  by  John  Calhoun,  President 
of  the  convention  (who  was  also  Surveyor  General  of  the  Territory),  with  a 
recommendation  that  it  be  forwarded  to  Congress. 

On  Feb,  2,  1858,  the  President  sent  a  lengthy  message  to  Congress  with  the 
constitution,  recommending  that  Kansas  be  admitted  into  the  Union.  In  speak- 
ing of  the  agitation  in  Kansas  the  President  said :  "Already  the  affairs  of  the 
Territory  have  engaged  an  undue  proportion  of  the  public  attention.  They  have 
sadly  affected  the  friendly  relations  of  the  people  of  the  States  with  each  other  and 
alarmed  the  fears  of  patriots  for  the  safety  of  the  Union." 

In  regard  to  the  slavery  question,  he  said  :  "It  has  been  solemnly  adjudged  by 
the  highest  judicial  tribunal  known  to  our  laws,  that  slavery  exists  in  Kansas  by 
virtue  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  Kansas  is  therefore  at  this  moment 
as  much  a  slave  State  as  Georgia  or  South  Carolina.  Without  this,  the  equality 
of  the  sovereign  States  composing  the  Union  would  be  violated  and  the  use  and 
enjoyment  of  a  Territory  acquired  by  the  common  treasure  of  all  the  States  would 
be  closed  against  the  people  and  the  property  of  nearly  half  the  members  of  the 
Confederacy.  Slavery  can,  therefore,  never  be  prohibited  in  Kansas  except  by 
means  of  a  constitutional  provision,  and  in  no  other  manner  can  this  be  obtained 
so  promptly,  if  the  majority  of  the  people  desire  it,  as  by  admitting  it  into  the 
Union  under  its  present  constitution." 

This  message  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Territories,  of  which  Sen- 
ator Douglas  of  Illinois  was  Chairman.  Senator  Douglas  presented  a  memorial 
from  the  officers  of  the  Free  State  Government  provided  for  by  the  Topeka  consti- 
tution, protesting  against  the  admission  of  Kansas  under  the  Lecompton  constitu- 
tion, which  was  also  referred  to  the  committee  and  ordered  printed.  Senator 
Trumbull  of  Illinois'took  the  floor  and  made  an  able  speech,  arraigning  the  admin- 
istration upon  its  Kansas  policy.  In  this  speech  Mr.  Trumbull  said :  "The  origin 
of  all  difficulties  in  Kansas,  since  its  organization  as  a  Territory,  was  the  first 
usurpation — the  carrying  of  the  election  of  March  3,  1855,  by  violence  and  install- 
ing in  authority  a  set  of  usurpers.  That  this  was  done  any  man  at  all  acquainted 
with  the  history  of  Kansas  affairs  knows  to  be  true.  This  being  so,  the  enactments 
of  the  usurpers  do  not  deserve  to  be  dignified  by  the  name  of  law.  The  President 
of  the  United  States  has  brought  his  army  to  sustain  this  usurpation.  There  was 
no  way  for  the  people  of  Kansas  to  escape  from  this  despotism,  except  by  setting 
up  a  government  for  themselves  in  opposition  to  it." 

Senator  Green,  from  the  Committee  on  Territories,  reported  a  bill  for  the 
admission  of  Kansas  as  a  slave  State  under  the  Lecompton  constitution.  Senator 
Douglas  submitted  a  minority  report.  He  opposed  the  admission  of  Kansas 
under  the  Lecompton  constitution  upon  the  ground  that  it  was  not  the  act  and 
deed  of  a  majority  of  the  bona  fide  citizens  of  the  Territory,  but  had  been  adopted 
as  the  result  of  violence  and  usurpation.  Mr.  Douglas  was  a  thorough  believer  in 
the  doctrine  of  popular  sovereignty.  He  believed  that  the  people  of  a  Territory 
had  the  right  to  form  a  constitution  and  framework  of  republican  government 
according  to  the  wishes  of  a  majority  of  the  people,  but  he  did  not  believe  in 
the  use  of  force,  fraud  and  violence  as  a  means  of  establishing  slavery  in  the  Ter- 
ritory of  Kansas.  Mr.  Douglas  voted  against  the  bill  when  it  came  before  the 
Senate,  and  opposed  every  proposition  looking  to  have  that  Territory  admitted 
into  the  Union  under  that  constitution,  including  what  was  known  as  the  English 
bill,  which  passed  Congress  April  30,  1858,  as  a  conference  report.  This  bill  sub- 

62 


mitted  the  Constitution  to  a  vote  of  the  people  of  Kansas  and  at  the  election,  held 
for  that  purpose,  the  Lecompton  Constitution  was  rejected. 

The  strong  opposition  offered  by  Senator  Douglas  to  the  forcing  of  slavery 
into  Kansas  against  the  will  of  a  majority  of  the  bona  fide  residents  of  the  territory, 
and  his  aid  in  defeating  the  Lecompton  Constitution  caused  a  breach  between  the 
Senator  and  Buchanan's  administration.  In  1858  the  whole  power  and  influence 
of  the  administration  was  exerted  for  the  defeat  of  the  Senator  for  re-election ; 
but  the  attitude  of  the  administration  on  the  Kansas  question  was  so  odious  to 
the  great  majority  of  the  voters  of  Illinois  that  there  was  no  affiliation  between 
the  Republicans  and  administration  Democracy,  known  in  the  parlance  of  the  day 
as  "Danites." 

The  struggle  in  Kansas  colored  almost  every  act  of  any  importance  connected 
with  Buchanan's  administration.  Looking  back  over  the  events  of  that  period 
it  is  now  perfectly  clear  that  the  members  of  Mr.  Buchanan's  cabinet  from  the 
Southern  States  were  preparing  for  secession.  The  Treasury  Department  was  run 
during  the  entire  four  years  with  a  large  deficiency  and  no  steps  were  taken  in 
Congress  to  remedy  this  evil  by  making  provision  for  additional  revenues.  Instead 
of  this,  bills  were  passed  from  time  to  time  authorizing  the  issuing  of  interest 
bearing  Treasury  notes  and  other  forms  of  public  debt.  The  fact  is,  the  Govern- 
ment in  a  time  of  peace  was  being  run  on  credit. 

The  Secretary  of  War,  in  1859,  began  the  transfer  of  muskets  and  other  war 
equipments  from  Springfield,  Mass.,  arsenal  and  from  Harper's  Ferry  to  the 
Southern  States.  The  Mobile  Advertiser,  speaking  upon  this  subject,  said : 
"During  the  past  year  135,430  muskets  have  been  quietly  transferred  from  the 
northern  arsenal  at  Springfield  alone  to  those  in  the  Southern  States.  We  are 
much  obliged  to  Secretary  Floyd  for  the  foresight  he  has  thus  displayed  in  dis- 
arming the  North,  and  equipping  the  South  for  this  emergency.  There  is  no 
telling  the  quantity  of  arms  and  munitions  which  were  sent  South  from  other 
northern  arsenals." 

In  the  latter  part  of  1860  the  Secretary  of  War  stationed  most  of  the  regular 
army  at  remote  points,  and  much  of  it  in  the  Southern  States  ;  at  the  same  time 
the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  sent  our  naval  vessels  to  distant  stations  ;  large  amounts 
of  coin  were  left  in  the  New  Orleans  mint  and  other  places  of  deposit  in  the  South  ; 
while  the  Attorney  General  conM  find  no  power  in  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  against 
secession,  these  men  occupying  the  chief  executive  offices  of  the  Government, 
sworn  to  support  the  Constitution  and  whose  duty  it  was  to  enforce  the  laws, 
interposed  no  objections  whatever  to  the  revolutionary  measures  to  break  up  the 
Government  and  to  seize  and  hoid  the  public  property  in  the  Southern  States.  As 
the  administration  neared  its  close  it  seemed  that  the  hour  had  struck  for  the 
destruction  of  the  Republic. 


63 


CHAPTER  IX. 

REPUBLICAN  STATE  CONVENTION,  DECATUR,  MAY  9,  1860 — REPUBLICAN  NA- 
TIONAL CONVENTION,  CHICAGO,  MAY  16,  1860 — DEMOCRATIC  NATIONAL 
CONVENTION,  CHARLESTON,  APRIL  23.  BALTIMORE,  JUNE  18,  1860 — THE 
BRECKENRIDGE  CONVENTION — LINCOLN'S  INAUGURAL  ADDRESS. 

Illinois  had  so  increased  in  wealth  and  population  that  she  was  now  the 
fourth  state  of  the  Union,  and  the  political  influence  of  her  people  had  grown  in 
like  proportion.  The  Republican  Party  four  years  before  was  just  taking  form. 
The  Convention  of  that  year,  while  it  contained  many  delegates,  was  largely  a 
mass  Convention,  but  now  the  party  was  thoroughly  organized,  and  in  the  Con- 
vention of  1860  had  regular  delegates  from  every  County  in  the  State  except 
Pulaski.  The  Convention  met  at  Decatur,  May  9,  and  Judge  Joseph  Gillespie  was 
chosen  as  President.  Many  distinguished  men  were  in  attendance,  among  whom 
were  Browning,  Hurlbert,  Oglesby,  Palmer,  Peck,  Wentworth,  Judge  Logan, 
and  Lincoln.  Richard  Yates  of  Morgan,  Norman  B.  Judd  of  Cook,  and  Leonard 
Swett  of  McLean,  were  candidates  for  Governor.  All  able,  all  popular.  On  the 
fourth  ballot  Yates  received  363  votes  and  was  nominated.  Francis  A. 
Hoffman  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  Jesse  K.  Dubois  for  Auditor,  Ozias  M. 
Hatch  for  Secretary  of  State,  William  Butler  for  Treasurer,  and  Newton  Bate- 
man  for  State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  we/e  duly  nominated.  This 
Convention  selected  as  Presidential  Electors,  John  M.  Palmer,  Leonard  Swett, 
Allen  C.  Fuller,  William  B.  Plato,  Lawrence  Weldon,  William  P.  Kellogg,  James 
Stark,  James  C.  Conkling,  Henry  P.  H.  Bromwell,  Thomas  G.  Allen,  and  John 
Olney,  and  as  delegates  to  the  Republican  National  Convention,  Norman  B. 
Judd,  Gustavus  Koerner,  David  Davis,  Orvil  H.  Browning,  Jason  Marsh,  Solon 
Cummings,  George  Schneider,  George  T.  Smith,  Burton  C.  Cook,  Oliver  L. 
Davis,  Henry  Grove,  E.  W.  Hazard,  William  Ross,  James  S.  Irwin,  Stephen  T. 
Logan,  Nathan  N.  Knapp,  Thomas  A.  Marshall,  William  P.  Dole,  F.  S.  Ruther- 
ford, David  K.  Green,  James  C.  Sloo,  and  David  L.  Phillips. 

The  Convention  passed  a  resolution  instructing  the. Delegates  to  cast  their 
vote  as  a  unit,  and  to  use  all  honorable  means  to  secure  the  nomination  of  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  President. 

The  Democratic  Convention  met  at  Springfield  June  13,  1860.  Hon.  William 
McMurtry  presided.  James  C.  Allen  of  Crawford  County  was  nominated  for 
Governor,  his  competitors  being  S.  A.  McMaster,  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  Newton 
Cloud,  and  Walter  B.  Scates.  Lewis  W.  Ross  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant 
Governor,  G.  H.  Campbell  for  Secretary  of  State,  Bernard  Arntzen  for  Auditor, 
Hugh  Maher  for  Treasurer,  and  E.  R.  Roe  for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion. This  was  a  strong  ticket,  they  were  earnest  friends  of  Senator  Douglas,  and 
brought  out  the  entire  strength  of  the  party.  The  supporters  of  President  Bu- 
chanan, a  mere  handful  of  office  holders  throughout  the  State,  separated  them- 
selves from  the  regular  Democratic  organization,  and  nominated  T.  M.  Hope 
and  Thomas  Snell  as  candidates  for  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor.  The 
friends  of  Bell  and  Everet  held  a  Convention  and  nominated  John  B.  Stuart  for 
Governor  and  Henry  S.  Blackburn  for  Lieutenant  Governor.  There  were,  there- 
fore, four  candidates  in  the  field  for  Governor ;  the  real  issue,  however,  was  be- 
tween Yates  and  Allen,  both  able  and  popular  men.  Each  made  a  canvass  of  the 
entire  State.  Large  audiences  assembled  to  hear  them.  The  election  was  held 
and  Governor  Yates  was  triumphantly  elected.  The  Republican  State  ticket  and 
the  Presidential  Electoral  ticket  carrying  the  State  by  about  13,000  majority. 

64 


On  Dec.  29,  1859,  the  National  Republican  Committee  issued  flie  following 
call :  "A  National  Republican  Convention  will  meet  at  Chicago  on  Wednesday 
the  i6th  day  of  May  next  at  12  o'clock  noon." 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  by  Governor  Morgan.  At  the  conclu- 
sion of  his  address  he  nominated  David  Wilmot  of  Pennsylvania  for  temporary 
Chairman.  Upon  taking  the  Chair,  Mr.  Wilmot  delivered  an  able  and  eloquent 
speech.  Frederick  Hassanvek  of  Ohio,  Theodore  M.  Pomeroy  of  New  York, 
and  Henry  T.  Blow  of  Missouri,  were  elected  temporary  Secretaries.  The  usual 
Committees  on  permanent  organization,  credentials,  rules  and  order  of  business, 
and  resolutions  were  appointed.  Hon.  Geo.  Ashman  of  Massachusetts  was  made 
President,  with  a  Vice-President  from  each  State  represented  in  the  Convention. 
Hon.  David  Davis  was  chosen  Vice-President  for  Illinois.  Mr.  Ashman  delivered 
an  impassioned  speech  impeaching  the  Democratic  administration.  He  proved 
himself  to  be  an  able  presiding  officer. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  Convention  the  committees  made  their  reports. 
Mr.  Wilmot  objected  to  the  delegates  from  certain  Southern  States,  declaring 
that  they  represented  no  constituencies  as  those  States  were  certain  to  give  their 
electoral  votes  for  the  Democratic  candidate.  After  considerable  discussion  the 
report  of  the  committee  on  credentials  was  accepted,  except  as  to  the  Texas 
delegation,  which  was  later  admitted  with  six  votes. 

The  membership  of  the  Convention  being  now  settled,  the  report  of  the 
Committee  on  Rules  was.  taken  up.  The  fourth  rule,  as  reported,  provided : 
"That  304  votes,  being  a  majority  of  the  whole  number,  were  all  the  States  of  the 
Union  represented,  should  be  necessary  to  nominate."  William  D.  Kelley  of 
Pennsylvania  presented  a  minority  report  that  a  majority  of  the  votes  of  the 
Convention,  being  233,  "should  nominate."  The  minority  report  was  adopted  by 
a  vote  of  333  yeas,  to  118  nays. 

The  platform  was  reported  by  Judge  William  L.  Jessop  of  Pennsylvania, 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  The  platform  was  received  with 
great  satisfaction  and  enthusiasm.  Pennsylvanians  expressed  great  pleasure 
with  the  twelfth  resolution,  upon  the  question  of  the  Tariff.  Mr.  Giddings  of 
Ohio  offered  an  amendment  to  be  inserted  after  the  first  resolution  as  follows : 
"That  we  solemnly  reassert  the  self-evident  truth  that  all  men  are  endowed  by 
their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable  rights,  amongst  which  are  those  of  life, 
liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness ;  that  Governments  are  instituted  among  men 
to  secure  the  enjoyment  of  these  rights."  He  supported  his  amendment  by  a 
short,  but  earnest  speech.  Mr.  Carter  of  Ohio  opposed  the  amendment,  claiming 
the  same  ideas  were  embodied  in  the  second  resolution.  Mr.  Giddings'  motion 
was  put  and  declared  lost.  Whereupon  Mr.  Giddings  both  in  sorrow  and  anger 
left  the  Convention. 

When  the  reading  of  the  resolutions  was  concluded,  Geo.  William  Curtis  of 
New  York,  arose  and  in  reply  to  an  inquiry,  "What  is  the  question  before  the 
house?"  the  Chair  informed  him  "It  is  upon  the  adoption  of  the  report."  Mr. 
Curtis  then  offered  an  amendment  to  the  second  resolution,  a  quotation  from  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  substantially  as  presented  by  Mr.  Giddings,  and 
supported  it  with  an  earnest  speech.  The  appeal  of  Mr.  Curtis  carried  the  Con- 
vention with  him  and  his  amendment  was  incorporated  into  the  platform.  The 
vote  on  platform  was  taken  about  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  and  its  adoption 
excited  the  enthusiasm  not  only  of  the  delegates,  but  the  great  audience  in  at- 
tendance. More  than  ten  thousand  people  united  in  giving  expression  to  an 
unbounded  approbation. 

The  platform  adopted  by  the  Convention  deserves  to  be  kept  in  perpetual 
remembrance  by  Republicans.  Its  most  important  resolutions  are  quoted  below: 

"That  the  maintenance  of  the  principles  promulgated  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence  and  embodied  in  the  Federal  Constitution,  'That  all  men  are 
created  equal ;  that  they  are  endowed  by  their  Creator  with  certain  inalienable" 
rights  ;  that  among  these  are  life,  liberty  and  the  pursuit  of  happiness ;  that  to 
secure  these  rights,  governments  are  instituted  among  men,  deriving  their  just 
powers  from  the  consent  of  the  governed,'  is  essential  to  the  preservation  of  our 
republican  institutions  ;  and  that  the  Federal  Constitution,  the  rights  of  the  States, 
and  the  Union  of  the  States,  must  and  shall  be  preserved. 

65 


"That  to  the  union  of  the  States  this  Nation  owes  its  unprecedented  increase 
in  population,  its  surprising  development  of  material  resources,  its  rapid  augmen- 
tation of  wealth,  its  happiness  at  home  and  its  honor  abroad ;  and  we  hold  in  ab- 
horrence all  schemes  for  disunion,  come  from  whatever  source  they  may;  and 
we  congratulate  the  country  that  no  Republican  member  of  Congress  has  uttered 
or  countenanced  the  threats  of  disunion  so  often  made  by  Democratic  members 
without  rebuke  and  with  applause  from  their  political  associates ;  and  we  de- 
nounce those  threats  of  disunion,  in  case  of  a  popular  overthrow  of  their  ascen- 
dancy, as  denying  the  vital  principles  of  free  government,  and  as  an  avowal  of 
contemplated  treason,  which  it  is  the  imperative  duty  of  an  indignant  people" 
sternly  to  rebuke  and  forever  silence. 

"That  the  maintenance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  and  especially  the 
right  of  each  State  to  order  and  control  its  own  domestic  institutions  according 
to  its  own  judgment  exclusively,  is  essential  to  that  balance  of  power  on  which 
the  perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  fabric  depends ;  and  we  denounce 
the  lawless  invasion,  by  armed  force,  of  the  soil  of  any  State  or  Territory,  no 
matter  under  what  pretext,  as  among  the  gravest  of  crimes. 

"That  the  new  dogma,  that  the  Constitution,  of  its  own  force,  carries  slavery 
into  any  or  all  of  the  Territories  of  the  United  States,  is  a  dangerous  political 
heresy,  at  variance  with  explicit  provisions  of  the  instrument  itself,  with  con- 
temporaneous exposition,  and  with  legislative  and  judicial  precedent — is  revolu- 
tionary in  its  tendency,  and  subversive  of  the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  country. 

"That  the  normal  condition  of  all  the  territory  of  the  United  States  is  that 
of  freedom ;  that  as  our  Republican  fathers  when  thev  had  abolished  slavery  in 
all  our  rational  territory,  ordained  that  'no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty 
or  property,  without  due  process  of  law,'  it  becomes  our  duty  by  legislation, 
whenever  such  legislation  is  necessary,  to  maintain  this  provision  of  the  Con- 
stitution against  all  attempts  to  violate  it ;  and  we  deny  the  authority  of  Congress, 
of  a  Territorial  legislature,  or  of  any  individuals,  to  give  legal  existence  to 
slavery  in  any  territory  of  the  United  States. 

"That  Kansas  should,  of  right,  be  immediately  admitted  as  a  State  under 
the  Constitution  recently  formed  and  adopted  by  her  people,  and  accepted  by  the 
House  of  Representatives. 

"That,  while  providing  revenue  for  the  support  of  the  General  Government 
by  duties  on  imports,  sound  policy  requires  such  an  adjustment  of  these  imports 
as  to  encourage  the  development  of  the  industrial  interest  of  the  whole  country ; 
and  we  commend  that  policy  of  national  exchanges  which  secures  to  the  working 
men  liberal  wages,  to  agriculture  remunerative  prices,  to  mechanics  and  manu- 
facturers an  adequate  reward  for  their  skill,  labor,  and  enterprise,  and  to  the 
Nation  commercial  prosperity  and  independence." 

The  Convention  adjourned  until  Friday  morning  at  ten  o'clock.  When  the 
great  mass  of  people  passed  out  from  the  convention  hall  and  scattered  to  their 
hotels,  the  thousands  of  citizens,  men  and  women,  who  had  been  unable  to  obtain 
entrance  to  the  hall  became  thoroughly  infected  with  the  enthusiastic  excitement 
and  the  city  became  the  scene  of  a  most  extraordinary  exhibition  of  joyful  agita- 
tion. 

It  was  recognized  from  the  start  that  while  a  number  of  candidates  would 
be  presented  to  the  Convention  the  contest  really  lay  between  William  A.  Seward 
of  New  York,  and  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois.  The  friends  of  both  these  candi- 
dates were  unsparing  in  their  efforts  in  personally  presenting  the  claims  of  these 
candidates.  Mr.  Seward  had  *he  support  of  many  able  men  from  his  own  State, 
viz:  Governor  Edward  D.  Morgan,  William  M.  Evarts,  Thurlow  Weed,  Preston 
King,  Geo.  William  Curtis,  Moses  H.  Grinnell,  James  Watson  Webb,  John  A. 
King,  James  W.  Nye,  and  others.  They  and  their  friends  were  confident  of 
securing  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Seward.  But  Mr.  Lincoln  also  had  a  large  num- 
ber of  influential  friends  working  for  his  nomination.  David  Davis,  Stephen  T. 
Logan,  O.  H.  Browning,  Norman  B.  Judd,  Burton  C.  Cook,  and  a  host  of  others 
were  untiring  in  their  efforts  in  his  behalf,  assisted  by  able  men  from  other  States. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  Friday  morning.  Every  available  inch 
of  space  in  the  hall  was  occupied  and  thousands  of  people  were  unable  to  obtain 
admission.  The  nominations  were  made  with  few  words.  Seven  candidates  were 

66 


named.  When  the  vote  was  called  delegates  from  the  following  named  States  and 
Territories  voted:  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  Rhode 
Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Delaware, 
Missouri,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Texas,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  California,  Minnesota, 
Oregon,  Kansas,  Nebraska,  and  District  of  Columbia. 

Upon  the  first  ballot  the  candidates  received  the  following  votes:  William 
H.  Seward  of  New  York  173^2,  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois  102,  Simon  Came- 
ron of  Pennsylvania  50^2,  Salmon  P.  Chase  of  Ohio  49,  Edward  Bates  of  Missouri 
49,  William  L.  Dayton  of  New  Jersey  14,  John  McLean  of  Ohio  12,  Jacob  Col- 
lamer  of  Vermont  10,  Benjamin  F.  Wade  of  Ohio  3,  John  C.  Fremont  of  Cali- 
fornia i,  Charles  Sumner  of  Massachusetts  I,  Jacob  M.  Reed  of  Pennsylvania  i. 
Mr.  Lincoln  received  the  solid  vote  of  Illinois. 

On  the  second  ballot  the  vote  stood:  Seward  184^2,  Lincoln  181,  Chase 
42^2,  Bates  35,  Dayton  10,  McLean  8,  Cameron  2,  Clay  2.  Whole  number  465, 
necessary  to  a  choice  233.  On  this  vote  Mr.  Lincoln  received  14  votes  from 
Ohio ;  on  the  first  ballot  he  received  but  8. 

The  third  ballot  was  ordered;  the  result  was  as  follows:     Lincoln 
Seward  180,  Bates  22,  McLean  5,  Dayton  i,  Clay  i.     Mr.  Lincoln  lacked 
votes  of  a  nomination. 

Before  the  result  was  announced  David  K.  Carter  of  Ohio  arose ;  he  an~ 
nounced  the  change  of  four  votes  of  Ohio  to  Lincoln.  The  work  was  done,  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  had  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  and  was  nominated.  Instantly 
the  action  of  Mr.  Carter  was  greeted  with  enthusiastic  applause,  which  was  cor>- 
tinuecl  for  several  minutes.  When  the  Convention  was  brought  to  order  a  number 
of  other  changes  of  votes  were  made,  so  that  when  the  vote  was  announced  it 
stood  Lincoln  364  votes.  Hon.  William  M.  Evarts,  Chairman  of  the  New  York 
delegation,  took  the  floor  and  in  an  eloquent  speech  moved  to  make  the  nomina- 
tion unanimous,  which  was  done.  When  the  fact  was  made  known  to  the  assem- 
bled multitude  outside  of  the  Hall  that  "Honest  old  Abe"  had  been  nominated 
the  enthusiasm  and  excitement  was  unbounded.  The  Convention  took  a  recess 
for  dinner. 

When  the  Convention  met  nominations  for  Vice-President  were  made.  Up- 
on the  first  ballot  the  vote  stood :  Hannibal  Hamhn  of  Maine  194,  Cassius  M. 
Clay  of  Kentucky  100,  John  Hickman  of  Pennsylvania  57,  Andrew  H.  Reeder, 
late  Governor  of  Kansas,  51,  Nathaniel  P.  Banks  of  Massachusetts  38,  Henry 
Winter  Davis  of  Maryland  28,  Sam  Houston  of  Texas  12,  William  L.  Dayton  of 
New  Jersey  3,  John  M.  Read  of  Pennsylvania  i.  On  the  second  ballot  Hamlin  re- 
ceived 367  votes,  Clay  86,  and  Hickman  13.  The  nomination  of  Mr.  Hamlin  was 
made  unanimous  upon  the  motion  of  Geo.  D.  Blakely  of  Kentucky,  and  Caleb 
B.  Smith.  Mr.  McCrillis  of  Maine,  in  a  brief  speech  accepting  the  nomination  for 
Mr.  Hamlin,  declared  "that  the  people  will  inscribe  on  their  banner  'Lincoln  and 
Hamlin,  Union  and' Victory.'  ' 

The  Convention  had  done  its  work.  It  had  announced  its  principles  and  had 
selected  two  men  of  great  capacity  and  of  undoubted  patriotism  to  bear  its  ban- 
ner. These  men  were  fitting  representatives  of  the  great  parties  from  which  the 
membership  of  the  Republican  party  was  drawn.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  been  an  en- 
thusiastic follower  of  Henry  Clay  while  Mr.  Hamlin  had  followed  the  leadership 
of  Andrew  Jackson. 

On  May  19,  1860,  the  Constitutional  Union  Convention  met  at  Baltimore 
and  nominated  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  for  President  and  Edward  Everett  of 
Massachusetts  for  Vice-President. 

The  Convention  adopted  a  brief  platform  declaring:  "That  it  is  both  the 
part  of  patriotism  and  of  duty  to  recognize  no  political  principles  other  than  the 
Constitution  of  the  Country,  the  Union  of  the  States,  and  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws."  No  reference  was  made  to"  the  political  Issues  which  were  dividing  and 
agitating  the  country. 

A  National  Convention  was  called  by  the  Democratic  National  Committee 
to  meet  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  April  23,  1860,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candi- 
dates for  President  and  Vice-President.  The  Convention  met,  was  duly  organized 
by  electing  Caleb  Gushing  of  Massachusetts  President  and  a  Vice-President  from 
each  State.  Senator  Douglas  of  Illinois  was  the  leading  candidate,  but  enough 

67 


votes  were  cast  for  other  candidates  to  prevent  his  nomination  under  the  two- 
thirds  rule.  After  taking  fifty-seven  ballots  without  nominating  candidates,  dur- 
ing which  time  the  delegates  from  several  Southern  States  withdrew,  the  Con- 
vention adjourned  to  meet  at  Baltimore  June  18,  1860,  to  finish  its  work.  During 
the  recess,  Conventions  had  been  held  in  the  States  of  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama, Florida,  Texas,  South  Carolina  and  Arkansas,  to  fill  the  vacancies  created 
by  the  withdrawal  at  Charleston  of  a  number  of  delegates. 

At  Baltimore  all  the  States  and  Territories  were  represented  in  the  Conven- 
tion. The  platform  reaffirmed  the  Cincinnati  platform  of  1856  and  declared  that: 
"Inasmuch  as  differences  of  opinion  exist  in  the  Democratic  party  as  to  the  nature 
and  extent  of  the  powers  of  a  Territorial  legislature,  and  as  to  the  powers  and 
duties  of  Congress,  under  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  over  the  institu- 
tion of  slavery  within  the  Territories, 

''Resolved,  That  the  Democratic  party  will  abide  by  the  decisions  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  on  the  question  of  Constitutional  law." 

The  Convention  continued  in  session  from  the  i8th  to  the  23rd  of  June. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas  of  Illinois  was  nominated  for  President  and  Benjamin  Fitz- 
patrick,  Senator  from  Alabama,  was  nominated  for  Vice-President.  Mr.  Fitz- 
patrick  declined  the  nomination  and  Herschel  V.  Johnson  of  Georgia  was  chosen 
by  the  Democratic  National  Committee  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  delegates  who  withdrew  from  the  Charleston  Convention  organized  at 
Charleston  and  adjourned  to  meet  in  Baltimore  June  n,  1860,  for  the  purpose  of 
nominating  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President.  This  Convention,  aug- 
mented in  numbers  by  delegates  from  other  States,  continued  in  session  from 
June  ii  until  June  28,  1860,  and  adopted  the  following  platform  upon  the  issues 
then  pending : 

"Resolved,  That  the  platform  adopted  by  the  Democratic  party  at  Cincinnati 
be  affirmed,  with  the  following  explanatory  resolutions : 

"i.  That  the  government  of  a  Territory,  organized  by  an  act  of  Congress, 
is  provisional  and  temporary ;  and,  during  its  existence,  all  citizens  of  the  United 
States  have  an  equal  right  to  settle,  with  their  property -in  the  Territory,  without 
their  rights,  either  of  person  or  property,  being  destroyed  or  impaired  by  Con- 
gressional or  Territorial  legislation. 

"2.  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  in  all  its  departments  to 
protect  when  necessary  the  rights  of  persons  and  property  in  the  Territories  and 
wherever  else  its  Constitutional  authority  extends. 

"3.  That  when  the  settlers  in  a  Territory  having  an  adequate  population 
form  a  State  Constitution  in  pursuance  of  law,  the  right  of  sovereignty  com- 
mences, and,  being  consummated  by  admission  into  the  Union,  they  stand  on  an 
equal  footing  with  the  people  of  the  other  States,  and  the  State  thus  organized 
ought  to  be  admitted  into  the  Federal  Union  whether  its  Constitution  prohibits  or 
recognizes  the  institution  of  slavery." 

The  Convention  nominated  John  C.  Breckenridge  of  Kentucky  for  President 
and  Joseph  Lane  of  Oregon  for  Vice-President.  This  action  effected  a  division 
of  the  Democratic  party.  The  Southern  Democracy  were  unwilling  to  support 
Mr.  Douglas  for  the  Presidency,  because  he  had  thrown  the  whole  weight  of  his 
character  and  influence  against  the  admission  of  Kansas  under  the  Lecompton 
Constitution  and  had  declared  that  the  people  of  a  Territory  through  their  Terri- 
torial Legislature  might  exclude  Slavery  from  a  Territory  by  unfriendly  legisla- 
tion. 

It  will  be  observed  that  these  two  Democratic  Conventions  were  in  session 
in  Baltimore  at  the  same  time.  The  Breckenridge  Convention  contained  dele- 
gates who  announced  the  most  advanced  ideas  of  secession.  Public  meetings 
were  held  in  front  of  the  hotels  night  after  night,  at  which  prominent  Southern 
men — delegates  to  the  Convention — declared  the  determination  of  the  people  of 
the  Southern  States  to  secede  from  the  Union  in  the  event  Abraham  Lincoln  was 
elected  President.  These  speeches  stirred  up  great  excitement  and  enthusiasm 
amongst  their  hearers. 

To  a  dispassionate  onlooker,  the  situation  seemed  to  be  critical.  These  men 
were  leaders  of  public  opinion  in  their  States,  and  it  was  perfectly  clear  that  they 
were  in  earnest.  They  made  no  pretense  of  love  for  the  Union ;  they  declared 

68 


that  it  was  to  the  interest  of  the  South  to  set  up  for  themselves  and  that  the  secur- 
ity of  their  rights  required  and  justified  the  secession  movement.  On  the  question 
of  the  legal  right  of  the  State  to  secede,  they  professed  to  be  perfectly  clear — the 
Union  was  simply  a  confederation  of  independent  States  and  that  any  State  could 
at  its  pleasure,  dissolve  the  partnership.  The  perpetuation  and  extension  of 
Slavery  was  the  paramount  Issue,  and  secession  was  the  true  remedy  for  all  of 
their  alleged  grievances.  Every  effort  to  harmonize  the  party  proved  abortive. 
Mr.  Douglas  was  quite  as  objectionable  to  them  as  a  Presidential  Candidate,  as 
Mr.  Lincoln. 

After  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Douglas  the  Convention  adjourned.  Many  of 
the  delegates  went  over  to  Washington  and  plans  were  made  for  the  coming  cam- 
paign. In  the  evening  a  large  concourse  of  people  called  at  Senator  Douglas' 
house  with  a  band  of  music  to  serenade  him  and  congratulate  him  upon  his  nom- 
ination. From^the  steps  of  his  residence  he  delived  a  speech,  thanking  them  for 
the  courtesy  extended  to  him,  and  also  giving  expression  to  his  views  upon  the 
political  situation  of  the  hour.  Referring  to  the  withdrawal  of  delegates  from  the 
Democratic  National  Convention  and  the  nomination  of  Breckenridge  and  Lane, 
Mr.  Douglas  said :  "Secession  is  disunion.  Secession  from  the  Democratic  party 
means  secession  from  the  Union.  Those  who  enlist  under  the  secession  banner 
now  will  be  expected  on  the  4th  of  March  next  to  take  arms  against  the  consti- 
tuted authorities  on  certain  conditions.  We  have  been  told  that  in  a  certain  event 
the  South  must  forcibly  resist  the  inauguration  of  the  President  elect.  While  we 
find  those  who  are  loudest  in  this  threat  of  such  resistance  engaged  in  a  scheme 
to  divide  and  destroy  the  Democratic  party,  and  thereby  secure  the  election  of 
the  Republican  candidate.  Does  not  this  line  of  policy  look  to  disunion  ?  In- 
telligent men  must  be  presumed  to  understand  the  tendency  and  consequences  of 
their  own  actions.  Can  the  seceders  fail  to  perceive  that  their  efforts  to  divide  and 
defeat  the  Democratic  party,  if  successful,  must  lead  directly  to  the  secession  of 
the  Southern  States  ?  I  trust  that  they  will  see  what  must  be  the  result  of  such  a 
policy,  and  return  to  the  organization  and  platform  of  the  party  before  it  is  too 
late  to  save  the  Country.  The  Union  must  be  preserved.  The  Constitution  must 
be  maintained  inviolate." 

Mr.  Douglas  was  profoundly  impressed  with  the  threatening  attitude  of  the 
political  leaders  of  the  Southern  States.  Many  persons  regarded  their  threats  of 
secession  and  disunion  as  mere  braggadocio ;  not  so  with  Mr.  Douglas,  he  knew 
that  these  men  were  in  earnest,  and  were  determined  to  dissolve  the  Union. 

The  present  writer  had  attended  as  an  alternate  the  Convention  which  nom- 
inated Mr.  Douglas,  and  therefore  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the  political 
demonstration  in  Baltimore.  On  Sunday  night,  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
Convention,  he  called  upon  Mr.  Douglas  in  company  with  delegates  John  A. 
Logan  and  William  H.  Green.  We  spent  some  two  hours  with  the  senator.  That 
interview  will  never  be  forgotten  by  me.  Mr.  Douglas  declared  that  the  division 
of  the  Democratic  Party  was  intended  to  secure  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 
That  no  concession  could  have  been  made  in  the  Democratic  Convention  to 
satisfy  the  Southern  leaders  ;  they  were  determined  to  break  up  the  Union,  and 
proposed  to  make  the  election  of  Lincoln  the  cause  and  justification  for  secession. 
He  characterized  the  movement  as  a  conspiracy  to  break  up  the  Union.  He  said 
the  only  way  to  circumvent  these  plans  was  to  arouse  a  patriotic  sentiment  in  the 
South  and  carry  the  Southern  States  against  Breckenridge.  He  declared  it  as 
his  purpose  to  visit  the  South  and  make  a  personal  canvass  of  those  States  in  the 
interest  of  the  Union. 

Senator  Douglas  did  carry  out  the  plan  outlined  in  that  interview.  He  did 
canvass  the  Southern  States  and  made  a  noble  plea  for  the  Union,  but  the  die 
was  cast,  the  influences  for  Mr.  Breckenridge  were  irresistible  and  he  carried  all 
the  Gulf  States.  Mr.  Douglas  was  criticised  at  the  time  for  making  the  tour  and 
addressing  the  people ;  but  he  did  the  act  from  a  profound  sense  of  public  duty. 
He  had  a  higher  appreciation  of  the  dangers  then  hovering  over  the  country  than 
any  Northern  man,  and  he  attempted  to  avert  them  by  an  appeal  to  the  patriotism 
— the  love  of  the  Union  of  the  people  of  the  South. 

The  canvass  all  over  the  country  was  able,  and  brought  out  the  people  in 
great  crowds.  While  the  platforms  touched  upon  other  questions  of  interest  to 

69 


the  country,  the  vital  question,  the  question  that  absorbed  the  attention  of  the 
people  everywhere,  was  the  extension  of  Slavery  into  the  Territories  of  the  United 
States. 

The  election  was  held,  and  Abraham  Lincoln  was  elected.  The  electoral  votes 
were  counted  February  13,  1861.  Lincoln  and  Hamlin  received  180  votes,  Breck- 
enridge  and  Lane  received  72  votes,  Bell  and  Everett  received  39  votes,  Douglas 
and  Johnson  received  12  votes. 

The  popular  vote  stood  as  follows:  Lincoln  1,865,913,  Douglas  1,374,664, 
Breckenridge  848,404,  Bell  591,900.  In  Illinois  Yates  received  172,196  votes, 
Allen  159,253. 

Richard  Yates  was  inaugurated  Governor,  January  14,  1861,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  a  joint  session  of  the  Legislature,  which  met  January  7th.  The  Senate 
was  presided  over  by  Lieutenant-Governor  Hoffman,  with  Campbell  W.  Waite, 
Secretary,  and  Richard  T.  Gill,  Sergeant-at-Arms.  The  House  of  Representatives 
elected  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Speaker,  Henry  Wayne,  Clerk,  and  Caswell  P.  Ford, 
Doorkeeper. 

The  secession  movement  had  already  begun ;  the  dissolution  of  the  Union 
seemed  imminent.  Illinois  was  a  border  State,  extending  farther  south  into 
slave  territory  than  any  other  free  State ;  the  position  of  the  people  and  Gov- 
ernment upon  the  momentous  questions  involved  was  of  paramount  importance. 
If  the  people  of  Illinois  had  been  willing  to  acquiesce  in  the  withdrawal  of  the 
Southern  States  from  the  Union  and  submit  to  the  clismerberment  of  the  repub- 
lic, her  leadership  in  January,  1861,  favoring  that  solution  of  the  national  trou- 
bles, would,  no  doubt,  have  been  followed  by  a  number  of  other  free  States,  and 
all  the  slave-holding  States  would  have  unquestionably  seceded  from  the  Union 
and  joined  the  Southern  Confederacy.  But  Governor  Yates  boldly  met  this 
issue  in.  his  inaugural  address  to  the  Legislature.  He  declared  himself  in  favor 
of  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  against  the  doctrine  of  secession  and  dis- 
union. He  insisted  upon  obedience  to  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  of  the 
Unted  States.  He  declared  that  the  doctrine  of  a  president  in  conformity  with 
law  was  no  ground  for  the  release  of  a  State  from  its  obligations  to  the  Union. 
He  argued  that  the  Mississippi  Valley,  from  the  nature  of  things,  must  forever 
remain  a  country  under  the  general  jurisdiction  of  one  Government.  He  pre- 
dicted that  the  Union  would  be  preserved  and  that  the  Nation  would  emerge  from 
the  present  crisis  "more  glorious,  renowned  and  free  than  ever  before." 

It  was  an  able  address  and  stirred  patriotism  to  the  core  and  met  hearty  re- 
sponse from  the  people. 

The  Legislature  was  Republican  in  both  Houses,  having  one  majority  in 
the  Senate  and  seven  majority  in  the  House.  Some  of  the  ablest  and  safest  men 
in  the  State  were  members  of  this  Legislature,  such  as  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  S.  A. 
Hurlbut,  J.  Young  Scammon,  William  B.  Ogden,  A.  W.  Mack,  Washington 
Bushnell,  William  Jayne,  L.  S.  Church,  William  R.  Archer,  J.  Russell  Jones, 
Lawrence  Weldon,  William  H.  Green,  Thomas  W.  Harris,  Arthur  G.  Burr,  A. 
J.  Kuykendall,  J.  W.  Singleton,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Theodore  F.  Hurd  and  many 
others. 

The  great  absorbing  question  of  the  hour — Secession — was  discussed  at 
length  and  with  ability.  Joint  resolutions  were  adopted  by  the  two  Houses  de- 
claring that  the  State  of  Illinois  was  willing  to  join  in  calling  a  convention  to 
amend  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  but  that  the  Federal  Union  must 
be  preserved  and  the  Constitution  and  laws  administered  as  they  are.  This 
debate  and  this  action  placed  the  State  of  Illinois  in  the  front  rank  of  States 
favoring  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  not  yet  left  his  home 
for  Washington.  He  was  a  deeply  interested  and  an  earnest  observer  of  the 
drift  of  public  opinion.  The  action  of  Governor  Yates  and  the  Legislature  met 
a  hearty  response  from  the  people,  and  this  strengthened  Mr.  Lincoln  in  under- 
taking the  arduous  task  before  him. 

The  State  of  Virginia  having  by  resolution  of  her  Legislature  invited  the 
States  to  send  commissioners  to  a  Peace  Conference  to  meet  at  Washington 
City  on  February  2,  1861,  Stephen  F.  Logan,  John  M.  Palmer,  John  Wrood, 
Burton  C.  Cook  and  Thomas  J.  Turner  were  appointed  to  represent  Illinois  at 
the  conference. 

70 


71 


Richard  Yates,  who  was  now  inducted  into  the  office  of  Governor  of  Illinois, 
was  of  English  origin,  his  American  ancestors  having  settled  in  Virginia. 

His  father,  Henry  Yates,  was  an  early  pioneer  of  Kentucky,  where  he  re- 
mained for  a  number  of  years,  but  his  anti-slavery  sentiments  finally  caused 
him  to  emigrate  to  Illinois  in  1831.  He  settled  at  Springfield  and  pursued  the 
business  of  a  merchant.  The  son,  Richard  Yates,  was  born  in  Warsaw,  Galla- 
tin  County,  Kentucky,  January  18,  1815,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  father 
when  a  youth  of  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  graduated  from  the  Illinois  College 
in  1835.  His  name  appears  on  the  records  of  that  institution  as  one  of  the  first 
two  graduates. 

He  studied  law  at  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  with  that  distinguished  man,  John 
J  Harden,  who  served  in  Congress  and  fell  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  leading 
his  regiment,  the  ist  Illinois  Infantry,  against  the  enemy. 

In  1842  Richard  Yates  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  as  a  Whig  and 
was  twice  re-elected,  in  1844  and  1846.  His  ability  was  at  once  recognized.  He 
made  many  friends,  and  was  exceedingly  popular  with  his  own  party.  In  1850 
he  was  nominated  as  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  district  which  had  been  repre- 
sented by  Hardin,  Baker  and  Lincoln,  but  which  had,  in  1848,  sent  Major 
Thomas  L.  Harris,  a  Democrat,  to  Congress.  Major  Harris  was  a  candidate 
for  re-election.  These  candidates  appeared  before  the  people  in  joint  debate. 
The  canvass  was  able  and  active.  Yates  was  elected,  and  was  the  only  Whig 
representative  in  Congress  from  Illinois.  Mr.  Yates  was  re-elected  in  1852.  His 
service  in  Congress  was  able  and  brilliant.  He  took  his  position  against  the 
repeal  of  the  Missouri  Compromise,  and  delivered  an  eloquent  speech  on  that 
subject.  He  was  defeated  for  Congress  in  1854  by  his  old  antagonist,  Major 
Harris.  In  1856  he  assisted  actively  in  organizing  the  Republican  party,  and  was 
a  vice-president  of  the  first  Republican  convention  of  Illinois,  held  at  Bloom- 
ington. 

As  Governor  during  the  Civil  War  he  administered  the  affairs  of  the  State 
with  distinguished  ability  and  endeared  himself  to  the  soldiers  and  the  people  in 
general.  In  1865  he  was  elected  United  States  Senator,  and  served  with  ability 
during  the  reconstruction  period,  and  was  succeeded  by  General  Logan  in  1871. 
He  died  November  27,  1873,  holding,  at  that  time,  the  office  of  Railroad  Com- 
missioner for  the  Government. 

On  March  4,  1861,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  President  of  the 
United  States.  In  company  with  James  Buchanan,  the  out-going  President,  he 
was  driven  from  the  Executive  Mansion  to  the  Capitol.  A  mighty  concourse  of 
people  had  assembled  to  witness  the  scene.  Upon  a  platform  erected  in  front  of 
the  center  portico  of  the  Capitol,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  received  by  Members  of  both 
Houses  of  Congress  and  Members  of  the  Supreme  Court.  Mr.  Buchanan,  Chief 
Justice  Taney,  Senator  Douglas,  Senator  Baker  and  others,  stood  beside  him 
when  he  took  the  oath  of  office. 

Before  taking  the  oath  President  Lincoln  was  introduced  to  the  audience  by 
Senator  Baker  of  Oregon,  and  delivered  his  inaugural  address  as  follows : 
"Fellow  Citizens  of  the  United  States : — 

"In  compliance  with  the  custom  as  old  as  the  Government  itself,  I  appear 
before  you  to  address  you  briefly  and  to  take  in  your  presence  the  oath  pre- 
scribed by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  to  be  taken  by  the  President  be- 
fore he  enters  on  the  execution  of  his  office. 

"I  do  not  consider  it  necessary  at  present  for  me  to  discuss  those  matters  of 
administration  about  which  there  is  no  special  anxiety  or  excitement. 

"Apprehension  seems  to  exist  among  the  people  of  the  Southern  States  that 
by  the  accession  of  a  Republican  Administration  their  property  and  their  peace 
and  personal  security  are  to  be  endangered.  There  has  never  been  any  reasonable 
cause  for  such  apprehension.  Indeed,  the  most  ample  evidence  to  the  contrary 
has  all  the  while  existed  and  been  open  to  their  inspection.  It  is  found  in  nearly 
all  the  published  speeches  of  him  who  now  addresses  you.  I  do  but  quote  from 
one  of  those  speeches  when  I  declare  that 

'  T  have  no  purpose,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  interfere  with  the  institution 
of  slavery  in  the  States  where  it  exists.  I  believe  I  have  no  lawful  right  to  do 
so,  and  I  have  no  inclination  to  do  so.' 

72 


"Those  who  nominated  and  elected  me  did  so  with  full  knowledge  that  I  had 
made  this  and  many  similar  declarations  and  had  never  recanted  them ;  and  more 
than  this,  they  placed  in  the  platform  for  my  acceptance,  and  as  a  law  to  them- 
selves and  to  me,  the  clear  and  emphatic  resolution  which  I  now  read : 

"  'Resolved,  That  the  maintenance  inviolate  of  the  rights  of  the  States,  and 
especially  the  right  of  each  State  to  order  and  control  its  own  domestic  institu- 
tions according  to  its  own  judgment  exclusively,  is  essential  to  that  balance  of 
power  on  which  the  perfection  and  endurance  of  our  political  fabric  depend ;  and 
we  denounce  the  lawless  invasion  by  armed  force  of  the  soil  of  any  State  or  Ter- 
ritory, no  matter  under  what  pretext,  as  among  the  gravest  of  crimes.' 

"I  now  reiterate  these  sentiments,  and  in  doing  so  I  only  press  upon  the 
public  attention  the  most  conclusive  evidence  of  which  the  case  is  susceptible  that 
the  property,  peace,  and  security  of  no  section  are  to  be  in  any  wise  endangered 
by  the  now  incoming  Administration.  1  add,  too,  that  all  the  protection  which, 
consistently  with  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  can  be  given  will  be  cheerfully 
given  to  all  the  States  when  lawfully  demanded,  for  whatever  cause,  as  cheerfully 
to  one  section  as  to  another. 

"There  is  much  controversy  about  the  delivering  up  of  fugitives  from  service 
or  labor.  The  clause  I  now  read  is  as  plainly  written  in  the  Constitution  as  any 
other  of  its  provisions  : 

"  'No  person  held  to  service  or  labor  in  one  State,  under  the  laws  thereof, 
escaping  into  another,  shall  in  consequence  of  any  law  or  regulation  therein  be 
discharged  from  such  service  or  labor,  but  shall  be  delivered  up  on  claim  of  the 
party  to  whom  such  service  or  labor  may  be  due.' 

"It  is  scarcely  questioned  that  this  provision  was  intended  by  those  who  made 
it  for  the  reclaiming  of  what  we  call  fugitive  slaves ;  and  the  intention  of  the  law- 
giver is  the  law.  All  members  of  Congress  swear  their  support  to  the  whole 
Constitution — to  this  provision  as  much  as  to  any  other.  To  the  proposition, 
then,  that  slaves  whose  cases  come  within  the  terms  of  this  clause  'shall  be  de- 
livered up'  their  oaths  are  unanimous.  Now,  if  they  would  make  the  effort  in  good 
temper,  could  they  not  with  nearly  equal  unanimity  frame  and  pass  a  law  by 
means  of  which  to  keep  good  that  unanimous  oath  ? 

"There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  whether  this  clause  should  be  enforced 
by  national  or  by  State  authority,  but  surely  that  difference  is  not  a  very  material 
one.  If  the  slave  is  to  be  surrendered,  it  can  be  of  but  little  consequence  to  him 
or  to  others  by  which  authority  it  is  done.  And  should  any  one  in  any  case  be 
content  that  his  oath  shall  go  unkept  on  a  merely  unsubstantial  controversy  as 
to  how  it  shall  be  kept  ? 

"Again,  in  any  law  upon  this  subject  ought  not  all  the  safeguards  of  liberty 
known  in  civilized  and  humane  jurisprudence  to  be  introduced,  so  that  a  free  man 
be  not  in  any  case  surrendered  as  a  slave  ?  And  might  it  not  be  well  at  the  same 
time  to  provide  by  law  for  the  enforcement  of  that  clause  in  the  Constitution 
which  guarantees  that  'the  citizens  of  each  State  shall  be  entitled  to  all  privileges 
and  immunities  of  citizens  in  the  several  States  ?' 

"I  take  the  official  oath  to-day  with  no  mental  reservations  and  with  no  pur- 
pose to  construe  the  Constitution  or  laws  by  any  hypercritical  rules ;  and  while  I 
do  not  choose  now  to  specify  particular  acts  of  Congress  as  proper  to  be  enforced, 
I  do  suggest  that  it  will  be  much  safer  for  all,  both  in  official  and  private  stations, 
to  conform  to  and  abide  by  all  those  acts  which  stand  unrepealed  than  to  violate 
any  of  them  trusting  to  find  impunity  in  having  them  held  to  be  unconstitutional. 

"It  is  seventy-two  years  since  the  first  inauguration  of  a  President  under 
our  National  Constitution.  During  that  period  fifteen  different  and  greatly  dis- 
tinguished citizens  have  in  succession  administered  the  executive  branch  of  the 
Government.  They  have  conducted  it  through  many  perils,  and  generally  with 
great  success.  Yet,  with  all  this  scope  of  precedent,  I  now  enter  upon  the  same 
task  for  the  brief  constitutional  term  of  four  years  under  great  and  peculiar  diffi- 
culty. A  disruption  of  the  Federal  Union,  heretofore  only  menaced,  is  now  for- 
midably attempted. 

"I  hold  that  in  contemplation  of  universal  law  and  of  the  Constitution  the 
Union  of  these  States  is  perpetual.  Perpetuity  is  implied,  if  not  expressed,  in  the 
fundamental  law  of  all  national  governments.  It  is  safe  to  assert  that  no  gov- 
ernment proper  ever  had  a  provision  in  its  organic  law  for  its  own  termination. 

73 


Continue  to  execute  all  the  express  provisions  of  our  National  Constitution,  and 
the  Union  will  endure  forever,  it  being  impossible  to  destroy  it  except  by  some 
action  not  provided  for  in  the  instrument  itself. 

"Again,  if  the  United  States  be  not  a  government  proper,  but  an  association 
of  States  in  the  nature  of  contract  merely,  can  it,  as  a  contract,  be  peaceably  un- 
made by  less  than  all  the  parties  who  made  it  ?  One  party  to  a  contract  may 
violate  it — break  it,  so  to  speak — but  does  it  not  require  all  to  lawfully  rescind  it  ? 

"Descending  from  these  general  principles,  we  find  the  proposition  that  in 
legal  contemplation  the  Union  is  perpetual,  confirmed  by  the  history  of  the 
Union  itself.  The  Union  is  much  older  than  the  Constitution.  It  was  formed,  in 
fact,  by  the  Articles  of  Association  in  1774.  It  was  matured  and  continued  by 
the  Declaration  of  Independence  in  17/6.  It  was  further  matured,  and  the  faith 
of  all  the  then  thirteen  States  expressly  plighted  and  engaged  that  it  should  be 
perpetual,  by  the  Articles  of  Confederation  in  1778.  And  finally,  in  1787,  one 
of  the  declared  objects  for  ordaining  and  establishing  the  Constitution  was  'to 
form  a  more  perfect  Union.' 

"But  if  destruction  of  the  Union  by  one  or  by  a  part  only  of  the  States  be 
lawfully  possible,  the  Union  is  less  perfect  than  before  the  Constitution,  having 
lost  the  vital  element  of  perpetuity. 

"It  follows  from  these  views  that  no  State  upon  its  own  mere  motion  can 
lawfully  get  out  of  the  Union ;  the  resolves  and  ordinances  to  that  effect  are 
legally  void,  and  that  acts  of  violence  within  any  State  or  States  against  the 
authority  of  the  United  States  are  insurrectionary  or  revolutionary,  according 
to  circumstances. 

"I  therefore  consider  that  in  view  of  the  Constitution  and  the  laws  the  Union 
is  unbroken,  and  to  the  extent  of  my  ability  I  shall  take  care,  as  the  Constitution 
itself  expressly  enjoins  upon  me,  that  the  laws  of  the  Union  be  faithfully  executed 
in  all  the  States.  Doing  this  I  deem  to  be  only  a  simple  duty  on  my  part,  and  I 
shall  perform  it  so  far  as  practicable,  unless  my  rightful  masters,  the  American 
people,  shall  withhold  the  requisite  means  or  in  some  authoritative  manner  direct 
the  contrary.  I  trust  this  will  not  be  regarded  as  a  menace,  but  only  as  the 
declared  purpose  of  the  Union  that  it  will  constitutionally  defend  and  maintain 
itself. 

"In  doing  this  there  needs  to  be  no  bloodshed  or  violence,  and  there  shall 
be  none  unless  it  be  forced  upon  the  national  authority.  The  power  confidea 
to  me  will  be  used  to  hold,  occupy  and  possess  the  property  and  places  belonging 
to  the  Government  and  to  collect  the.  duties  and  imposts ;  but  beyond  what  may 
be  necessary  for  these  objects,  there  will  be  no  invasion,  no  using  of  force  against 
or  among  the  people  anywhere.  Where  hostility  to  the  United  States  in  any 
interior  locality  shall  be  so  great  and  universal  as  to  prevent  competent  resident 
citizens  from  holding  the  Federal  offices,  there  will  be  no  attempt  to  force 
obnoxious  strangers  among  the  people  for  that  object.  While  the  strict  legal 
right  may  exist  in  the  Government  to  enforce  the  exercise  of  these  offices,  the 
attempt  to  do  so  would  be  so  irritating  and  so  nearly  impracticable  withal  that  I 
deem  it  better  to  forego  for  the  time  the  uses  of  such  offices. 

"The  mails,  unless  repelled,  will  continue  to  be  furnished  in  all  parts  of  the 
Union.  So  far  as  possible  the  people  everywhere  shall  have  that  sense  of  perfect 
security  which  is  most  favorable  to  calm  thought  and  reflection.  The  course  here 
indicated  will  be  followed  unless  current  events  and  experience  shall  show  a  mod- 
ification or  change  to  be  proper,  and  in  every  case  and  exigency  my  best  discre- 
tion will  be  exercised,  according  to  circumstances  actually  existing  and  with  a 
view  and  a  hope  of  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  national  troubles  and  the  restoration 
of  fraternal  sympathies  and  affections. 

"That  there  are  persons  in  one  section  or  another  who  seek  to  destroy  the 
Union  at  all  events  and  are  glad  of  any  pretext  to  do  it,  I  will  neither  affirm  nor 
deny ;  but  if  there  be  such,  I  need  address  no  word  to  them.  To  those,  however, 
who  really  love  the  Union  may  I  not  speak? 

"Before  entering  upon  so  grave  a  matter  as  the  destruction  of  our  national 
fabric,  with  all  its  benefits,  its  memories,  and  its  hopes,  would  it  not  be  wise  to 
ascertain  precisely  why  we  do  it  ?  Will  you  hazard  so  desperate  a  step  while  there 
is  any  possibility  that  any  portion  of  the  ills  you  fly  from  have  no  real  existence  ? 

74 


Will  you,  while  the  certain  ills  you  fly  to  are  greater  than  all  the  real  ones  you  fiy 
from,  will  you  risk  the  commission  of  so  fearful  a  mistake  ? 

"All  profess  to  be  content  in  the  Union  if  all  constitutional  rights  can  be  main- 
tained. Is  it  true,  then,  that  any  right  plainly  written  in  the  Constitution  has 
been  denied?  I  think  not.  Happily,  the  human  mind  is  so  constituted  that  no 
party  can  reach  to  the  audacity  of  doing  this.  Think,  if  you  can,  of  a  single 
instance  in  which  a  plainly  written  provision  of  the  Constitution  has  ever  been 
denied.  If  by  the  mere  force  of  numbers  a  majority  should  deprive  a  minority  of 
any  clearly  written  constitutional  right,  it  might  in  a  moral  point  of  view  justify 
revolution ;  certainly  would  if  such  right  were  a  vital  one.  But  such  is  not  our 
case.  All  the  vital  rights  of  minorities  and  of  individuals  are  so  plainly  assured  to 
them  by  affirmations  and  negations,  guaranties  and  prohibitions,  in  the  Consti- 
tution that  controversies  never  arise  concerning  them.  But  no  organic  law  can 
ever  be  framed  with  a  provision  specifically  applicable  to  every  question  which 
may  occur  in  practical  administration.  No  foresight  can  anticipate  nor  any 
document  of  reasonable  length  contain  express  provisions  for  all  possible  ques- 
tions. Shall  fugitives  from  labor  be  surrendered  by  national  or  by  State 
authority?  The  Constitution  does  not  expressly  say.  May  Congress  prohibit 
slavery  in  the  Territories?  The  Constitution  does  not  expressly  say.  Must 
Congress  protect  slavery  in  the  Territories  ?  The  Constitution  does  not  ex- 
pressly say. 

"From  questions  of  this  class  spring  all  our  constitutional  controversies,  and 
we  divide  upon  them  into  majorities  and  minorities.  If  the  minority  will  not 
acquiesce,  the  majority  must,  or  the  Government  must  cease.  There  is  no  other 
alternative,  for  continuing  the  Government  is  acquiescence  on  one  side  or  the 
other.  If  a  minority  in  such  case  will  secede  rather  than  acquiesce,  they  make 
a  precedent  which  in  turn  will  divide  and  ruin  them,  for  a  minority  of  their  own 
will  secede  from  them  whenever  a  majority  refuses  to  be  controlled  by  such 
minority.  For  instance,  why  may  not  any  portion  of  a  new  confederacy  a  year 
or  two  hence  arbitrarily  secede  again,  precisely  as  portions  of  the  present  Union 
now  claim  to  secede  from  it?  All  who  cherish  disunion  sentiments  are  now 
being  educated  to  the  exact  temper  of  doing  this.  Is  there  such  perfect  identity 
of  interests  among  the  States  to  compose  a  new  uni  m  as  to  produce  harmony 
only  and  prevent  renewed  secession  ? 

"Plainly  the  central  idea  of  secession  is  the  essence  of  anarchy.  A  majority 
held  in  restraint  by  constitutional  checks  and  limitalions,  and  always  changing 
easily  with  deliberate  changes  of  popular  opinions  i  nd  sentiments,  is  the  only 
true  sovereign  of  a  free  people.  Whoever  rejects  it  does  of  necessity  fly  to 
anarchy  or  to  despotism.  Unanimity  is  impossible.  The  rule  of  a  minority,  as 
a  permanent  arrangement,  is  wholly  inadmissible ;  so  that,  rejecting  the  majority 
principle,  anarchy  or  despotism  in  some  form  is  all  trat  is  left. 

"I  do  not  forget  the  position  assumed  by  some  that  constitutional  questions 
are  to  be  decided  by  the  Supreme  Court,  nor  do  I  deny  that  such  decisions 
must  be  binding  in  any  case  upon  the  parties  to  a  suit  as  to  the  object  of  that 
suit,  while  they  are  also  entitled  to  a  very  high  respect  and  consideration  in  all 
parallel  cases  by  all  other  departments  of  the  Government.  And  while  it  is  ob- 
viously possible  that  such  decision  may  be  erroneous  in  any  given  case,  still  the 
evil  effect  following  it,  being  limited  to  that  particular  case,  with  the  chance  that 
it  may  be  overruled  and  never  become  a  precedent  for  other  cases,  can  better  be 
borne  than  could  the  evils  of  a  different  practice.  At  the  same  time,  the  candid 
citizen  must  confess  that  if  the.  policy  of  the  Government  upon  vital  questions 
affecting  the  whole  people  is  to  be  irrevocably  fixed  by  decisions  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  the  instant  they  are  made  in  ordinary  litigation  between  parties  in  per- 
sonal actions  the  people  will  have  ceased  to  be  their  own  rulers,  having  to  that 
extent  practically  resigned  their  Government  into  the  hands  of  that  eminent 
tribunal.  Nor  is  there  in  this  view  any  assault  upon  the  court  or  the  judges.  It 
is  a  duty  from  which  they  may  not  shrink  to  decide  cases  properly  brought  before 
them,  and  it  is  no  fault  of  theirs  if  others  seek  to  turn  their  decisions  to  political 
purposes. 

"One  section  of  our  country  believes  slavery  is  right  and  ought  to  be  ex- 
tended, while  the  other  believes  it  is  wrong  and  ought  not  to  be  extended.  This 

75 


is  the  only  substantial  dispute.  The  fugitive  slave  clause  of  the  Constitution 
and  the  law  for  the  suppression  of  the  foreign  slave  trade  are  each  as  well 
enforced,  perhaps,  as  any  law  can  ever  be  in  a  community  where  the  moral  sense 
of  the  people  imperfectly  supports  the  law  itself.  The  great  body  of  the  people 
abide  by  the  dry  legal  obligation  in  both  cases,  and  a  few  break  over  in  each. 
This,  I  think,  cannot  be  perfectly  cured,  and  it  would  be  worse  in  both  cases 
after  the  separation  of  the  sections  than  before.  The  foreign  slave  trade,  now 
imperfectly  suppressed,  would  be  ultimately  revived  without  restrictions  in  one 
section,  while  fugitive  slaves,  now  only  partially  surrendered,  would  not  be  sur- 
rendered at  all  by  the  other. 

"Physically  speaking,  we  cannot  separate.  We  cannot  remove  our  respective 
sections  from  each  other  nor  build  an  impassable  wall  between  them.  A  husband 
and  wife  may  be  divorced  and  go  out  of  the  presence  and  beyond  the  reach  of 
each  other,  but  the  different  parts  of  our  country  cannot  do  this.  They  cannot 
but  remain  face  to  face,  and  intercourse,  either  amicable  or  hostile,  must  continue 
between  them.  Is  it  possible,  then,  to  make' that  intercourse  more  advantageous 
or  more  satisfactory  after  separation  than  before?  Can  aliens  make  treaties 
easier  than  friends  can  make  laws?  Can  treaties  be  more  faithfully  enforced 
between  aliens  than  laws  can  among  friends  ?  Suppose  you  go  to  war,  you  cannot 
fight  always ;  and  when,  after  much  loss  on  both  sides  and  no  gain  on  either, 
you  cease  fighting,  the  identical  old  questions  as  to  terms  of  intercourse  are 
again  upon  you. 

"This  country,  with  its  institutions,  belongs  to  the  people  who  inhabit  it. 
Whenever  they  shall  grow  weary  of  the  existing  Government,  they  can  exercise 
their  constitutional  right  of  amending  it  or  their  revolutionary  right  to  dismember 
or  overthrow  it.  I  cannot  be  ignorant  of  the  fact  that  many  worthy  and  patriotic 
citizens  are  desirous  of  having  the  National  Constitution  amended.  While  I  make 
no  recommendation  of  amendments,  I  fully  recognize  the  rightful  authority  of  the 
people  over  the  whole  subject,  to  be  exercised  in  either  of  the  modes  prescribed 
in  the  instrument  itself ;  and  I  should,  under  existing  circumstances,  favor  rather 
than  oppose  a  fair  opportunity  being  afforded  the  peopje  to  act  upon  it.  I  will 
venture  to  add  that  to  me  the  convention  mode  seems  preferable,  in  that  it  allows 
amendments  to  originate  with  the  people  themselves,  instead  of  only 
permitting  them  to  take  or  reject  propositions  originated  by  others,  not  espe- 
cially chosen  for  the  purpose,  and  which  might  not  be  precisely  such  as  they 
would  wish  to  either  accept  or  refuse.  I  understand  a  proposed  amendment  to  the 
Constitution — which  amendment,  however,  I  have  not  seen — has  passed  Con- 
gress, to  the  effect  that  the  Federal  Government  shall  never  interfere  with  the 
domestic  institutions  of  the  States,  including  that  of  persons  held  to  service. 
To  avoid  misconstruction  of  what  I  have  said,  I  depart  from  my  purpose  not  to 
speak  of  particular  amendments  so  far  as  to  say  that,  holding  such  a  provision 
to  now  be  implied  constitutional  law,  I  have  no  objection  to  its  being  made 
express  and  irrevocable. 

"The  Chief  Magistrate  derives  all  his  authority  from  the  people,  and  they 
have  conferred  none  upon  him  to  fix  terms  for  the  separation  of  the  Stares.  The 
people  themselves  can  do  this  also  if  they  choose,  but  the  Executive  as  such 
has  nothing  to  do  with  it.  His  duty  is  to  administer  the  present  Government  as  it 
came  to  his  hands  and  to  transmit  it  unimpaired  by  him  to  his  successor. 

"Why  should  there  not  be  a  patient  confidence  in  the  ultimate  justice  of  the 
people  ?  Is  there  any  better  or  equal  hope  in  the  world  ?  In  our  present  differ- 
ences, is  either  party  without  faith  of  being  in  the  right?  If  the  Almighty  Ruler 
of  Nations,  with  His  eternal  truth  and  justice,  be  on  your  side  of  the  North,  or 
on  yours  of  the  South,  that  truth  and  that  justice  will  surely  prevail  by  the  judg- 
ment of  this  great  tribunal  of  the  American  people. 

"By  the  frame  of  the  Government  under  which  we  live  fbis  same  people 
have  wisely  given  their  public  servants  but  little  power  for  mischief,  and  have 
with  equal  wisdom  provided  for  the  return  of  that  little  to  their  own  hands  at 
very  short  intervals.  While  the  people  retain  their  virtue  and  vigilance  no 
administration  by  any  extreme  of  wickedness  or  folly  can  very  seriously  injure 
the  Government  in  the  short  space  of  four  years. 

"My  countrymen,  one  and  all,  think  calmly  and  well  upon  this  whole  sub- 

76 


ject.  Nothing  valuable  can  be  lost  by  taking  time.  If  there  be  an  object  to 
hurry  any  of  you  in  hot  haste  to  a  step  which  you  would  never  take  deliberately, 
that  object  will  be  frustrated  by  taking  time ;  but  no  good  object  can  be  frustrated 
by  it.  Such  of  you  as  are  now  dissatisfied  still  have  the  old  Constitution  unim- 
paired, and,  on  the  sensitive  point,  the  laws  of  your  own  framing  under  it ;  while 
the  new  Administration  will  have  no  immediate  power,  if  it  would,  to  change 
either.  If  it  were  admitted  that  you  who  are  dissatisfied  hold  the  right  side  in  the 
dispute,  there  still  is  no  single  good  reason  for  precipitate  action.  Intelligence, 
patriotism,  Christianity,  and  a  firm  reliance  on  Him  who  has  never  yet  forsaken 
this  favored  land  are  still  competent  to  adjust  in  the  best  way  all  our  present 
difficulty. 

"In  your  hands,  my  dissatisfied  fellow-countrymen,  and  not  in  mine,  is  the 
momentous  issue  of  civil  war.  The  Government  will  not  assail  you.  You  can 
have  no  conflict  without  being  yourselves  the  aggressors.  You  have  no  oath 
registered  in  heaven  to  destroy  the  Government,  while  I  shall  have  the  most 
solemn  one  to  'preserve,  protect,  and  defend  it.' 

"I  am  loath  to  close.  We  are  not  enemies,  but  friends.  We  must  not  be 
enemies.  Though  passion  may  have  strained  it  must  not  break  our  bonds  of 
affection.  The  mystic  chords  of  memory,  stretching  from  every  battle-field  and 
patriot  grave  to  every  living  heart  and  hearthstone  all  over  this  broad  land  will 
yet  swell  the  chorus  of  the  Union,  when  again  touched,  as  surely  they  will  be, 
by  the  better  angels  of  our  nature." 

The  will  of  the  people  as  expressed  at  the  ballot  box  had  been  observed. 
The  executive  power  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States,  according  to  the 
forms  of  law,  had  peacefully  passed  from  the  hands  of  James  Buchanan  to  the 
hands  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  These  two  men  on  the  4th  day  of  March,  1861,  stood 
at  the  conjunction  of  two  great  epochs  in  American  life,  American  law  and  Amer- 
ican history.  The  one  marked  the  end  of  slavery,  the  end  of  the  legal  doctrine 
of  State  supremacy,  and  the  close  of  Democratic  domination.  The  other  marked 
the  dawn  of  universal  freedom,  the  constitutionality,  the  utility  and  the  grandeur 
of  a  perpetual  Union,  and  the  opening  of  the  masterful  career  of  the  Republican 
party. 

The  world  was  moving,  a  new  order  of  things  was  coming  in,  that  of  initia- 
tive, development  and  progress.  The  Republican  party  was  to  be  its  exponent 
and  leader. 


77 


CHAPTER   X. 

SECESSION. 

ACTION  OF  THE  CHURCHES — THE  SECESSION    MOVEMENT — PEACE    CONGRESS — 
ARTICLE  XIII — CONGRESSIONAL  ACTION — THE  MORRILL  TARIFF  LAW. 

No  better  evidence  can  be  produced  of  the  great  conflict  of  opinions  on 
the  slavery  question  than  the  attitude  and  action  on  this  subject  of  the  churches, 
North  and  South.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  took  the  lead  in  opposition 
to  slavery.  The  General  Conference  of  1824  enacted  that  "no  slaveholder  shall 
be  eligible  to  any  official  station  in  our  church  hereafter  where  the  laws  of  the 
State  in  which  he  lives  will  admit  of  emancipation  and  permit  the  liberated  slaves 
to  enjoy  freedom/'  In  1844  an  attempt  was  made  to  enforce  this  rule  against 
Bishop  Andrews  of  Georgia ;  the  movement  was  resisted  upon  the  ground  that 
it  was  an  infringement  upon  the  rights  of  Southern  members  of  the  church,  and 
steps  were  immediately  taken  to  organize  a  church  in  the  South.  In  1845  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  South  was  organized,  with  a  membership  of  500,000 
persons  and  succeeded  to  the  church  property  and  literary  institutions  of  the 
former  organization.  This  church  fully  recognized  the  rightfulness  of  slavery 
and  dealing  in  slaves.  All  the  churches  of  the  South  stood  staunchly  by  the  insti- 
tution of  slavery. 

In  November,  1860,  immediately  after  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as 
President,  the  Alabama  State  Convention  of  Baptists'  unanimously  passed  a 
declaration  setting  forth  that  the  Union  had  "failed,  in  important  particulars,  to 
answer  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  created."'  This  declaration  closed  with  the 
following  announcement :  "While  as  yet  no  particular  mode  of  relief  is  before 
us  on  which  to  express  an  opinon,  we  are  constrained,  before  separating  to  our 
several  homes,  to  declare  to  our  brethren  and  fellow  citizens,  before  mankind 
and  before  our  God,  that  we  hold  ourselves  subject  to  the  call  of  proper  authority 
in  defence  of  the  sovereignty  and  independence  of  the  State  of  Alabama,  and  of 
her  right  as  a  sovereign,  to  withdraw  from  the  Union  and  to  make  any  arrange- 
ment which  her  people  in  constitutional  assemblies  may  deem  best  for  securing 
their  rights,  and  in  this  declaration  we  heartily,  deliberately,  unanimously  and 
solemnly  unke."  Other  churches  pursued  the  same  course,  indicating  clearly 
that  the  churches,  like  the  leaders  in  politics,  regarded  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  sufficient  justification  for  dissolving  the  Union. 

The  fact  of  Lincoln's  election  was  settled  within  twenty-four  hours  after  the 
polls  were  closed  ;  the  telegraph  carried  the  news  to  all  parts  of  the  country, 
and  the  press  was  full  of  the  particulars.  In  the  South  the  announcement  of  the 
result  of  the  election  was  a  signal  for  secession.  In  South  Carolina  the  Presiden- 
tial electors  were  chosen  by  the  Legislature  on  November  6,  1860,  and  they 
voted  for  Breckenridge  and  Lane  for  President  and  Vice-President.  Governor 
Gist,  in  his  message  to  the  Legislature,  recommended  that  in  the  event  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  elected  President  a  convention  of  the  people  of  the  State  be  called 
to  consider  and  determine  the  mode  and  measure  of  redress.  His  opinion  was 
that  the  only  alternative  left  was  the  "secession  of  South  Carolina  from  the  Union." 

South  Carolina  led  the  way  in  the  secession  movement ;  on  November  7th 
the  United  States  officials  at  Charleston  resigned  their  offices.  On  November  loth 
James  H.  Hammond  and  James  Chesnut,  Jr.,  United  States  Senators,  resigned 
their  seats  in  the  Senate.  A  convention  was  called  to  meet  December  I7th,  the 
delegates  to  be  elected  December  6,  1860.  The  State  convention  met  December 
17,  1860,  and  passed  unanimously  an  ordinance  of  secession. 

78 


Francis  W.  Pickens  had  been  elected  Governor  and  he  appointed  a  cabinet 
consisting  of  a  Secretary  of  State,  Secretary  of  War,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
Postmaster  General  and  Secretary  of  the  Interior.  On  December  241)1  the  Gov- 
ernor issued  a  proclamation  announcing  the  repeal  of  the  ordinance  of  May  2O. 
1788,  and  the  "dissolution  of  the  union  between  the  State  of  South  Carolina  and 
other  States  under  the  name  of  the  United  States  of  America."  Commissioners 
were  appointed  by  the  Governor  to  treat  with  the  United  States  Government  for 
the  possession  of  its  property  in  South  Carolina.  Commissioners  were  also  ap- 
pointed to  visit  other  slaveholding  States  to  secure  co-operation  in  the  secession 
movement  and  a  Southern  Congress  was  proposed. 

On  November  8,  1860,  the  Legislature  of  Georgia  met,  pursuant  to  adjourn- 
ment, and  on  the  i8th  action  was  taken  calling  a  convention  of  the  people.  One 
million  dollars  was  appropriated  for  military  purposes.  January  17,  1861,  the 
State  convention  met  and  January  iQth  an  ordinance  of  secession  was  passed, 
yeas  208,  nays  89. 

Mississippi,  Florida,  Louisiana,  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Texas,  North  Carolina, 
Tennessee  and  Virginia  followed  the  leadership  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
Conventions  were  called  and  secession  ordinances  adopted.  January  21,  1861, 
the  Senators  and  Representatives  in  Congress  from  Georgia,  Mississippi,  Florida 
and  Alabama  withdrew  from  their  seats.  January  18,  1861,  Virginia  appropriated 
$1,000,000  for  the  defence  of  the  State. 

Delegates  were  appointed  to  a  Congress  to  meet  at  Montgomery,  Alabama. 
February  4,  1861,  Howell  Cobb  of  Georgia  (just  returned  from  Buchanan's  Cab- 
inet as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury)  was  elected  President.  February  8th  a  pro- 
visional constitution  was  adopted. 

February  8th  Jefferson  Davis  was  elected  Provisional  President  and  Alex- 
ander H.  Stephens,  vice-president.  February  i8th  President  Davis  was  inaugu- 
rated. February  2ist  the  following  named  officers  were  appointed  as  th£  Cabinet : 
Robert  Toombs,  Secretary  of  State ;  C.  G.  Memmiriger,  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury ;  L.  Pope  Walker,  Secretary  of  War ;  Stephen  R.  Mallory,  Secretary  of  the 
Navy ;  Juclah  P.  Benjamin,  Attorney  General ;  John  H.  Reagan,  Postmaster 
General. 

During  the  progress  of  this  movement,  commissioners  were  sent  by  the 
various  States  to  Washington  to  negotiate  with  Mr.  Buchanan's  administration 
for  a  transfer  of  the  property  of  the  United  States  situated  in  the  seceded  States. 
Failing  in  this,  the  custom  houses,  postoffices,  mint,  forts,  arsenals,  muskets, 
cannon,  ammunition,  vessels,  quartermaster's  and  commissary  stores  and  United 
States  hospitals,  over  200,000  muskets  and  riHes,  144  cannon  and  $650,000  in  gold 
and  silver  coin  were  seized.  All  of  these  were  turned  over  to  the  Confederate 
State  Government. 

It  must  not  be- supposed  that  there  were  no  citizens  in  the  Southern  States 
who  were  opposed  to  secession  ;  on  the  contrary,  in  a  number  of  the  States  there 
were  many  leading  men  who  were  devoted  to  the  Union  and  who  believed  that 
secession  was  not  a  wise  remedy  for  the  redress  of  the  alleged  grievances  of  the 
South.  Where  the  question  of  secession  was  submitted  to  vote  thousands  of  men 
cast  their  ballots  against  the  movement.  In  seven  of  the  States  the  question  of 
secession  was  not  submitted  to  the  people  ;  the  State  governments  were  in  the 
hands  of  men  who  favored  disunion  and  they  hurried  the  movement  forward, 
through  the  action  of  Legislatures  and  conventions,  without  submitting  the 
mighty  issue  to  a  vote.  This  was  the  course  pursued  in  South  Carolina,  Georgia, 
Mississippi,  Florida,  Louisiana,  Alabama  and  Arkansas. 

In  Arkansas  the  question  of  calling  a  convention  was  submitted  to  the  people 
January  16,  1861.  and  carried,  27,41 2 "votes  for  and  15,827  votes  against  calling 
a  convention. 

In  Texas  the  ordinance  of  secession  was,  on  February  23,  1861,  adopted  by 
the  people  by  a  vote  of  34,794  for  and  1 1,235  against. 

In  North  Carolina  the  proposition  for  a  convention  was  voted  down  January 
28,  1 86 1,  46,671  votes  being  cast  for  and  47,333  votes  against  a  convention.  But 
at  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature  held  May  ist,  a  convention  bill  was  passed 
fixing  May  I3th  as  the  date  for  the  election  of  delegates.  This  convention  met  at 
Raleigh  May  2Oth,  and  the  next  day  adopted  an  ordinance  of  secession ;  ratified 

79 


the  Confederate  Constitution  and  on  June  5th  passed  an  ordinance  ceding  to  the 
Confederate  Government  the  United  States  arsenal  at  Fayetteville,  proceedings 
no  doubt  precipitated  by  the  attack  upon  Fort  Sumpter,  and  its  surrender  to  Gen. 
Beauregard  April  13,  1861. 

In  Tennessee  the  bill  for  a  convention  was  voted  down  by  the  people  February 
8.  1861,  by  a  vote  of  54,156  for  and  67,360  against  the  convention.  May  i,  1861, 
the  Legislature  passed  a  joint  resolution  authoriziner  the  Governor  to  appoint  com- 
missioners to  enter  into  a  military  league  with  the  Confederate  State  Govern- 
ment. May  7th  the  Legislature  ratified  the  league  which  had  been  entered  into 
and  which  placed  the  whole  military  force  and  munitions  of  war  of  Tennessee 
under  control  of  the  President  of  the  Confederate  States.  The  same  day  a 
declaration  of  independence,  an  ordinance  of  secession  and  an  ordinance  ratifying 
the  Confederate  Constitution,  were  adopted ;  the  ordinances  to  be  voted  on  by 
the  people  June  8th.  June  24,  1861,  the  vote  was  declared,  being  104,019  for 
and  47,238  against  secession  and  joining  the  Confederacy.  On  that  date  Gov- 
ernor Isham  G.  Harris  declared  Tennessee  to  be  out  of  the  Union. 

In  Virginia  a  strong  effort  was  made  for  conciliation  and  against  disunion. 
The  Legislature  met  January  7,  1861.  On  February  26th,  the  constitution  of  the 
Confederate  States  was  rejected,  yeas  9,  nays  78.  April  I7th,  three  days  after 
the  fall  of  Fort  Sumpter,  the  Legislature  in  secret  session  passed  an  ordinance  of 
secession  by  a  vote  of  88  yeas  and  55  nays ;  the  same  day  the  constitution  of 
the  Confederate  States  was  adopted,  subject  to  the  action  of  the  people  at  the 
polls.  On  April  25th  an  agreement  was  made,  between  commissioners  appointed 
by  authority  of  the  Legislature  and  Alexander  H.  Stephens,  Vice-President  of 
the  Confederate  States,  whereby  the  military  force  of  Virginia  was  placed  under 
the  command  of  the  President  of  the  Confederacy  and  all  her  public  property, 
naval  stores  and  munitions  of  war,  were  turned  over  to  the  Confederate  Gov- 
ernment. Two  months  later  the  vote  on  the  ordinance  of  secession  was  declared, 
128,884  f°r  and  32,134  against. 

In  Kentucky  the  people  were  greatly  agitated  and  divided  upon  the  Southern 
movement.  January  22,  1861,  the  Legislature  by  a  vote  of  87  to  6  resolved  to 
resist  the  invasion  of  the  South  at  all  hazards.  February  2cl,  the  Senate  passed 
a  resolution  by  a  vote  of  25  to  n  appealing  to  the  Southern  States  to  stop  the 
revolution,  and  by  a  vote  of  25  to  14  declared  it  inexpedient  to  call  a  State  con- 
vention. May  2Oth  Governor  Magoffin  issued  a  neutrality  proclamation.  Sep- 
tember nth,  the  House  of  Representatives  by  a  vote  of  71  to  -26  passed  a  resolu- 
tion directing  the  Governor  to  issue  a  proclamation  ordering  the  Confederate 
troops  to  evacuate  Kentucky.  In  the  meantime  the  Kentucky  secessionists, 
having  no  encouragement  from  the  Legislature,  held  a  State  Rights  convention 
March  22d ;  a  Southern  conference  at  Russellville,  October  29th ;  and  a  sover- 
eignty convention  at  the  same  place.  November  i8th,  when  a  declaration  of 
independence  and  an  ordinance  of  secession  were  adopted.  A  provisional  gov- 
ernment was  organized  with  a  Governor,  Treasurer,  Auditor  and  a  council  of 
ten.  This  organization  did  not  interfere  with  the  regular  government  of  the 
State. 

In  Maryland,  while  public  opinion  was  greatly  divided  upon  the  question  of 
secession,  a  fruitless  effort  was  made  in  November,  1860,  to  induce  Governor 
Hicks  to  call  an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature.  December  igth,  the  Governor 
declined  to  accept  the  program  of  secession  from  the  commissioner  from  Missis- 
sippi. On  December  2Oth  and  again  in  March,  Mr.  William  H.  Collins  issued 
an  address  in  favor  of  the  Union.  On  January  3,  1861,  Henry  Winter  Davis 
also  issued  an  address  in  favor  of  the  Union ;  Mr.  Davis  was  a  man  of  great 
power  and  influence  in  the  State  and  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  Union.  Governor 
Hicks  insisted  on  Maryland  remaining  neutral  and  on  April  i,  1861,  advised 
General  Butler  not  to  land  troops  at  Annapolis.  On  April  29th,  the  Legislature 
voted  against  secession,  the  House  of  Delegates  53  to  13,  and  the  Senate  by  a 
unanimous  vote.  This  action  arrested  the  secession  movement  in  Maryland, 
although  on  June  22,  1861,  the  Legislature  adopted  a  resolution  protesting 
against  an  "oppression  and  tyrannical  assertion  and  exercise  of  military  jurisdic- 
tion within  the  limits  of  Maryland,  over  the  persons  and  property  of  her  citizens, 
by  the  Government  of  the  United  States." 

80 


January  15,  1861,  the  Missouri  Legislature  passed  a  bill  calling  a  conven- 
tion ;  delegates  were  elected  and  the  convention  met  February  28th.  The  friends 
of  secession,  led  by  Governor  Claiborne  F.  Jackson,  were  confident  that  this 
convention  would  contain  a  majority  of  delegates  favorable  to  the  secession  of 
Missouri  from  the  Union ;  in  this  they  were  greatly  disappointed.  The  convention 
was  dominated  by  a  Union  sentiment.  General  Sterling  Price  had  been  made 
President,  but,  having  cast  his  lot  with  the  Confederacy,  the  position  was  declared 
vacant  and  Gamble  was  made  President.  A  committee  of  seven  was  appointed 
to  consider  and  report  the  best  measures  to  adopt  in  the  present  dislocated  con- 
dition of  the  State.  The  committee  declared  that  by  the  flight  of  the  Governor 
and  other  State  officers  the  offices  held  by  them  had  become  vacant.  They 
recommended  that  the  convention  should  appoint  a  Governor  and  other  officers 
to  hold  their  positions  until  August,  1862,  when  there  should  be  a  special  elec- 
tion by  the  people ;  that  four  additional  judges  should  be  added  to  the  Supreme 
Court;  that  the  State  Legislature  should  be  abolished,  subject  to  be  elected  in 
August,  1862,  upon  proclamation  of  the  Governor.  The  convention  by  ordi- 
nance repealed  the  military  fund  bill  and  other  obnoxious  laws  enacted  by  the 
Legislature.  Governor  Jackson  and  General  Sterling  Price  and  their  followers 
took  up  arms  against  the  Union.  The  convention  saved  Missouri  to  the  Union 
and  governed  the  State  until  a  Governor  and  Legislature  were  elected  in  accord- 
ance with  the  ordinances  of  the  convention. 

While  these  revolutionary  proceedings  were  going  forward  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States  was  in  session.  Various  propositions  were  brought  up  in 
Congress  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting  and  compromising  the  differences.  On 
December  4,  1860,  on  motion  of  Mr.  Boteler  of  Virginia,  a  committee  of  33, 
being  one  member  from  each  State,  was  appointed  in  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives to  whom  was  referred  "so  much  of  the  President's  message  as  relates  to 
the  present  perilous  condition  of  the  country."  Thirty-three  members  offered 
resolutions,  which  were  referred  to  the  committee.  A  number  of  these  resolu- 
tions proposed  amendments  to  the  constitution  giving  greater  guarantees  and 
security  to  slavery.  Mr.  Vallandingham,  of  Ohio,  proposed  an  elaborate  amend- 
ment dividing  the  country  into  four  sections,  each  section  with  representation  in 
Congress,  with  a  complicated  system  of  voting  by  sections,  thus  enabling  one 
section  to  prevent  a  majority  of  the  whole  from  passing  laws. 

On  January  14,  1861,  Mr.  Corwin,  of  Ohio,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  of 
Thirty-three,  made  a  report  as  the  conclusions  of  a  majority  of  a  quorum.  This 
report  contained  ten  declaratory  resolutions  and  five  propositions  for  amending 
the  Constitution  and  laws.  The  most  important  of  these  resolutions  were  the 
following : 

"Resolved,  That  we  recognize  slavery  as  now  existing  in  fifteen  of  the  United 
States,  by  usages  and  laws  of  those  States ;  and  we  recognize  no  authority,  legally 
or  otherwise,  outside  of  a  State  where  it  so  exists,  to  interfere  with  the  slaves  or 
slavery  in  such  States,  in  disregard  of  the  rights  of  their  owners  or  the  peace  of 
society. 

"Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Federal  Government  to  enforce  the 
Federal  laws,  protect  the  Federal  property  and  preserve  the  Union  of  these 
States." 

The  resolutions  of  the  committee  were  adopted  February  27,  1861,  137  yeas 
and  53  nays. 

The  third  and  fifth  propositions,  for  the  admission  of  New  Mexico  into  the 
Union,  and  an  amendment  of  the  act  for  the  rendition  of  fugitives  from  justice 
were  not  agreed  to.  The  fourth  proposition,  to  amend  the  fugitive  slave  law, 
giving  an  alleged  fugitive  slave  the  right  of  trial  by  jury  in  a  United  States  Court 
in  the  State  to  which  he  is  remanded,  in  case  he  denies  that  he  is  a  slave,  was 
passed,  yeas  92,  nays  83. 

The  following  proposed  constitutional  amendment  was  offered  by  Mr.  Cor- 
win: "Act  XII.  No  amendment  shall  be  made  to  the  Constitution  which  will 
authorize  or  give  to  Congress  the  power  to  abolish  or  interfere,  within  any 
State,  with  the  domestic  institutions  thereof,  including  that  of  persons  held  to 
labor  or  service  by  the  laws  of  said  State,"  and  was  agreed  to,  yeas  120,  nays  61. 
This  resolution  was  agreed  to  in  the  Senate  March  2,  1861. 

81 


In  the  Senate  the  most  important  propositions  of  pacification  were  the  reso- 
lutions presented  by  Senator  Crittenden,  of  Kentucky,  for  six  amendments  to  the 
Constitution,  on  the  subject  of  slavery.  The  first  established  the  Missouri  com- 
promise line  of  36  deg.  30  min.  as  the  line  between  freedom  and  slavery,  declaring 
that  in  all  territory  now  held  or  hereafter  acquired  north  of  said  line,  slavery  is 
prohibited,  and  that  in  all  territory  south  of  said  line  "slavery  of  the  African  race 
is  hereby  recognized  as  existing  and  shall  not  be  interfered  with  by  Congress, 
but  shall  be  protected  as  property  by  all  the  departments  of  the  territorial  gov- 
ernment during  its  continuance."  The  sixth  amendment  provided  that  no  future 
amendment  of  the  Constitution  shall  affect  any  of  the  provisions  of  the  Constitu- 
tion relating  to  slavery. 

In  addition  to  these  efforts  in  Congress  to  find  a  solution  of  the  troubles 
agitating  the  country,  the  State  of  Virginia  took  the  initiative  for  having  a  peace 
congress  of  commissioners  to  meet  in  Washington  February  4,  1861.  The  invi- 
tation of  the  Virginia  Legislature  was  as  follows :  "That  all  the  States  of  this 
Confederacy,  whether  slaveholding  or  non-slaveholding,  as  are  willing  to  unite 
with  Virginia  in  an  earnest  effort  to  adjust  the  present  unhappy  controversies 
in  the  spirit  in  which  the  Constitution  was  originally  formed,  and  consistently 
with  its  principles,  so  as  to  afford  to  the  people  of  the  slaveholding  States  ade- 
quate guarantees  for  the  security  of  their  rights  *  *  *  to  consider  and,  if 
practicable,  agree  upon  suitable  adjustment.  (The  States  to  be  represented  by 
commissioners.) 

This  "congress"  met  at  the  time  and  place  named,  with  133  commissioners 
representing  the  following  named  States :  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  Vermont, 
Massachusetts,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York,  New  Jersey,  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Ohio,  Indi- 
ana, Illinois,  Iowa,  Wisconsin  and  Kansas.  The  States  of  South  Carolina, 
Georgia,  Alabama,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  Florida  and  Texas  were 
not  represented.  Governor  Yates  appointed  as  commissioners  to  this  "peace 
congress"  an  able  body  of  men,  namely :  Judge  Stephen  T.  Logan,  John  M. 
Palmer,  John  Wood,  Burton  C.  Cook  and  Thomas  J.  Turner. 

The  "congress"  elected  ex-President  John  Tyler  of  Virginia  President,  and 
continued  in  session  until  February  27,  1861.  They  agreed  upon  the  form  of 
certain  amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  laid  them  before 
Congress,  with  the  request  that  Congress  "will  submit  it  to  conventions  in  the 
States,  as  Article  XIII.  of  the  Amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
States  in  the  following  shape : 

"Sec.  i.  In  all  the  present  territory  of  the  United  States,  north  of  the  par- 
allel of  36  deg.  30  min.  of  north  latitude,  involuntary  servitude,  except  in  punish- 
ment of  crime,  is  prohibited.  In  all  the  present  territory  south  of  that  line,  the 
status  of  persons  held  to  involuntary  service  or  labor,  as  it  now  exists,  shall  not 
be  changed ;  nor  shall  any  law  be  passed  by  Congress  or  the  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture to  hinder  or  prevent  the  taking  of  such  persons  from  any  of  the  States  of 
this  Union  to  said  Territory,  nor  to  impair  the  rights  arising  from  said  relation ; 
but  the  same  shall  be  subject  to  judicial  cognizance  in  the  Federal  courts,  accord- 
ing to  the  course  of  the  common  law.  When  any  territory  north  or  south  of 
said  line,  within  such  boundary  as  Congress  may  prescribe,  shall  contain  a 
population  equal  to  that  required  for  a  member  of  Congress,  it  shall,  if  its  form 
of  government  be  republican,  be  admitted  into  the  Union  on  an  equal  footing 
with  the  original  States,  with  or  without  involuntary  servitude,  as  the  Constitu- 
tion of  such  State  may  provide. 

"Sec.  2.  No  territory  shall  be  acquired  by  the  United  States,  except  by 
discovery  and  for  naval  and  commercial  stations,  depots,  and  transit  routes,  with- 
out the  concurrence  of  a  majority  of  all  the  Senator?  from  the  States  which  allow 
involuntary  servitude,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  Senators  from  States  which 
prohibit  that  relation ;  nor  shall  territory  be  acquired  by  treaty,  unless  the  votes 
of  a  majority  of  the  Senators  from  each  class  of  States  hereinbefore  mentioned 
be  cast  as  a  part  of  the  two-thirds  majority  necessary  to  the  ratification  of  such 
treaty. 

"Sec.  3.  Neither  the  Constitution,  nor  any  amendment  thereof,  shall  be 
Construed  to  give  Congress  power  to  regulate,  abolish,  or  control,  within  any 

82 


State,  the  relation  established  or  recognized  by  the  laws  thereof  touching  persons 
held  to  labor  or  involuntary  service  therein,  nor  to  interfere  with,  or  abolish 
involuntary  service  in  the  District  of  Columbia  without  the  consent  of  Maryland, 
and  without  the  consent  of  the  owners,  or  making  the  owners  who  do  not  consent 
just  compensation;  nor  the  power  to  interfere  with  or  prohibit  Representatives 
and  others  from  bringing  with  them  to  the  District  of  Columbia,  retaining,  and 
taking  away,  persons  so  held  to  labor  or  service;  nor  the  power  to  interfere 
with  or  abolish  involuntary  service  in  places  under  the  exclusive  jurisdiction  of 
the  United  States  within  those  States  and  Territories  where  the  same  is  estab- 
lished or  recognized ;  nor  the  power  to  prohibit  the  removal  or  transportation  of 
persons  held  to  labor  or  involuntary  service  in  any  State  or  Territory  of  the 
United  States  to  any  other  State  or  Territory  thereof  where  it  is  established  or 
recognized  by  law  or  usage ;  and  the  right  during  transportation,  by  sea  or  river, 
of  touching  at  ports,  shores,  and  landings,  and  of  landing  in  case  of  distress,  shall 
exist ;  but  not  the  right  of  transit  in  or  through  any  State  or  Territory,  or  of  sale 
or  traffic,  against  the  laws  thereof.  Nor  shall  Congress  have  power  to  authorize 
any  higher  rate  of  taxation  on  persons  held  to  labor  or  service  than  on  land. 
The  bringing  into  the  District  of  Columbia  of  persons  held  to  labor  or  service, 
for  sale,  or  placing  them  in  depots  to  be  afterwards  transferred  to  other  places 
for  sale  as  merchandise,  is  prohibited. 

"Sec.  4.  The  third  paragraph  of  the  second  section  of  the  fourth  article  of 
the  Constitution  shall  not  be  construed  to  prevent  any  of  the  States,  by  appro- 
priate legislation  and  through  the  action  of  their  judicial  and  ministerial  officers, 
from  enforcing  the  delivery  of  fugitives  from  labor  to  the  person  to  whom  such 
.service  or  labor  is  due. 

"Sec.  5.  The  foreign  slave  trade  is  hereby  forever  prohibited ;  and  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  Congress  to  pass  laws  to  prevent  the  importation  of  slaves,  coolies, 
or  persons  held  to  service  or  labor,  into  the  United  States  and  Territories  from 
places  beyond  the  limits  thereof. 

"Sec.  6.  The  first,  third,  and  fifth  sections,  together  with  this  section  of 
these  amendments,  and  the  third  paragraph  of  the  second  section  of  the  first 
article  of  the  Constitution,  and  the  third  paragraph  of  the  second  section  of  the 
fourth  article  thereof,  shall  not  be  amended  or  abolished  without  the  consent  of 
all  the  States. 

"Sec.  7.  Congress  shall  provide  by  law  that  the  United  States  shall  pay  to 
the  owner  the  full  value  of  the  fugitive  from  labor,  in  all  cases  where  the  Marshal, 
or  other  officer,  whose  duty  it  was  to  arrest  such  fugitive,  was  prevented  from  so 
doing  by  violence  or  intimidation  from  mobs  or  riotous  assemblages,  or  when, 
after  arrest,  such  fugitive  was  rescued  by  like  violence  or  intimidation,  and  the 
owner  thereby  deprived  of  the  same;  and  the  acceptance  of  such  payment  shall 
preclude  the  owner  from  further  claim  to  such  fugitive.  Congress  shall  provide 
by  law  for  securing  to  the  citizens  of  each  State  the  privileges  and  immunities 
of  citizens  in  the  several  States." 

On  January  16,  1861,  the  Crittenden  compromise  joint  resolution  was  being 
considered  and  the  amendment  of  Senator  Clark  of  New  Hampshire  came  up; 
this  amendment  declared  "that  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  are  ample  for 
the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  the  protection  of  all  the  material  interests  of 
the  country ;  that  it  needs  to  be  obeyed  rather  than  amended,  etc.,"  and  "that  all 
attempts  to  dissolve  the  present  Union,  or  overthrow  or  abandon  the  present 
Constitution  with  the  hope  or  expectation  of  constructing  a  new  one,  are  dan- 
gerous, illusory,  and  destructive ;  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States  no  such  reconstruction  is  practicable;  and,  therefore,  to  the  maintenance 
of  the  existing  Union  and  the  Constitution  should  be  directed  all  the  energies 
of  all  departments  of  the  government,  and  the  efforts  of  all  good  citizens." 

At  this  juncture  Hon.  Henry  E.  Anthony,  Senator  from  Rhode  Island, 
obtained  the  floor  and  delivered  the  following  address :  "I  believe,  Mr.  President, 
that  if  the  danger  which  menaces  us  is  to  be  avoided  at  all,  it  must  be  by  legisla- 
tion ;  which  is  more  ready,  more  certain,  and  more  likely  to  be  satisfactory  than 
constitutional  amendment.  The  main  difficulty  is  the  Territorial  question.  The 
demand  of  the  Senators  on  the  other  side  of  the  chamber,  and  of  those  whom 
they  represent,  is  that  the  territory  south  of  the  line  of  the  Missouri  compromise 

83 


shall  be  open  to  their  peculiar  property.  All  this  territory,  except  the  Indian 
Reservation,  is  within  the  limits  of  New  Mexico;  which,  for  a  part  of  its  northern 
boundary,  runs  up  two  degrees  above  that  line.  This  is  now  a  slave  Territory; 
made  so  by  Territorial  legislation ;  and  slavery  exists  there,  recognized  and  pro- 
tected. Now,  I  am  willing,  as  soon  as  Kansas  can  be  admitted,  to  vote  for  the 
admission  of  New  Mexico  as  a  State,  with  such  constitution  as  the  people  may 
adopt.  This  disposes  of  all  the  territory  that  is  adapted  to  slave  labor  or  that  is 
claimed  by  the  South.  It  ought  to  settle  the  whole  question.  Surely  if  we  can 
dispose  of  all  the  territory  that  we  have,  we  ought  not  to  quarrel  over  that  which 
we  have  not,  and  which  we  have  no  very  honest  way  of  acquiring.  Let  us  settle 
will  you  not  build  the  other  eighth  ?  When,  with  outstretched  arms,  we  approach 
you  so  near  that,  by  reaching  out  your  hands  you  can  clasp  ours  in  the  fraternal 
grasp  from  which  they  should  never  be  separated,  will  you,  with  folded  arms 
and  closed  eyes,  stand  upon  extreme  demands  which  you  know  we  cannot  accept, 
and  for  which,  if  we  did,  we  could  not  carry  our  constituents.  *  *  *  Together 
our  fathers  achieved  the  independence  of  their  country ;  together  they  laid  the 
foundations  of  its  greatness  and  its  glory ;  together  they  constructed  this  beau- 
tiful system  under  which  it  is  our  privilege  to  live,  which  it  is  our  duty  to  preserve 
and  to  transmit.  Together  we  enjoy  that  privilege ;  together  we  must  perform 
that  duty.  I  will  not  believe  that,  in  the  madness  of  popular  folly  and  delusion, 
the  most  benignant  government  that  ever  blessed  humanity  is  to  be  broken  up. 
I  will  not  believe  that  this  great  power  which  is  marching  with  giant  steps  toward 
the  first  place  among  the  nations  of  the  earth,  is  to  be  turned  'backward  on  its 
mighty  track.'  There  are  no  grievances,  fancied  or  real,  that  cannot  be  redressed 
within  the  Union  and  under  the  Constitution.  There  are  no  differences  between 
us  that  may  not  be  settled  if  we  will  take  them  up  in  the  spirit  of  those  to  whose 
places  we  have  succeeded,  and  the  fruits  of  whose  labors  we  have  inherited." 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  this  speech  Senator  Jacob  Collamer,  of  Vermont, 
moved  the  postponement  of  the  Crittenden  resolution  and  the  taking  up  of  the 
bill  to  admit  Kansas  into  the  Union.  This  motion  was  defeated  by  a  vote  of  25 
yeas,  30  nays.  Senators  Benjamin  and  Slidell  of  Louisiana,  Iverson  of  Georgia, 
the  difficulties  that  threaten  us  now,  and  not  anticipate"  those  which  may  never 
come.  Let  the  public  have  time  to  cool.  *  *  *  In  offering  to  settle  this 
question  by  the  admission  of  New  Mexico,  we  of  the  North  who  assent  to  it 
propose  a  great  sacrifice,  and  offer  a  large  concession.  *  *  *  But  we  make 
the  offer  in  a  spirit  of  compromise  and  good  feeling,  which  we  hope  will  be 
reciprocated.  *  *  *  I  appeal  to  Senators  on  the  other  side,  when  we  thus 
offer  to  bridge  over  full  seven-eighths  of  the  frightful  chasm  that  separates  us, 
Johnson  of  Arkansas  and  Hemphill  and  Wigfall  of  Texas  voting  nay ;  had  they 
voted  with  Anthony  and  Collamer  the  motion  would  have  been  carried,  31  to  24; 
Kansas  would  have  been  admitted  as  a  free  State  and  New  Mexico  as  a  slave 
State,  and  the  Missouri  compromise  line  would  have  been  practically  re-estab- 
lished and  the  slavery  question  in  the  Territories  forever  settled.  But  this  was 
not  to  be.  The  amendment  of  Senator  Clark  was  adopted  by  yeas  25,  nays  23, 
the  above  named  six  Southern  Senators  again  refusing  to  vote. 

So  determined  were  the  friends  of  compromise  and  conciliation  to  offer  to 
the  South  an  olive  branch  that,  on  February  27,  Mr.  Corwin  offered  an  amend- 
ment to  his  proposition  to  amend  the  Constitution  the  following:  "Article  XII. 
No  amendment  shall  be  made  to  the  Constitution  which  will  authorize  or  give  to 
Congress  the  power  to  abolish  or  interfere,  within  any  State,  with  the  domestic 
institutions  thereof,  including  that  of  persons  held  to  labor  or  service  by  the  laws 
of  said  State."  The  amendment  was  adopted,  yeas  120,  nays  61.  The  joint 
resolution  as  amended  was  defeated  (two-thirds  not  voting  in  the  affirmative), 
yeas  123,  nays  71.  The  next  day,  February  21,  1861,  this  vote  was  reconsidered 
and  the  joint  resolution  passed,  yeas  133,  nays  65,  more  than  two-thirds  having 
voted  in  favor  of  the  amendment.  The  result  of  the  vote  was  received  with  loud 
and  prolonged  applause,  both  on  the  floor  and  in  the  galleries. 

In  the  Senate  on  March  2d,  the  House  joint  resolution  came  up  for  action. 
Mr.  Pugh  moved  to  substitute  the  Crittenden  proposition  which  was  then  before 
the  Senate,  the  Clark  amendment  having  been  reconsidered.  Mr.  Doolittle  pro- 
posed the  following  amendment  to  the  Crittenden  proposition:  "Under  this 

84 


Constitution,  as  originally  adopted,  and  as  it  now  exists,  no  State  has  power  to 
withdraw  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States;  but  this  Constitution,  and 
all  laws  passed  in  pursuance  of  its  delegated  powers,  are  the  supreme  law  of  the 
land,  anything  contained  in  any  constitution,  ordinance,  or  act  of  any  State,  to  the 
contrary  notwithstanding."  This  amendment  was  lost,  yeas  18,  nays  28.  The 
Crittenden  proposition  as  an  amendment  to  the  House  joint  resolution  was  lost, 
yeas  14,  nays  25.  Mr.  Bingham  moved  to  amend  the  House  joint  resolution  by 
inserting  the  Clark  proposition;  this  was  rejected,  yeas  13,  nays  25.  Mr.  Grimes 
offered  an  amendment  to  carry  out  the  requests  of  the  Legislatures  of  Kentucky, 
New  Jersey  and  Illinois,  inviting  the  other  States  to  express  their  will  in  respect 
to  calling  a  convention  to  amend  the  Constitution.  This  amendment  was  lost,  14 
yeas,  25  nays.  Mr.  Johnson  of  Arkansas  offered  as  an  amendment  the  proposi- 
tion submitted  by  the  peace  congress ;  this  amendment  was  defeated,  yeas  3,  nays 
34.  The  House  joint  resolution  for  amending  the  Constitution  was  then  adopted 
by  a  two-thirds  vote,  yeas  24,  nays  12. 

This  session  had  extended  into  the  night  of  March  3d,  previous  to  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's inauguration  the  next  day.  A  number  of  able  and  eloquent  speeches  had 
been  delivered,  but  none  so  incisive  and  powerful  as  that  of  Senator  Douglas.  He 
said :  "The  great  issue  with  the  South  has  been  that  they  would  not  submit  to 
the  Wilmot  proviso.  The  Republican  party  affirmed  the  doctrine  that  Congress 
must  and  could  prohibit  slavery  in  the  Territories.  The  issue  for  ten  years  was 
between  non-intervention  on  the  part  of  Congress,  and  prohibition  by  Congress. 
Up  to  two  years  ago,  neither  the  Senator  (Mason)  from  Virginia,  nor  any  other 
Southern  Senator,  desired  affirmative  legislation  to  protect  slavery.  Even  up  to 
this  day,  not  one  of  them  has  proposed  affirmative  legislation  to  protect  it. 
Whenever  the  question  has  come  up,  they  have  decided  that  affirmative  legisla- 
tion to  protect  it  was  unnecessary ;  and  hence,  all  that  the  South  required  on  the 
Territorial  question  was  'hands  off;  slavery  shall  not  be  prohibited  by  act  of 
Congress.'  Now,  what  do  we  find?  This  very  session,  in  view  of  the  perils 
which  surround  the  country,  the  Republican  party,  in  both  houses  of  Congress, 
by  a  unanimous  vote,  have  backed  down  from  their  platform  and  abandoned  the 
doctrine  of  Congressional  prohibition.  This  very  week  three  Territorial  bills 
have  been  passed  through  both  houses  of  Congress  without  the  Wilmot  proviso, 
and  no  man  proposed  to  enact  it ;  not  even  one  man  on  the  other  side  of  the 
chamber  would  rise  and  propose  the  Wilmot  proviso. 

"In  organizing  three  Territories,"  continued  he,  "two  of  them  south  of  the 
very  line  where  they  imposed  the  Wilmot  proviso  twelve  years  ago,  no  one  on 
the  other  side  of  the  chamber  proposed  it.  They  have  abandoned  the  doctrine 
of  the  President-elect  upon  that  point.  He  said,  and  it  is  on  record,  that  he  had 
voted  for  the  Wilmot  proviso  forty-two  times,  and  would  do  it  forty-two  times' 
more  if  he  ever  had  a  chance.  Not  one  of  his  followers  this  year  voted  for  it 
once.  The  Senator  from  New  York  (Mr.  Seward),  the  embodiment  of  the  party, 
sat  quietly  and  did  not  propose  it.  What  more  ?  Last  year  we  were  told  that 
the  slave  code  of  New  Mexico  was  to  be  repealed.  I  denounced  the  attempted 
interference.  The  House  of  Representatives  passed  the  bill,  but  the  bill  remains 
on  your  table ;  no  one  Republican  member  has  proposed  to  take  it  up  and  pass 
it.  "Practically,  therefore,  the  Chicago  platform  is  abandoned;  the  Philadelphia 
platform  is  abandoned ;  the  whole  doctrine  for  which  the  Republican  party  con- 
tended, as  to  the  Territories,  is  abandoned,  surrendered,  given  up.  Then,  when 
we  find  that,  on  the  Territorial  question,  the  Republican  party  by  a  unanimous 
vote  have  surrendered  to  the  South  all  they  ask,  the  Territorial  question  ought 
to  be  considered  pretty  well  settled.  The  only  question  left  was  that  of  the 
States ;  and  after  having  abandoned  their  aggressive  policy  as  to  the  Territories, 
a  portion  of  them  are  willing  to  unite  with  us  and  deprive  themselves  of  the 
power  to  do  it  in  the  States. 

"I  submit,"  said  he,  "that  these  two  great  facts — these  startling,  tremendous 
facts — that  they  have  abandoned  their  aggressive  policy  in  the  Territories  and  are 
willing  to  give  guarantees  in  the  State,  ought  to  be  accepted  as  an  evidence  of 
a  salutary  change  in  public  opinion  at  the  North.  All  I  would  ask  now  of  the 
Republican  party  is  that  they  would  insert  in  the  Constitution  the  same  principle 
that  they  have  carried  out  practically  in  the  Territorial  bills  for  Colorado,  Dakota, 

85 


and  Nevada,  by  depriving  Congress  of  the  power  hereafter  to  do  what  there 
cannot  be  a  man  of  them  found  willing  to  do  this  year ;  but  we  cannot  ask  them 
to  back  down  too  much.  I  think  they  have  done  quite  as  much  within  one  yearr 
within  three  months  after  they  have  elected  a  President,  as  could  be  expected." 

This  speech  of  Mr.  Douglas  shows  more  clearly  than  any  other  how  earnestly 
Republican  members  of  both  houses  of  Congress  were  desirous  of  adopting  meas- 
ures of  conciliation.  Mr.  Douglas  appreciated  this  fact  and  endeavored  to 
further  these  matters  as  far  as  was  consistent. 

At  this  point  it  is  well  to  recur  to  the  speech  of  Hon. 'John  A.  Logan,  made 
in  the  House  February  5,  1861.  Mr.  Logan  said:  "Men,  sir,  North  and  South, 
who  love  themselves  far  better  than  their  country,  have  brought  us  to  this  un- 
happy condition.  *  *  *  Let  me  say  to  gentlemen,  that  I  will  go  as  far  as 
any  man  in  the  performance  of  a  constitutional  duty  to  put  down  rebellion,  to 
suppress  insurrection,  and  to  enforce  the  laws ;  but  when  we  undertake  the  per- 
formance of  these  duties,  let  us  act  in  such  a  manner  as  will  be  best  calculated 
to  preserve  and  not  destroy  the  Government,  and  keep  ourselves  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Constitution.  *  *  *  Sir,  I  have  always  denied,  and  do  yet 
deny,  the  right  of  secession.  There  is  no  warrant  for  it  in  the  Constitution.  It 
is  wrong,  it  is  unlawful,  unconstitutional,  and  should  be  called  by  the  right  namer 
revolution.  No  good,  sir,  can  result  from  it,  but  much  mischief  may.  It  is  no 
remedy  for  any  grievance. 

"I  hold  that  all  grievances  can  be  much  easier  redressed  inside  the  Union 
than  out  of  it.  *  *  *  If  a  collision  must  ensue  between  Government  and 
any  of  our  own  people,  let  it  come  when  every  other  means  of  settlement  has 
been  tried  and  exhausted ;  and  not  then,  except  when  the  Government  shall  be 
compelled  to  repel  assaults  for  the  protection  of  its  property,  flag  and  the  honor 
of  the  country.  *  *  * 

"I  have  been  taught  to  believe  that  the  preservation  of  this  glorious  Union, 
with  its  broad  flag  waving  over  us  as  the  shield  for  our  protection  on  land  and 
on  sea,  is  paramount  to  all  the  parties  and  platforms  that  ever  have  existed,  or 
ever  can  exist.  I  would,  today,  if  I  had  the  power,  sink  my  own  party,  and 
every  other  one,  with  all  their  platforms,  into  the  vortexwof  ruin,  without  heaving 
a  sigh,  or  shedding  a  tear,  to  save  the  Union,  or  even  stop  the  revolution  where 
it  is." 

This  record  will  be  closed  by  quoting  from  the  speeches  of  two  notable  men 
from  Southern  States,  Hon.  Henry  Winter  Davis  of  Maryland  of  the  House  and 
Hon.  Louis  T.  Wigfall,  Senator  from  Texas.  On  February  5th,  Mr.  Davis  said : 
"We  are  at  the  end  of  the  insane  revel  of  partisan  license  which,  for  thirty  years, 
has,  in  the  United  States,  worn  the  mask  of  government.  We  are  about  to  close 
the  masquerade  by  the  dance  of  death.  The  nations  of  the  world  look  anxiously 
to  see  if  the  people,  ere  they  tread  that  measure,  will  come  to  themselves. 
*  *  *  Southern  politicians  have  created  a  North.  Let  us  trace  the  process 
and  draw  the  moral.  The  laws  of  1850  calme'd  and  closed  the  slavery  agitation; 
and  President  Pierce,  elected  by  the  almost  unanimous  voice  of  the  States,  did 
not  mention  slavery  in  his  first  two  messages.  In  1854,  the  repeal  of  the  Mis- 
souri compromise,  at  the  instance  of  the  South,  reopened  the  agitation.  North- 
ern men,  deserted  by  Southern  Whigs,  were  left  to  unite  for  self-defense.  The 
invasion  of  Kansas,  in  1855  and  1856,  from  Missouri;  the  making  a  legislature 
and  laws  for  that  Territory,  by  the  invaders;  still  further  united  the  Northern 
people ;  the  election  of  1856  measured  its  extent. 

"The  election  of  Mr.  Buchanan  and  his  opening  policy  in  Kansas  soothed  the 
irritation  and  was  rapidly  demoralizing  the  new  party,  when  the  pro-slavery  party 
in  Kansas  perpetrated,  and  the  President  and  the  South  accepted,  the  Lecompton 
fraud,  and  again  united  the  North  more  resolutely  in  resistance  to  that  invasion 
of  the  rights  of  self-government.  The  South  for  the  first  time  failed  to  dictate 
terms ;  and  the  people  vindicated  by  their  votes  the  refusal  of  the  Constitution. 
Ere  this  result  was  attained,  the  opinions  of  certain  judges  of  the  Supreme  Court 
scattered  doubts  over  the  law  of  slavery  in  the  Territories ;  the  South,  while 
repudiating  other  decisions,  instantly  made  these  opinions  the  criterion  of  faith- 
fulness to  the  Constitution;  while  the  North  was  agitated  by  this  new  sanction 
of  the  extremest  pretensions  of  their  opponents. 

86 


"The  South  did  not  rest  satisfied  with  their  judicial  triumph.  Immediately 
the  claim  was  pressed  for  protection  by  Congress  to  slavery,  declared  by  the 
Supreme  Court,  they  said,  to  exist  in  all  the  Territories.  This  completed  the 
union  of  the  free  States  in  one  great  defensive  league ;  and  the  result  was  regis- 
tered in  November.  That  result  is  now  itself  become  the  starting  point  of  new 
agitation — the  demand  of  new  rights  and  new  guarantees.  The  claim  to  access 
to  the  Territories  was  followed  by  the  claim  to  Congressional  protection,  and 
that  is  now  followed  by  the  hitherto  unheard  of  claim  to  a  Constitutional  Amend- 
ment establishing  slavery,  not  merely  in  territory  now  held,  but  in  all  hereafter 
held  from  the  line  of  36  deg.  30  min.  to  Cape  Horn,  while  the  debate  foreshadows 
in  the  distance  the  claim  of  the  right  of  transit  and  the  placing  of  property  in 
slaves  in  all  respects  on  the  footing  of  other  property — the  topics  of  future  agita- 
tion. How  long  the  prohibition  of  the  importation  of  slaves  will  be  exempted 
from  the  doctrine  of  equality,  it  needs  no  prophet  to  tell.  In  the  face  of  this 
recital,  let  the  imputation  of  autocratic  and  tyrannical  aspirations  cease  to  be  cast 
on  the  people  of  the  free  States;  let  the  Southern  people  dismiss  their  fears, 
return  to  their  friendly  confidence  in  their  fellow  citizens  of  the  North,  and 
accept,  as  pledges  of  returning  peace,  the  salutary  amendments  of  the  law  and 
the  Constitution  offered  as  the  first  fruits  of  reconciliation." 

Mr.  Wigfall  addressed  the  Senate  on  the  night  of  March  3d,  but  a  few  hours 
before  the  inauguration.  He  inveighed  furiously  against  the  North,  spoke  dis- 
paragingly and  sneeringly  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  he  summed  up  as  follows:  "Then, 
briefly,  a  party  has  come  into  power  that  represents  the  antagonists  to  my  own 
section  of  the  country.  It  represents  two  million  men  who  hate  us,  and  who,  by 
their  votes  for  such  a  man  as  they  have  elected,  have  committed  an  overt  act  of 
hostility.  That  they  have  done. 

"You  have  won  the  Presidency,"  said  he,  to  the  Republicans,  "and  you  are 
now  in  the  situation  of  the  man  who  had  won  the  elephant  at  a  raffle.  You  do 
not  know  what  to  do  with  the  beast  now  that  you  have  it ;  and  one-half  of  you 
today  would  give  your  right  arms  if  you  had  been  defeated.  But  you  succeeded, 
and  you  have  to  deal  with  facts.  Our  objection  to  living  in  this  Union,  and, 
therefore,  the  difficulty  of  reconstructing  it,  is  not  your  personal  liberty  bills, 
not  the  territorial  question,  but  that  you  utterly  and  wholly  misapprehend  the 
form  of  government.  You  deny  the  sovereignty  of  the  States ;  you  deny  the 
right  of  self-government  in  the  people ;  you  insist  upon  negro  equality ;  your 
people  interfere  impertinently  with  our  institutions  and  attempt  to  subvert  them  ; 
you  publish  newspapers,  you  deliver  lectures ;  you  print  pamphlets,  and  you  send 
them  among  us,  first,  to  excite  our  slaves  to  insurrection  against  the  masters, 
and  next  to  array  one  class  of  citizens  against  the  other;  and  I  say  to  yon,  that 
we  cannot  live  in  peace,  either  in  the  Union  or  out  of  it,  until  you  have  abolished 
your  abolition  societies ;  not,  as  I  have  been  misquoted,  abolish  or  destroy  your 
school-houses ;  but  until  you  have  ceased  in  your  school-houses  teaching  your 
children  to  hate  us ;  until  you  have  ceased  to  convert  your  pulpits  into  hustings ; 
until  you  content  yourselves  with  preaching  Christ,  and  Him  crucified,  and  not 
delivering  political  harangues  on  the  Sabbath ;  until  you  have  ceased  inciting 
your  own  citizens  to  make  raids  and  commit  robberies ;  until  you  have  done 
these  things  we  cannot  live  in  the  same  Union  with  you.  Until  you  do  these 
things,  we  cannot  live  out  of  the  Union  at  peace." 

Senator  Wigfall  was  an  earnest,  candid,  aggressive  representative  of  the 
dominating  sentiment  of  the  Gulf  States ;  he  believed  slavery  was  right ;  he  be- 
lieved the  North  was  the  aggressor  in  the  great  slavery  controversy ;  he  believed 
in  the  right  of  secession ;  he  believed  that  he  truly  represented  the  sentiments 
of  the  people  of  Texas.  He  believed  that  the  hour  for  disunion  had  struck. 

Senator  Wigfall,  his  colleagues  in  Congress,  in  fact  the  people  of  the  South, 
did  not  comprehend  the  spirit  that  animated  the  people  of  the  North.  The  three 
millions  of  men  in  the  North  who  cast  their  ballots  for  Lincoln  and  Douglas  for 
President,  were  not  abolitionists ;  they  had  a  love  of  law ;  they  had  the  habit  of 
observing  the  law ;  they  possessed  in  the  highest  degrees  the  faculty  of  self-gov- 
ernment ;  they  had  no  desire  or  intention  of  interfering  with  slavery  in  the  slave 
States  ;and  while  they  differed  widely  upon  general  questions  of  politics,  they 
agreed  upon  this  fundamental  proposition,  that  slavery  would  not  be  forced  upon 

87 


an  unwilling  people.  They  loved  the  Union ;  they  did  not  believe  in  the  doctrine 
of  State  rights  and  secession ;  but  they  recognized  the  fact  that  great  questions 
which  sharply  divide  public  opinion,  can  only  be  settled  in  the  halls  of  legislature, 
by  compromise,  and  this  was  the  spirit  that  animated  Republican  Congressmen 
in  the  course  pursued  by  them  as  pointed  out  by  Senator  Douglas. 

Looking  back  upon  that  eventful  period  it  seems  clear  that  the  struggle 
over  the  slavery  question  was  a  great  conflict  of  opinions,  which  had  their  origin 
in  colonial  days,  and  which  gained  strength  as  time  rolled  on,  as  the  inevitable 
logic  of  events. 

While  the  evolution  of  public  opinion  of  the  Northern  States — in  fact,  of 
the  whole  Christian  world — outside  of  the  South — during  the  preceding  fifty 
years,  had  experienced  a  great  change  upon  the  question  of  slavery  and  the 
African  slave  trade,  so  that  slavery  was  regarded  as  wrong,  a  violation  of  the 
rights  of  man,  and  dangerous  to  free  government,  the  people  of  the  Southern 
States  had  become  more  and  more  attached  to  the  institution,  and  less  and  less 
disposed  to  have  its  rightfulness  called  in  question,  while  the  dream  of  many  of 
their  leaders  was  the  establishment  of  a  great  Southern  Confederacy  with  slavery 
as  its  chief  cornerstone.  They  did  not  realize  that  this  country  was  designed  by 
nature  for  one  people ;  that  it  is  indivisible.  They  failed  to  recognize  the  fact 
that  the  Constitution  would  protect  slavery  as  long  as  they  stood  by  it  and  ob- 
served its  provisions.  They  could  not  lift  the  veil  and  see  that  disunion  meant 
the  destruction  of  slavery. 

Disunion  and  slavery  were  rushing  to  their  doom. 

While  these  efforts  to  find  some  ground  upon  which  the  South  would  unite 
with  the  North  for  the  settlement  of  the  questions  which  were  exciting  the  coun- 
try, the  Republicans  found  themselves  in  a  majority  in  both  Houses  of  Congress, 
because  of  the  withdrawal  of  many  members  representing  Southern  States.  They 
at  once  took  up  the  subject  of  providing  additional  revenue  for  the  Government. 
It  fell  to  the  lot  of  Hon.  Justin  S.  Morrill,  of  Vermont,  to  take  the  lead.  He  set 
to  work,  with  the  assistance  of  other  members  of  the  Ways  and  Means  Commit- 
tee of  the  House,  and  prepared  a  new  tariff  bill.  Mr.  Morrill  had  been  a  Whig,  a 
follower  of  Henry  Clay,  and  was  a  thorough  believer  in  the  protective  system. 
He  believed  that  it  was  the  duty  of  Congress  to  legislate  so  as  to  encourage  the 
development  of  the  internal  resources  of  the  country  by  multiplying  our  indus- 
tries so  that  we  would  become  the  producers  of  the  larger  proportion  of  manu- 
factured articles  required  to  supply  the  wants  of  our  own  people. 

He  believed  that  where  the  foreigner  had  control  of  our  market,  and  met 
no  active  competition  in  home  products,  he  would  fix  the  price  of  his  manufac- 
tures so  as  to  afford  him  an  immense  profit.  While,  if  our  own  people  took  up 
the  business  of  manufacturing,  they  would  soon  become  competitors  of  the 
foreign  manufacturer,  and  would  also  be  competitors  amongst  themselves,  and 
thereby  the  prices  of  manufactured  articles  would  steadily  be  reduced.  He  be- 
lieved that  the  first  step  to  bring  about  this  result  was  to  fix  the  duty  on  im- 
ported articles  at  such  rates  as  would  enable  our  own  citizens  to  engage  profit- 
ably in  the  business  of  manufacture.  He  recognized  the  fact  that  the  rate  of 
interest  on  money  and  the  rate  of  wages  were  both  higher  in  the  United  States 
than  abroad,  but  he  was  of  opinion  that  American  enterprise,  American  skill, 
and  American  invention  would  be  so  combined  that  the  United  States  would  in 
good  time  become  the  leading  manufacturing  nation  of  the  world. 

And  so  the  Republican  party  took  up  the  protective  tariff  question  at  the 
point  where  the  Whig  party  had  laid  it  down,  and  the  Morrill  Tariff  law,  now 
famous  in  the  annals  of  American  tariff  legislation,  was  enacted  by  Congress. 
It  must  be  said  to  the  credit  of  President  Buchanan  that  one  of  his  last  official 
acts  on  March  3,  1861,  was  to  approve  this  bill. 


88 


CHAPTER  XL 

LINCOLN'S     CABINET — ATTACK    ON    FORT   SUMPTER — ILLINOIS   ANSWERS   THE 
CALL  TO  ARMS. 

President  Lincoln  appointed  the  following  Cabinet  officers :  William  H. 
Seward,  of  New  York,  Secretary  of  State ;  Salmon  P.  Chase,  of  Ohio,  Secretary 
of  Treasury ;  Simon  Cameron,  of  Pennsylvania,  Secretary  of  War ;  Gideon  Wells, 
of  Connecticut,  Secretary  of  Navy ;  Caleb  B.  Smith,  of  Indiana,  Secretary  of  In- 
terior; Edward  Bates,  of  Missouri,  Attorney  General,  and  Montgomery  Blair, 
of  Maryland,  Postmaster  General. 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  inauguration,  Hon.  John  Forsyth,  of  Alabama, 
and  Hon.  Martin  J.  Crawford,  of  Georgia,  were  in  Washington  City,  as  the 
accredited  Commissioners  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America  to  the  Govern- 
ment of  the  United  States.  It  was  well  known  that  the  mission  of  these  gen- 
tlemen was  to  secure  from  Mr.  Lincoln's  administration  a  recognition  of  the 
Confederate  States  Government.  They  sought  an  interview  with  Secretary 
Seward,  but  he  knowing  the  object  of  their  mission,  declined.  On  March  13, 
they  delivered  to  Secretary  Seward's  assistant  a  document.  They  claimed  to 
represent  the  Confederate  States  of  America ;  that  the  "Confederate  States  con- 
stituted an  independent  nation,  de  facto  and  de  jure,  possessing  a  government 
perfect  in  all  its  parts,  and  endowed  with  all  means  of  self-support."  They  re- 
quested a  speedy  interview  that  they  might  present  their  credentials  to  the  Presi- 
dent, and  lay  before  him  the  mission  with  which  they  had  been  entrusted,  for 
the  "future  welfare  of  the  two  nations." 

Secretary  Seward  declined  to  "recognize  them  as  diplomatic  agents,"  or  to 
"hold  correspondence  with  them."  He  submitted  to  them  a  copy  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's inaugural  address,  and  guided  by  the  principles  therein  laid  down,  he  could 
not  admit  or  assume  that  the  States  referred  to  by  them  had,  in  law  or  in  fact,, 
withdrawn  from  the  Federal  Union,  or  that  they  could  do  so  in  the  manner 
assumed. 

He  assured  Messrs.  Forsyth  and  Crawford  that  the  President  had  been 
consulted  and  declined  to  have  any  official  intercourse  with  them.  Hon.  John  A. 
Campbell,  of  Alabama,  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States, 
interposed  his  friendly  offices  with  Secretary  Seward  in  behalf  of  the  Confederate 
States  Commissioners  without  success. 

Having  failed  to  obtain  an  audience  as  the  representatives  of  the  Confed- 
erate States  of  America,  Messrs.  Forsyth  and  Crawford  addressed  another  letter 
to  Secretary  Seward,  dated  April  9,  in  which  they  claimed  for  the  Confederacy 
the  rights  resulting  from  a  "manifest  and  accomplished  revolution."  And  on 
behalf  of  their  Government  and  people  they  declared  that  they  accepted  "the 
gauge  of  battle,"  which  they  alleged  had  been  thrown  down  by  the  United  States 
when  it  refused  them  official  recognition. 

The  harbor  of  the  city  of  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  had  been  strongly 
fortified  by  the  United  States ;  a  small  garrison  under  the  command  of  Major 
Robert  Anderson  occupied  Ft.  Moultrie,  but  was  transferred  to  Ft.  Sumpter,  a 
strong  work  built  upon  an  island  in  Charleston  harbor.  Major  Anderson  was 
loyal  to  his  flag.  His  garrison  was  short  of  rations.  On  January  9,  1861,  the 
steamer  "Star  of  the  West,"  carrying  supplies  to  the  Ft.  Sumpter  garrison,  was 
fired  upon  from  the  forts  around  Charleston  harbor,  which  had  been  seized  by 
the  Confederate  authorities,  and  the  vessel  was  not  permitted  to  discharge  her 
freight.  No  additional  effort  was  made  by  President  Buchanan's  administration 
to  relieve  the  garrison.  Early  in  April,  President  Lincoln  notified  Governor 

89 


Pickens  of  South  Carolina  that  supplies  would  be  sent  to  Ft.  Sumpter.  This 
information  was  communicated  to  the  Confederate  authorities  at  Montgomery. 
General  Beauregard  had  previously  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  forts 
and  military  forces  at  Charleston,  under  control  of  the  Confederate  Government. 
He  received  instructions  on  April  10,  1861,  from  the  Confederate  Secretary  of 
War,  directing  him  to  demand  the  evacuation  of  Ft.  Sumpter,  with  authority  to 
General  Beauregard  to  proceed  according  to  his  best  judgment  in  case  of  a  re- 
fusal. At  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  April  10,  General  Beauregard  demanded 
the  evacuation  of  Ft.  Sumpter,  on  the  ground  that  the  Confederate  States  could 
no  longer  permit  a  fortification  beyond  its  control  within  reach  of  one  of  its 
harbors.  Major  Anderson  declined  to  evacuate  the  fort;  when  asked  when  he 
would  be  willing  to  evacuate,  he  replied  that  he  would  do  so  on  April  15  at  noon 
unless  he  received  supplies  or  controlling  instructions  from  his  Government. 

Acting  under  orders  from  the  Confederate  Government  at  Montgomery,  at 
3:20  a.  m.,  on  April  12,  1861,  General  Beauregard  opened  fire  upon  Ft.  Sumpter. 
The  bombardment  continued  for  thirty-four  hours.  Major  Anderson  defended 
the  fort  until  the  quarters  were  entirely  burnt,  the  main  gates  destroyed  by  fire, 
the  gorge-wall  seriously  injured,  the  magazines  surrounded  by  flames  and  its 
doors  closed  from  the  effects  of  heat,  and  with  no  provisions  remaining  but  pork. 
He  accepted  the  terms  of  evacuation  offered  by  General  Beauregard,  on  April  13,. 
and  marched  out  of  the  fort  on  Sunday  afternoon,  April  14,  with  colors  flying 
and  drums  beating,  having  saluted  the  flag  with  fifty  guns.  A  remarkable  fact 
connected  with  the  bombardment  of  Ft.  Sumpter  is  that  not  one  of  the  garrison 
was  killed.  Tidings  of  the  surrender  of  Ft.  Sumpter  were  instantly  telegraphed 
all  over  the  United  States.  The  people  of  the  South  were  intoxicated  with  joy. 
Mr.  Walker,  the  Confederate  Secretary  of  War,  addressing  a  public  meeting, 
declared  that  "No  man  can  foretell  the  events  of  the  war  inaugurated ;  but  I  will 
venture  to  predict  that  the  flag  which  now  floats  on  the  breeze  will,  before  the 
ist  of  May,  float  over  the  dome  of  the  old  Capitol  at  Washington,  and  if  they 
choose  to  try  Southern  chivalry,  and  test  the  extent  of  Southern  resources,  will 
eventually  float  over  Fanuel  Hall,  in  Boston."  The  "New  Orleans  Picayune" 
said,  "The  first  fruits  of  a  Virginia  secession  will  be  the*  removal  of  Lincoln  and 
his  Cabinet,  and  whatever  he  can  carry  away,  to  the  safer  neighborhood  of  Har- 
risburg  or  Cincinnati — perhaps  to  Buffalo  or  Cleveland."  The  "Richmond  Ex- 
aminer" said,  "There  never  was  half  the  unanimity  among  the  people  before,  nor 
a  tithe  of  the  zeal  upon  any  subject,  that  is  now  manifested  to  take  Washington. 
From  the  mountain  tops  and  valleys  to  the  shores  of  the  sea,  there  is  one  wild 
shout  of  fierce  resolve  to  capture  Washington  City  at  all  and  every  human  haz- 
ard." On  April  15,  1861,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  proclamation  calling  forth 
75,000  of  the  militia  of  the  several  States  of  the  Union,  to  suppress  all  combina- 
tions too  powerful  for  the  ordinary  course  of  judicial  proceedings  or  by  the 
powers  vested  in  the  marshals  by  law.  He  also  commanded  that  the  persons 
composing  such  combinations  to  disperse  and  retire  peacefully  to  their  homes 
within  twenty  days,  and  he  summoned  Congress  to  meet  in  extraordinary  ses- 
sion on  July  4,  "To  consider  and  determine  such  measures  as,  in  their  wisdom^ 
the  public  safety  and  interest  may  seem  to  demand." 

Before  the  firing  upon  Ft.  Sumpter  the  people  of  the  Northern  States,  while 
experiencing  much  anxiety  as  to  the  state  of  public  affairs,  were  profoundly 
desirous  that  the  peace  of  the  country  should  not  be  broken.  All  of  the  political 
excitement  which  preceded  the  election  in  November  had  quieted  down.  The 
great  majority  of  the  people  had  no  serious  apprehension  of  a  civil  war;  they 
hoped  and  believed  that  the  excitement  in  the  South  would  give  way,  and  that 
upon  calm  reflection  the  movement  to  divide  the  Union  would  be  abandoned,  and 
the  affairs  of  government  would  go  forward  as  usual.  They  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  political  contest,  and  had  gone  to  the  polls,  and  had  voted  for  the  man 
of  their  choice  for  President,  and  when  the  declaration  was  made  that  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  elected  those  who  had  opposed  him  at  the  polls  freely  acquiesced  in 
the  result  of  the  election,  believing  that  it  was  the  duty  of  every  citizen,  through- 
out the  whole  United  States,  to  recognize  the  will  of  the  people  as  constitutionally 
expressed  through  the  ballot  box.  They  could  not  conceive  that  any  portion  of 
the  American  people  would  appeal  from  the  ballot  box  to  the  sword. 

90 


News  of  the  firing  upon  Ft.  Sumpter  filled  the  Northern  mind  with  sur- 
prise. Tidings  of  the  fall  of  the  fort  filled  the  Northern  hearts  with  indignation. 
It  seemed  that  in  every  community  throughout  the  entire  sixteen  Northern 
States,  the  people  were  animated  by  but  one  spirit,  that  of  supporting  the  Gov- 
ernment and  preserving  the  Union.  This  sentiment  was  not  confined  to  the 
cities  and  towns  or  to  any  particular  class  of  citizens,  but  had  swept  all  over  the 
country,  and  included  the  people  of  every  avocation  and  calling  in  life. 

In  no  State  of  the  North  had  the  political  issues  of  1860  been  so  earnestly 
contested  as  in  Illinois ;  it  was  the  home  of  both  Lincoln  and  Douglas.  Both 
men  had  many  warm  personal  as  well  as  political  friends,  and  they  supported 
their  favorites  with  an  earnestness  and  devotion  rarely  ever  seen  in  a  political 
struggle.  When  the  call  for  troops  came  the  response  was  instantaneous,  a 
number  of  companies  were  immediately  organized  and  tendered.  Public  meet- 
ings were  held  in  various  parts  of  the  State,  and  patriotic  speeches  were  made 
in  favor  of  preserving  the  Union,  and  supporting  Lincoln's  administration. 
Here  and  there,  there  were  prominent  men  throughout  the  State  who  were  not 
in  sympathy  with  this  sudden  burst  of  patriotism,  but  their  voices  were  for  the 
time  being  hushed. 

Governor  Yates  by  proclamation  called  a  special  session  of  the  Legislature 
for  April  23.  There  was  a  prompt  response ;  the  people  flocked  from  all  parts 
of  the  State  to  be  present  at  the  meeting. 

Senator  Douglas,  who  was  in  Washington  when  Ft.  Sumpter  fell,  and  who 
had  at  once  called  upon  the  President  and  assured  him  of  his  support  in  this 
crisis  of  the  country,  felt  it  his  duty  to  come  home  to  Illinois  to  advise  with  the 
people. 

He  visited  Springfield,  and  was  present  when  the  Legislature  convened.  He 
was  invited  to  deliver  an  address  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and 
did  so  on  the  evening  of  April  23.  His  voice  uttered  no  uncertain  sound;  he 
declared  himself  in  favor  of  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  at  whatever  cost  of 
blood  and  treasure.  He  said  at  this  time  there  can  be  but  two  parties  in  this 
country,  patriots  and  traitors.  That  the  surest  road  to  peace  was  the  most  stu- 
pendous preparations  for  war.  This  speech  electrified  the  country,  and  as  was 
said  by  Bancroft,  Douglas  "spoke  as  with  the  voice  of  a  million."  Three  days 
after  the  call  for  troops  fifty  companies  had  been  tendered  to  the  Governor,  and 
the  bankers  of  Springfield  and  Chicago  had  offered  loans  of  $600,000.  The  Leg- 
islature was  prompt  in  the  passage  of  laws  to  meet  the  emergency.  The  militia 
law  was  amended,  a  warrant  fund  of  $2,000,000  was  created,  a  board  of  three 
commissioners  to  audit  accounts  for  supplies  was  authorized.  Sixteen  regiments 
of  infantry  and  one  battalion  of  artillery  was  provided  for. 

Thomas  S.  Mather  was  continued  Adjutant  General;  ex-Governor  John 
Wood  was  appointed  Quartermaster  General ;  John  Williams,  Commissary  Gen- 
eral ;  James  H.  Woodworth,  Charles  H.  Lanphier  and  William  Thomas,  Audit- 
ing Commissioners,  with  George  Judd  as  Secretary.  The  War  Department 
allotted  to  Illinois  six  regiments  under  the  first  call,  all  of  which  were  organized 
by  May  I,  and  sent  to  Cairo. 

Out  of  respect  to  the  six  regiments  sent  to  the  Mexican  War,  the  first  of 
these  new  regiments  was  numbered  seven,  and  so  on  successively  to  twelve. 
They  were  ordered  to  Cairo  in  response  to  a  request  from  the  War  Department 
at  Washington,  to  hold  that  important  strategic  point.  The  first  troops  to  reach 
Cairo  were  seven  companies  under  command  of  General  Richard  Kellogg  Swift 
of  Chicago.  This  force  numbered  595  men.  The  General  started  with  his 
troops  by  railroad  to  Cairo  April  21,  1861. 

In  ordinary  times  the  city  of  Springfield,  except  during  the  sessions  of  the 
Legislature,  was  a  very  quiet  place,  and  had  but  few  visitors.  Now,  however, 
the  scene  was  changed ;  the  city  was  constantly  full  of  people  intent  upon  getting 
into  the  army  or  to  perform  some  service  in  connection  with  the  army.  The 
executive  departments  were  kept  busy;  soon  a  military  camp  was  established 
near  the  city ;  thousands  of  uniformed  officers  and  soldiers  were  to  be  seen,  and 
the  capital  of  the  State  of  Illinois  assumed  all  the  "pomp  and  circumstance  of 
war." 

91 


CHAPTER    XII. 

CONFLICT  OF  POLITICAL  OPINIONS. 

The  questions  upon  which  the  people  of  this  country  have  differed,  and 
which  have  caused  the  great  conflict  of  political  opinions  between  statesmen 
and  political  parties  since  the  formation  of  the  Government,  may  be  grouped  as 
follows : 

Pro-Slavery.  National  Supremacy. 

State  Supremacy.  Anti-Slavery. 

Strict  construction  of  the  Consti-        Liberal  construction  of  the  Constitu- 
tution.  tion. 

The  opinions  which  men  entertained  upon  these  questions  were  worked  out 
into  schools  of  politics,  the  great  political,  moral  and  social  forces  of  the  country 
gathered  about  them. 

The  ideas  of  one  or  the  other  of  these  groups  of  questions  have  influenced 
and  controlled  public  men  and  the  great  body  of  the  people,  from  the  beginning. 
Every  public  question  came  within  the  range  and  scope  of  one  or  more  of  these 
topics  of  thought.  Men's  hopes  of  preferment  were  gratified  or  blasted  accord- 
ing as  they  met  the  public  expectation  on  these  questions. 

The  pro-slavery  sentiments  of  Pinckney,  Rutledge,  Butler,  Baldwin  and 
others  caused  to  be  put  into  the  Constitution  the  provision  continuing  the  African 
slave  trade  to  1808,  the  provisions  for  the  return  of  fugitive  slaves,  and  for  repre- 
sentation in  Congress  and  in  the  Electoral  College  based  on  slave  population. 

It  was  the  opinions  of  Washington,  Hamilton  and  others  favoring  national 
supremacy  that  put  into  the  Constitution  those  provisions  which  gave  the  United 
States  the  powers  of  a  nation. 

It  was  the  anti-slavery  opinions  of  Thomas  Jefferson  and  Nathan  Dane  that 
suggested  and  finally  secured  the  ordinance  of  1787  dedicating  the  Northwest 
territory  to  freedom. 

A  belief  in  the  doctrines  of  State  supremacy  and  a  strict  construction  of  the 
Constitution  caused  Jefferson  and  Madison  to  prepare  and  favor  the  adoption  of 
the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  resolutions  of  1/98  and  1799,  in  which  it  was  declared 
"that  the  Government  created  by  the  compact  (that  is,  the  Constitution)  was  not 
made  the  exclusive  or  final  judge  of  the  extent  of  the  powers  delegated  to  itself, 
but  that,  as  in  all  other  cases  of  compact  among  powers  having  no 
common  judge,  each  party  has  an  equal  right  to  judge  for  itself,  as  well  of  infrac- 
tions as  of  the  mode  and  measure  of  redress." 

The  gist  of  this  contention  was  that  the  Constitution  was  simply  a  "compact 
among  powers" ;  that  each  State  was  individually  sovereign ;  that  this  sover- 
eignty was  recognized  and  secured  in  the  Constitution  as  "reserved  rights"  of 
the  State;  and  that  by  virtue  of  this  sovereignty  a  State  had  authority  to  nullify 
a  federal  law,  and  to  withdraw  from  the  Union. 

The  opposing  theory  was  and  is  that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States 
created  a  nation.  That  the  citizens  of  each  State  were  citizens  of  that  nation 
and  owed  it  allegiance.  That  the  nation  derived  its  powers  from  the  people. 
That  the  Constitution,  the  laws  of  Congress  and  the  treaties  with  foreign  nations 
were  the  supreme  law  of  the  land;  and  that  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United 
States  was  the  final  tribunal  for  deciding  the  constitutionality  of  laws. 

It  was  adherence  to  the  doctrine  of  State  rights  as  set  forth  in  the  Kentucky 
and  Virginia  resolutions  that  caused  the  Legislature  of  South  Carolina  under  the 

92 


advice  of  John  C.  Calhoun  to  pass  an  ordinance  nullifying  the  tariff  laws  of  the 
United  States ;  and  it  was  President  Jackson's  opposition  to  those  doctrines  that 
moved  him  to  issue  a  proclamation  declaring  the  laws  of  Congress  must  be  en- 
forced and  obeyed.  It  was  the  pro-slavery  interest  which  insisted  on  maintain- 
ing the  balance  of  power  in  the  Senate,  and  refused  the  admission  of  free  States, 
except  with  a  corresponding  admission  of  slave  States.  It  was  the  pro-slavery 
sentiment  which,  through  outrage  and  blood,  struggled  to  make  Kansas  a  slave 
State.  It  was  a  belief  in  the  doctrine  of  State  rights,  and  a  strict  construction  of 
the  Constitution  that  caused  the  Democratic  party  in  their  platforms  to  endorse 
the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  Resolutions,  and  deny  to  Congress  the  power  to 
charter  a  national  bank,  enact  a  protective  tariff  or  provide  for  national  internal 
improvements. 

It  was  under  a  liberal  construction  of  the  Constitution  that  Clay,  Webster 
and  other  Whig  leaders  chartered  a  national  bank,  passed  a  protective  system 
of  tariff  laws,  and  provided  for  certain  internal  improvements,  including  the 
national  road.  It  was  the  aggressive  pro-slavery  spirit  of  the  South  that  caused 
a  division  of  the  Democratic  party  in  1860;  and  it  was  the  same  spirit  which, 
after  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President,  relying  upon  the  principle 
of  State  rights  and  a  strict  construction  of  the  Constitution,  led  the  people  of  the 
South  to  secede  from  the  Union,  and  precipitate  the  Civil  War. 

This  conflict  of  opinion  went  to  the  very  pith  and  marrow  of  our  national 
system  of  government.  The  issue  of  1860  was  not  new;  the  question  of  State 
rights  had  been  discussed  so  long  and  earnestly  in  the  South  that  every  intelli- 
gent man  was  familiar  with  it.  .  The  doctrine  of  the  right  of  secession  had  stead- 
ily gained  ground.  The  most  distinguished  and  influential  statesmen  of  the 
South  were  thorough  believers  in  it.  When  the  decisive  hour  to  strike  arrived, 
the  great  mass  of  the  people  fully  endorsed  the  action  of  their  leaders.  Many 
Southern  men  who  did  not  favor  the  secession  movement  in  1860-1  believed  in 
the  right  of  secession,  and  a  paramount  allegiance  to  their  States,  and  went  with 
their  States  when  they  seceded. 

In  the  Northern  States  aside  from  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  preserving  the 
Union  there  was  a  deep-seated  and  settled  opinion  in  favor  of  the  proposition 
that  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  created  a  great  National  Government, 
which  derived  its  powers  from  the  whole  people ;  that  while  the  inherent  right 
of  revolution  existed,  there  was  no  constitutional  authority  for  the  withdrawal 
of  a  State  from  the  Union. 

While  John  C.  Calhoun  had  been  the  apostle  of  State  rights,  Daniel  Web- 
ster had  been  the  defender  of  the  doctrine  of  National  Union.  The  speech  of 
Mr.  Webster  delivered  in  the  Senate  January  21,  1830,  in  reply  to  Mr.  Hayne 
of  South  Carolina,  in  opposition  to  the  doctrine  of  State  rights  and  in  favor  of 
National  Union,  was  a  lucid  and  unanswerable  argument  in  support  of  the  propo- 
sition that  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  was  the  final  judge  of  the 
constitutionality  of  the  laws  of  Congress  and  that  all  the  people  of  the  United 
States,  including  State  officers  and  State  courts,  were  bound  by  those  decisions. 
Mr.  Webster's  speech  produced  a  profound  impression  at  the  time  of  its  deliv- 
ery; it  was  a  plain  and  complete  exposition  of  the  powers  of  the  National  Gov- 
ernment ;  the  doctrines  of  the  Kentucky  and  Virginia  resolutions  were  answered 
fully — finally  answered.  This  great  speech  became  a  classic  in  the  literature  of 
the  country ;  schoolboys  were  familiar  with  it,  the  opinions  of  men  were  moulded 
by  it.  When  President  Lincoln's  call  for  volunteers  came,  the  mass  of  the  people 
in  the  North  felt  it  to  be  as  much  their  duty  to  rally  for  the  defense  of  the  Union 
as  to  defend  their  own  door  sills. 

The  issue  thus  joined  between  determined  men  on  both  sides,  with  fixed 
and  definite  opinions  as  to  rights  and  duties,  could  be  settled  only  in  one  way. 
It  became  a  trial  of  strength,  the  conflict  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  powers  of 
government  under  the  Constitution  was  submitted  to  the  arbitration  of  war. 

These  questions  divided  the  Democratic  party  of  the  North,  but  those  men 
who  adhered  to  and  controlled  the  Democratic  organization  held  to  the  opinion 
that  the  National  Government  possessed  no  power  under  the  Constitution  to 
maintain  its  authority  or  to  preserve  the  Union  by  force.  They  declared  that  a 
seceding  State  could  not  lawfully  be  coerced. 

93 


Those  who  supported  the  government  held  that  the  Constitution  formed  a 
perpetual  Union,  that  organized  resistance  to  the  laws  of  the  United  States  and 
to  the  authority  of  the  National  Government  was  rebellion,  and  that  levying  war 
against  the  United  States  by  the  people  of  any  State  was  treason ;  and  that  by 
authority  of  express  provisions  of  the  Constitution  rebellion  could  be  suppressed 
and  treason  punished. 

The  secession  of  States,  their  organization  of  a  central  government ;  the 
seizure  of  national  property ;  the  raising  and  arming  of  troops ;  the  denial  and 
repudiation  of  the  national  authority ;  the  demand  of  the  surrender  of  Ft.  Sump- 
ter,  the  bombardment,  destruction  of  the  fort  and  compelling  the  capitulation  of 
the  garrison  were  acts  of  war. 

The  National  Government  recognized  it  as  war.  The  Confederate  Govern- 
ment recognized  it  as  war.  The  Democratic  party  in  their  platforms  recognized 
it  as  war.  And  the  Republican  party  recognized  it  as  war.  It  was  war,  pro- 
longed, bloody  and  terrible.  The  Constitution,  recognizing  in  express  terms 
that  a  rebellion  may  exist  in  the  United  States,  gave  Congress  power  to  suppress 
rebellion,  to  declare  war,  and  to  raise  and  support  an  army  and  navy.  The  war 
was  carried  to  a  successful  issue.  The  national  life  was  saved.  The  national 
authority  was  maintained ;  slavery  was  abolished ;  and  as  a  result  the  country 
entered  upon  a  new  era  of  republicanism  and  of  progress.  The  war  established 
the  legal  proposition  that  the  United  States  is  a  nation  and  that  the  people  of 
all  the  States  owe  a  paramount  allegiance  to  the  National  Government. 

The  lives  of  the  Union  soldiers  were  consecrated  to  the  performance  of  the 
highest  and  noblest  duty  ever  devolved  upon  an  army  of  men.  They  fought  the 
final  battle  of  the  centuries,  to  maintain  the  proposition  that  man  is  capable  of 
self-government.  They  fought  for  the  territorial  unity  of  this  great  Republic. 

The  Confederate  cause — disunion  and  slavery — defended  with  a  courage, 
fortitude  and  self-sacrifice  which  arouses  admiration,  went  down  forever  before 
the  irresistible  march  of  these  veteran  soldiers  of  the  Union. 


94 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

ACTION  OF  DEMOCRATS  DURING  THE  WAR — ELECTIONS  IN  ILLINOIS,   1862 — 
DEMOCRATIC   NATIONAL  CONVENTION,  AT  CHICAGO,  AUGUST  29,  1864. 

Many  leading  Democrats  in  Illinois  did  not  endorse  the  position  taken  by 
Senator  Douglas  in  regard  to  the  rebellion ;  their  sympathies  were  with  the 
South ;  they  controlled  the  organization  of  the  Democratic  party  and  were  ready 
on  occasion  to  use  it  against  the  national  administration. 

Their  opportunity  soon  came.  The  Legislature  of  1859  had  submitted  to 
the  people  the  question  of  calling  a  convention  to  amend  the  Constitution ;  the 
proposition  was  carried.  A  convention  of  seventy-five  delegates  was  to  be 
elected  in  the  legislative  districts  in  November,  1861.  The  Democrats  quietly 
organized  for  the  contest ;  the  interest  of  the  people  at  large  was  centered  In  the 
more  important  questions  of  the  war  and  but  little  attention  was  given  to  the 
selection  of  candidates ;  the  Democrats  elected  45  members,  the  Republicans  21 
with  9  fusion  and  doubtful.  The  convention  met  at  Springfield  January  7,  1862. 
The  most  prominent  Democrats  in  the  convention  were  Wm.  J.  Allen,  Augustus 
C.  French,  Melville  W.  Fuller,  S.  A.  Buckmaster,  Albert  G.  Burr,  O.  B.  Fick- 
lin,  Alexander  Stearns,  A.  D.  Duff,  H.  K.  Omelveney,  J.  W.  Singleton,  Anthony 
Thornton,  and  J.  B.  Underwood. 

This  convention  was  called  for  but  one  purpose,  namely,  to  prepare  amend- 
ments to  the  State  Constitution,  but  they  acted  upon  the  assumption  that  they 
possessed  legislative  powers  and  authority  to  supervise  the  executive  officers 
of  the  State  Government. 

Upon  organizing  the  convention  they  declined  to  take  an  oath  to  support 
the  Constitution,  they  seriously  considered  the  question  whether  they  did  not 
have  authority  to  elect  a  United  States  Senator  in  place  of  O.  H.  Browning. 
They  ratified  a  proposed  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States, 
denying  the  authority  of  Congress  to  interfere  with  the  question  of  slavery. 
This  amendment  was  submitted  to  the  Legislatures  of  the  States  by  Congress  in 
March,  1861,  as  a  means  of  pacifying  the  Southern  States.  They  called  for 
reports  from  the  Governor  and  other  executive  officers  in  regard  to  executive 
business  and  proposed  to  investigate  the  question  whether  Illinois  soldiers  had 
been  treated  as  well  as  soldiers  from  other  States ;  they  adopted  an  ordinance 
appropriating  $500,000  from  the  State  Treasury  for  the  relief  of  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers. 

They  framed  a  constitution  which  contained  a  clause  for  the  election  of  a 
Governor  and  other  State  officers.  The  plan  was  to  displace  Governor  Yates  and 
is  executive  officers  in  the  midst  of  their  term.  They  also  prepared  an  act 
apportioning  the  State  for  Congressmen.  The  Democrats  believed  that  if  these 
neasures  could  be  carried  before  the  people,  they  could  control  the  State  for 
'•ears  to  come.  Soldiers  in  the  field  were  given  the  right  to  vote  on  the  Consti- 
tution. John  Wentworth,  Elliott  Anthony,  Luther  W.  Lawrence,  A.  J.  Joslyn 
and  all  their  Republican  colleagues  earnestly  opposed  the  whole  scheme.  The 
new  Constitution  was  made  a  party  measure,  Republicans  opposing  and  Demo- 
crats advocating  its  adoption.  It  is  proper  to  say,  however,  that  some  fair- 
minded  Democratic  delegates  refused  to  vote  for  the  Constitution.  Mr.  Under- 
wood, a  Democrat  delegate,  utterly  declined  to  sign  the  instrument. 

The  election  was  held  in  June,  1862.  The  people  voted  upon  the  issue. 
The  Constitution  and  all  the  separate  clauses  were  lost.  The  Constitution  was 
defeated  by  25,525  votes.  The  soldiers'  vote  was  11,838;  of  these  10,151  voted 
against  the  Constitution. 

95 


The  Democrats  were  not  discouraged  by  the  defeat  of  the  Constitution; 
the  party  was  well  organized ;  the  legislative  apportionment  was  to  the  advantage 
of  their  party ;  their  leaders  were  at  home  and  could  take  part  in  a  canvass,  while 
many  prominent  Republicans  and  war  Democrats  were  absent  in  the  army.  They 
brought  out  their  strongest  men  as  candidates  for  the  Legislature,  for  Congress 
and  for  Treasurer ;  they  canvassed  the  State  thoroughly,  making  the  issue  of  the 
war  the  burning  topic  of  debate.  They  carried  the  State,  elected  the  State 
Treasurer,  a  Legislature  with  28  Democratic  majority  on  joint  ballot  and  nine 
members  of  Congress,  while  the  Republicans  elected  but  five. 

The  Democratic  members  of  Congress  were — James  C.  Allen,  Charles  M. 
Harris,  John  R.  Eden,  John  T.  Stewart,  Lewis  W.  Ross,  A.  L.  Knapp,  James  C. 
Robinson,  William  R.  Morrison  and  William  J.  Allen.  The  Republican  members 
were — Isaac  N.  Arnold,  John  F.  Farnsworth,  E.  B.  Washburne,  Owen  Lovejoy 
(who,  dying,  was  succeeded  by  Eben  C.  Ingersoll)  and  Jesse  O.  Norton. 

The  Democratic  majority  on  Congressmen  at  large  was  16,299.  This  great 
political  reaction  had  occurred  in  the  State  of  President  Lincoln;  the  Demo- 
crats were  thoroughly  united,  they  were  intensely  aggressive  in  their  opposition 
to  the  war,  and  violent  in  their  denunciation  of  the  National  Administration. 

The  position  of  the  Democracy  of  Illinois  was  in  complete  harmony  with 
the  Democrats  of  other  States.  Indiana,  New  Jersey,  New  York,  Ohio  and 
Pennsylvania  had  all  been  carried  by  the  Democratic  party,  while  Michigan  and 
Wisconsin  had  been  held  by  the  Republicans,  by  greatly  reduced  majorities. 

The  Illinois  Legislature  met  January  5,  1863.  Lieutenant-Governor  Hoff- 
man presided  over  the  Senate.  S.  A.  Buckmaster  was  elected  Speaker  of  the 
House.  The  election  of  a  United  States  Senator  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  term 
of  Senator  Douglas  was  one  of  the  first  duties  of  the  Legislature.  There  were 
four  Democratic  candidates — William  A.  Richardson,  Samuel  S.  Marshall, 
Richard  T.  Merrick  and  William  C.  Goudy ;  these  gentlemen  addressed  a  large 
public  meeting  in  the  hall  of  the  House  on  the  evening  the  Legislature  con- 
vened. It  was  a  meeting  of  those  opposed  to  the  National  Administration ;  all 
the  speakers  denounced  the  war  as  barbarous,  and  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proc- 
lamation as  a  usurpation.  Resolutions  on  this  line  weretadopted  by  the  meeting. 

The  next  day  Governor  Yates  delivered  his  message  to  the  two  houses.  It 
was  a  document  of  great  interest  and  immense  power.  He  made  a  full  statement 
as  to  the  organization  of  troops  for  the  Union  army  in  response  to  the  call  of 
the  President.  He  also  gave  a  full  account  of  the  provision  made  for  the  sick 
and  wounded  soldiers.  Although  addressing  an  opposition  Legislature,  he  ably 
justified  the  war  for  the  Union;  he  approved  the  Emancipation  Proclamation, 
demanded  the  extirpation  of  slavery,  and  insisted,  as  a  patriotic  duty,  that  every 
citizen  should  stand  by  the  Government  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and 
the  Constitution.  He  said,  "The  secessionists  have  hoped  for  success  on  three 
grounds ;  first,  upon  our  supposed  inferior  valor ;  second,  upon  foreign  aid,  and, 
third,  upon  a  divided  North.  The  two  first  have  failed  them.  But  can  I  truthfully 
say  that  their  strongest  hopes  and  main  reliance,  a  divided  North,  has  failed 
them?  Should  division  mark  our  councils  or  any  considerable  portion  of  our 
people  give  signs  of  hesitation,  then  a  shout  of  exultation  will  go  up  throughout 
all  the  hosts  of  rebeldom,  and  bonfires  and  illuminations  be  kindled  in  every 
Southern  city,  hailing  our  divisions  as  the  sure  harbinger  of  success.  Can  we 
consent  to  send  a  keen  and  fatal  pang  to  the  heart  of  every  Illinois  soldier  now 
fighting  for  his  country,  by  ill-timed  party  strife  at  home?" 

This  noble  and  eloquent  appeal  gladdened  the  hearts  of  all  loyal  men,  but 
had  no  appreciable  effect  upon  the  actions  of  that  Democratic  Legislature.  On 
January  12,  Hon.  William  A.  Richardson  was  elected  a  Senator  of  the  United 
States  in  place  of  Hon.  O.  H.  Browning,  appointed  during  vacation. 

The  Civil  War  being  the  leading  topic  of  thought  and  debate,  numerous 
resolutions  were  introduced  and  referred  to  committees.  In  due  time  the  House 
of  Representatives  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  declaring  against  the  further 
prosecution  of  the  war  and  recommending  an  armistice,  the  calling  of  a  national 
convention  to  agree  upon  terms  of  peace,  and  appointing  commissioners  to 
secure  these  ends. 

These  resolutions  went  to  the  Senate.  The  Commissioners  named  in  the 
sixth  resolution,  authorized  to  confer  with  Congress  and  aid  in  securing  peace, 

96 


were  Stephen  T.  Logan,  Samuel  S.  Marshall,  H.  K.  Omelveney,  William  C. 
Goudy,  Anthony  Thornton  and  John  D.  Caton,  all  Democrats  except  the  first 
named. 

The  Democratic  plan  was  to  pass  the  resolutions  and  take  a  recess  from 
February  14  to  June  2,  1863,  to  await  the  result  of  the  action  of  the  Commission- 
ers. A  long  debate  ensued.  Democratic  speakers  were  vehement  in  denunciation 
of  the  Republican  party,  of  the  President  and  the  war ;  intense  excitement  pre- 
vailed. Republican  Senators,  though  few  in  number,  made  a  gallant  stand  for 
the  right.  It  was  during  this  conflict  of  passion  and  oratory  that  Senator  Funk 
of  McLean  County  got  the  floor  and  delivered  the  speech  that  made  him  famous. . 
His  entry  into  the  arena  was  not  only  a  surprise  to  the  Democracy,  but  was  more 
than  a  re-enforcement  to  the  Republican  side.  He  simply  took  the  fight  off 
of  all  his  colleagues'  hands ;  his  was  not  a  defensive  battle,  but  one  of  assault. 
It  was  the  assault  of  a  giant.  He  put  the  whole  Democratic  phalanx  to  flight. 
(See  biography  of  Lafayette  Funk.) 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  and  the  Legislature  on  February  14  took  a 
recess  to  June  2,  1863. 

The  Legislature  met  pursuant  to  adjournment.  The  Governor  and  his  ad- 
visers decided  it  was  wholly  improbable  that  any  beneficial  legislation  for  the 
soldiers  in  field  or  for  the  State  at  large  could  be  expected  from  this  revolutionary 
and  disloyal  body,  and  favored  an  early  adjournment.  On  June  4,  Senator  Bush- 
nell  introduced  a  joint  resolution  to  adjourn  sine  die  on  June  10;  on  the  8th 
the  resolution  was  taken  up  and  amended  to  adjourn  at  <(six  o'clock  this  day," 
and  passed  the  Senate ;  this  resolution  passed  the  House  with  an  amendment 
fixing  the  date  of  adjournment  for  June  22  ;  the  Senate  refused  to  concur. 

On  the  morning  of  June  10,  Governor  Yates  sent  a  message  to  the  Legis- 
lature reciting  the  disagreeing  votes  and  the  constitutional  authority  of  the  Gov- 
ernor in  such  an  event  to  adjourn  the  Legislature,  stating  that  he  adjourned 
"the  General  Assembly  now  in  session  to  the  Saturday  next  preceding  the  first 
Monday  in  January,  A.  D.  1865." 

A  few  members  attempted  to  resist  the  action  of  Governor  Yates  by  con- 
tinuing to  meet,  but  without  a  quorum ;  finally  on  June  24,  the  Governor  having 
declined  to  recognize  the  actions  of  the  body,  they  adjourned  to  Tuesday  after 
the  first  Monday  in  January,  1864.  It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  Supreme  Court 
sustained  the  action  of  Governor  Yates  in  proroguing  the  Legislature.  Thus 
passed  out  of  existence  an  Illinois  Legislature  controlled  by  a  body  of  men  whose 
resolutions  and  speeches  gave  encouragement  to  the  rebellion,  and  who  did  nor 
utter  a  word  in  favor  of  suppressing  the  rebellion,  and  savine  the  Union  by 
force  of  arms. 

The  managers  of  the  Democratic  party  did  not  propose  to  rest  upon  their 
victory  at  the  poll  of  November,  1862 ;  they  planned  a  campaign  of  education  for 
1863.  In  addition  to  numerous  public  meetings  held  throughout  the  State,  their 
State  Central  Committee  called  a  mass  convention  of  all  those  who  opposed  Lin- 
coln's administration,  to  meet  at  Springfield  June  17,  1863.  This  meeting  proved 
to  be  the  largest  political  gathering  ever  brought  together  in  the  State  prior  to 
that  date ;  at  least  40,000  persons  were  present.  United  States  Senator  William 
A.  Richardson  was  the  presiding  officer ;  he  was  supported  by  about  fifty  Vice- 
Presidents  composed  of  the  most  distinguished  Democrats  in  the  State,  consisting 
of  ex-members  of  Congress  and  of  the  Legislature,  members  of  Congress  and 
prominent  lawyers,  doctors  and  business  men.  It  was  a  great  outdoor  meeting. 
A  number  of  stands  were  erected  for  the  speakers. 

The  principal  speakers  of  the  State  were  Senator  Richardson,  Judge  S.  S. 
Marshall,  Congressmen  Robinson,  Eden  and  J.  C.  Allen ;  T.  E.  Merritt,  William 
M.  Springer  and  ex-Governor  John  Reynolds.  Hon.  D.  W.  Voorhees  of  Indiana 
and  Hon.  S.  S.  Cox  of  Ohio  were  present  and  addressed  the  convention.  The 
National  and  State  Governments  were  denounced  in  unmeasured  terms.  The* 
Governor  was  stigmatized  as  a  usurper  for  proroguing  the  Legislature. 

They  adopted  a  long  series  of  resolutions  arraigning  and  denouncing  every 
act  of  the  State  and  nation  for  suppressing  the  rebellion  and  maintaining  the 
authority  of  the  Government.  The  arrest,  trial  and  conviction  of  C.  L.  Valland- 
ingham  for  violating  an  order  of  General  Burnside  against  disloyal  acts  and  put- 
ting Mr.  Vallandingham  beyond  the  Union  military  lines  into  the  Confederacy, 

97 


was  severely  denounced  and  a  demand  made  for  permission  for  his  return.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  23d  resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  the  further  offensive  prosecution  of  this  war  tends  to  sub- 
vert the  Constitution  and  Government,  and  entail  upon  this  nation  all  the  dis- 
astrous consequences  of  misrule  and  anarchy.  That  we  are  in  favor  of  peace 
upon  the  basis  of  the  restoration  of  the  Union,  and  for  the  accomplishment  of 
which  we  propose  a  National  Convention  to  settle  upon  terms  of  peace,  which 
shall  have  in  view  the  restoration  of  the  Union  as  it  was,  and  the  securing  by 
constitutional  amendments  such  rights  to  the  several  States  and  the  people  there- 
of as  honor  and  justice  demand." 

The  24th  resolution  denied  that  the  Democratic  party  was  wanting  in  sym- 
pathy for  the  soldiers  in  the  field  and  earnestly  requested  the  President  to  with- 
draw the  Proclamation  of  Emancipation  and  permit  the  brave  sons  of  Illinois  to 
fight  only  for  the  "Union,  the  Constitution  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws." 

To  signalize  their  friendship  for  the  soldiers  in  the  field  as  distinguished  from 
the  cause  for  which  they  fought,  before  the  convention  adjourned,  a  subscription 
was  taken  up  to  be  used  for  the  relief  of  sick  and  wounded  Illinois  soldiers,  and 
Col.  Wm.  R.  Morrison  was  appointed  to  superintend  its  distribution.  They 
raised  by  subscription  and  pledges  $47,000. 

While  this  great  meeting  was  in  session  and  its  orators  were  denouncing 
the  Government,  and  its  committee  preparing  its  resolutions,  General  Grant 
with  his  splendid  army  besieging  Vicksburg,  was  conducting  one  of  the  greatest 
campaigns  of  the  war,  and  which  opened  the  Mississippi  River  so  it  ran  unvexed 
to  the  sea;  and  General  Meade  was  moving  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  into 
Pennsylvania,  where  two  weeks  later  he  met  the  invading  forces  of  the  Confed- 
eracy and  fought  the  greatest  battle  of  the  war,  sending  Lee's  army  broken  and 
scattered  across  the  Potomac,  never  to  invade  the  North  again. 

Yet  professing  love  for  the  soldiers,  and  contributing  some  money  and 
pledging  more  for  their  relief,  the  Democratic  convention  had  not  a  word  to  say 
in  favor  of  the  cause  for  which  these, brave  men  were  fighting,  nor  did  they 
express  a  hope  or  a  desire  that  they  should  be  successful.  The  meeting  was 
designed  to  embarrass  the  administration,  to  build  up  a  public  opinion  against 
the  war  and  to  discourage  its  prosecution.  Such  a  meeting,  conducted  by  many, 
of  the  most  distinguished  Democrats  in  the  United  States,  gave  great  encour- 
agement to  the  rebel  leaders  to  continue  the  desperate  and  hopeless  struggle  for 
dissolving  the  Union. 

But  opposition  to  the  war  did  not  stop  simply  at  holding  public  meetings 
and  delivering  denunciatory  addresses  ;  a  formidable,  disloyal  secret  organization 
was  enlisted,  known  as  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle ;  its  officers  were  given 
military  titles,  it  was  an  oath-bound  society  with  three  degrees ;  its  doctrines 
were  identical  with  those  of  the  secession  leaders ;  its  members  were  sworn  to 
defend  by  force  of  arms  the  principles  they  espoused  and  to  implicitly  obey  all 
rightful  commands  of  the  constituted  authorities  of  the  order.  Their  aims 
were  to  discourage  enlistments,  encourage  desertion  from  the  Union  army  and 
protect  deserters,  resist  any  proposed  draft,  and  circulate  disloyal  documents. 
C.  L.  Vallandingham  of  Ohio  was  the  recognized  head  of  the  order.  This  organ- 
ization spread  over  a  number  of  States ;  in  1864  its  membership  was  said  to  be 
300,000,  of  which  85,000  were  in  Illinois. 

In  a  number  of  counties  these  organizations  were  so  formidable  and  their 
opposition  to  the  war  was  so  open  that  many  conflicts  occurred  between  them 
and  loyal  citizens  and  returned  soldiers.  It  became  necessary  to  station  United 
States  .troops  in  some  of  the  counties  to  break  up  their  camps  and  to  overawe 
these  disloyal  men. 

The  Confederate  Government  had  great  confidence  in  receiving  substantial 
aid  from  this  organization. 

Jacob  Thompson,  late  Secretary  of  the  Interior  under  President  Buchanan, 
C.  C.  Clay  and  J.  P.  Holcome  established  themselves  at  Windsor,  Canada,  as  a 
commission  representing  the  Southern  Confederacy ;  they  were  visited  by  Val- 
landingham and  other  prominent  Democrats,  and  were  led  to  believe  that  it  was 
feasible  for  the  State  Governments  of  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois  to  be  seized 
through  the  co-operation  of  this  secret  society  and  a  Northwestern  Confederacy 
formed. 

98 


Mr.  Thompson's  correspondence  with  Mason  and  Sliclell,  Confederate  Com- 
missioners abroad,  disclosed  the  whole  scheme,  and  according  to  his  statement 
the  great  Democratic  peace  meetings  held  in  those  States  were  a  part  of  the 
programme  to  feel  the  public  pulse  upon  the  subject  of  the  war,  and  to  arouse 
the  people  against  its  further  prosecution. 

Encouraged  by  the  disloyal  leaders,  Mr.  Thompson  and  his  assistants  laid 
a  plan  to  release  the  27,000  rebel  prisoners  held  at  Chicago,  Springfield,  Alton 
and  Rock  Island.  Much  time  and  money  were  spent  in  making  the  arrange- 
ments ;  several  dates  were  fixed  for  executing  the  plan,  but  an  increase  of  the 
guard  at  Chicago  and  the  timidity  of  the  Knights  at  being  drawn  into  an  open 
act  of  treason  resulted  in  a  complete  miscarriage  of  these  well-laid  schemes. 

The  opposition  of  many  leading  Democrats  in  Illinois  to  the  prosecution 
of  war  became  so  open  and  flagrant  that  several  of  them  were  arrested  and  con- 
lined  in  the  old  capitol  prison  at  Washington,  but  the  most  notable  person 
arrested  was  Clement  L.  Vallandingham  of  Ohio.  He  was  the  recognized  leader 
of  Ohio  Democracy  and  was  the  most  active  and  violent  man  in  the  North  in 
opposing  the  war. 

On  May  I,  1863,  Mr.  Vallandingham  delivered  a  violent  disloyal  speech  at 
a  public  meeting  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Ohio,  he  was  arrested  May  4,  charged  with 
violating  the  following  order  issued  April  13,  1863,  by  Gen.  Burnside  from  head- 
quarters, Cincinnati,  Ohio :  "All  persons  found  within  our  lines  who  commit 
acts  for  the  benefit  of  the  enemies  of  our  country  will  be  tried  as  spies  or  traitors, 
and  if  convicted  will  suffer  death.  The  habit  of  declaring  sympathy  for  the  enemy 
will  not  be  allowed  in  this  department.  Persons  committing  such  offense  will  be 
at  once  arrested,  with  a  view  of  being  tried,  as  above  stated,  or  sent  beyond  our 
lines  into  the  lines  of  their  friends.  It  must  be  distinctly  understood  that  treason, 
expressed  or  implied,  will  not  be  tolerated  in  this  department." 

Mr.  Vallandingham  was  tried  by  a  Court  Martial,  convicted,  and  sentenced 
to  imprisonment.  On  May  5,  before  the  trial  began,  Judge  Leavitt  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  the  United  States,  an  appointee  of  President  Jackson,  declined  to  issue 
a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  to  release  Mr.  Vallandingham  from  arrest.  President 
Lincoln,  however,  after  the  trial  and  conviction  of  Mr.  Vallandingham,  commuted 
the  sentence  to  sending  him  beyond  our  military  lines  into  the  Confederacy, 
which  was  done  about  May  2oth.  This  action  caused  a  lengthy  correspondence 
between  certain  leading  Democrats  of  New  York,  and  also  a  committee  of  the 
Democratic  State  Convention  of  Ohio,  with  President  Lincoln.  The  friends  of 
Mr.  Vallandingham  insisted  that  the  proceedings  against  him  were  in  violation  of 
the  Constitution  and  demanded  that  the  order  of  banishment  be  revoked. 

Mr.  Lincoln  replied  to  both  of  these  communications  claiming  the  power  to 
suspend  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  "when  in  cases  of  rebellion  or  invasion,  the 
public  safety  may  require."  He  said :  "Mr.  Vallandingham  avows  his  hostility 
to  the  war  on  the  part  of  the  Union;  and  his  arrest  was  made  because  he  was 
laboring  with  some  effect  to  prevent  the  raising  of  troops ;  to  encourage  deser- 
tions from  the  army  and  to  leave  the  rebellion  without  any  adequate  military 
force  to  suppress  it."  He  added:  "Long  experience  has  shown  that  armies  can- 
not be  maintained  unless  desertion  shall  be  punished  by  the  severe  penalty  of 
death.  The  case  requires  it,  the  law  and  the  Constitution  sanction  this  punish- 
ment. Must  I  shoot  a  simple-minded  soldier  boy  who  deserts,  while  I  must  not 
touch  a  hair  of  a  wily  agitator  who  induces  him  to  desert  ?  This  is  none  the  less 
injurious  when  effected  by  getting  a  father,  a  brother,  or  friend,  into  a  public 
meeting,  and  there  working  upon  his  feelings,  till  he  is  persuaded  to  write  the 
soldier  boy  that  he  is  fighting  in  a  bad  cause,  for  a  wicked  Administration  of  a 
contemptible  Government,  too  weak  to  arrest  and  punish  him  if  he  desert.  I 
think,  that  in  such  a  case,  to  silence  the  agitator  and  save  the  boy  is  not  only 
Constitutional,  but  withal  a  great  mercy." 

In  his  letter  to  the  Ohio  delegation  the  President  said :  "You  claim  that  men 
may,  if  they  choose,  embarrass  those  whose  duty  it  is  to  combat  a  giant  rebellion 
and  then  be  dealt  with  only  in  turn  as  if  there  were  no  rebellion.  We  all  know 
that  combinations,  armed  in  some  instances  to  resist  the  arrest  of  deserters,  be- 
gan several  months  ago  ;  that  more  recently  the  like  has  appeared  in  resistance  to 
the  enrollment  preparatory  to  a  draft ;  and  that  quite  a  number  of  assassinations 
have  occurred  from  the  same  animus.  These  had  to  be  met  by  military  force,  and 

99 


this  again  has  led  to  bloodshed  and  death.  And  now,  under  a  sense  of  responsi- 
bility more  weighty  and  enduring  than  any  which  is  merely  official.  I  solemnly 
declare  my  belief  that  this  hindrance  of  the  military,  including  maiming  and 
murder,  is  due  to  the  course  in  which  Mr.  Vallandingham  has  been  engaged,  in 
a  greater  degree  than  to  any  other  cause;  and  it  is  due  to  him  personally  in  a 
greater  degree  than  to  any  other  man." 

In  his  letter  of  June  29th,  1863,  the  President  proposed  to  the  Ohio  Com- 
mittee to  revoke  the  order  against  Mr.  Vallandingham  without  exacting  any 
promise  from  him,  if  the  Committee  would  agree  to  the. following  propositions: 
1st,  That  there  is  now  a  rebellion  in  the  United  States,  the  object  and  tendency 
of  which  is  to  destroy  the  National  Union,  and  that  in  your  opinion,  an  army  and 
navy  are  Constitutional  means  for  suppressing  that  rebellion. 

2nd,  That  no  one  of  you  will  do  anything  which,  in  your  own  judgment,  will 
tend  to  hinder  the  increase  or  favor  the  decrease  or  lessen  the  efficiency  of  the 
army  and  navy,  while  engaged  in  the  effort  to  suppress  that  rebellion,  and 

3rd,  That  each  of  you  will,  in  his  sphere,  dp  all  he  can  to  have  the  officers, 
soldiers  and  seamen  of  the  army  and  navy,  while  engaged  in  the  effort  to  suppress 
the  rebellion,  paid,  fed,  clad,  and  otherwise  well  provided  for  and  supported.  This 
the  Committee,  consisting  of  nineteen  prominent  Ohio  Democrats,  including 
George  H.  Pendleton,  declined  to  do,  and  so  the  order  was  not  revoked. 

Mr.  Vallandingham  ran  the  blockade  at  Wilmington,  N.  C.,  went  to  Canada, 
and  on  June  15,  1863,  appeared  before  the  Democratic  State  Convention  at  Ham- 
ilton, Ohio,  and  was  nominated  as  their  candidate  for  Governor.  The  President 
decided  not  to  cause  his  arrest,  except  for  some  additional  overt  act. 

The  election  occurred  and  John  Brough,  the  Republican  candidate,  was 
elected  Governor  by  a  majority  of  101,099.  The  majority  of  the  soldier  vote  for 
Governor  Brough  was  39,179. 

Mr.  Vallandingham  was  regarded  by  the  leading  Democrats  of  the  country 
as  the  great  Democratic  martyr ;  he  was  accepted  everywhere  as  the  Democratic 
anti-war  oracle. 

In  considering  Democratic  opposition  to  the  war  for  the  Union  it  is  a  re- 
markable fact  that  while  in  their  party  platforms  they'  professed  to  desire  the  re- 
storation of  the  Union,  in  no  Democratic  convention,  County,  State  or  National, 
held  from  1861  to  1865,  did  they  ever  pass  a  resolution  in  favor  of  preserving  the 
Union  by  force  of  arms.  Their  opposition  to  the  overthrow  of  the  rebellion  by 
force  became  more  and  more  intense  as  the  Union  armies  were  more  and  more 
successful.  The  year  1863  was  one  of  great  Union  successes ;  it  witnessed  the 
capture  of  Vicksburg,  with  its  garrison  of  35,000  soldiers ;  the  capture  of  Port 
Hudson  and  the  opening  of  the  Mississippi  River ;  the  battles  of  Gettysburg  and 
Missionary  Ridge  were  won  that  year.  The  great  Confederate  armies  had  been 
steadily  forced  back. 

Gen.  Grant  had  been  placed  in  command  of  all  the  armies  and  it  was  obvious 
to  all  fair  minded  men  that  the  Confederate  power  was  waning.  But  Democratic 
leaders  saw  no  gleam  of  hope  for  the  Union  growing  out  of  these  great  victories ; 
their  opposition  to  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion  by  force  was  unabated. 

The  country  at  large  recognized  the  fact  that  the  campaign  of  1864  would  be 
memorable  in  the  history  of  the  world.  Great  preparations  were  made  by  the 
National  Government  for  a  mighty  effort  to  bring  the  war  to  a  successful  con- 
clusion. 

Gen.  Grant  planned  for  a  combined  campaign  by  land  and  sea  to  begin  in 
May,  1864.  The  Navy  consisted  of  510  vessels  with  6,000  officers,  45,000  men 
and  3,249  guns.  The  Army  in  the  field  consisted  of  802  regiments  of  infantry, 
148  regiments  of  cavalry,  249  batteries  of  artillery  and  402,502  officers  and  men 
present  for  duty. 

On  May  5th  the  great  campaign  opened.  Grant's  objective  was  Lee's  army 
in  Virginia.  Sherman's  objective  was  Jos.  E.  Johnson's  army  in  Northern 
Georgia.  Banks  and  Farragut's  objective  was  Mobile,  and  the  objective  of  every 
Union  commander  was  the  Confederate  forces  in  his  front. 

Grant,  Lee,  Sherman  and  Johnson  were  the  great  field  marshals  of  the 
Civil  War ;  the  destiny  of  this  country  was  in  their  hands  in  1864.  The  campaign 
of  that  year  between  the  armies  led  by  these  men  challenged  the  attention  of  the 
world ;  great  battles  were  fought  and  for  months  the  Union  forces  steadily  moved 

100 


forward,  pushing  the  Confederate  forces  back ;  in  August,  Lee  had  been  driven 
from  the  wilderness  into  Richmond  arid  Petersburg,  and  Johnson  losing  battle 
after  battle,  and  unable  to  resist  the  advance  of  Sherman's  veteran  army,  had 
been  relieved  by  President  Davis.  Hood  had  been  placed  in  command  and  was 
besieged  in  Atlanta. 

On  August  29,  1864,  when  these  great  military  operations  were  proceeding, 
the  National  Democratic  Convention  met  in  Chicago  to  nominate  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-President. 

An  immense  throng  of  Democrats  visited  the  city  to  witness  the  proceedings. 
A  great  outdoor  public  meeting  was  held.  Many  prominent  speakers  were 
present,  but  Mr.  Vallandingham  was  the  idol  of  the  hour ;  his  speech  denouncing 
President  Lincoln  and  the  wan  aroused  immense  enthusiasm. 

It  happened  that  persons  on  the  stand  observed  John  Wentworth  in  the 
crowd  of  listeners ;  he  was  invited  to  come  forward  and  address  the  meeting ;  the 
vast  audience  hearing  the  name  shouted  for  Wentworth. 

Mr.  Wentworth  pushed  his  way  to  the  stand  and  was  introduced  to  the 
immense  meeting.  His  great  height,  his  massave  frame  and  his  impressive  face 
excited  great  enthusiasm ;  he  was  greeted  with  thunders  of  applause,  but  he  had 
scarcely  entered  upon  his  speech  when  all  was  changed.  Mr.  Wentworth  was 
loyal  to  the  Union.  Every  effort  was  made  to  hoot  him  down,  but  he  was  not 
the  man  to  be  put  down ;  at  last  he  was  permitted  to  go  on.  He  said : 

"I  am  pleased  with  the  opportunity  which  your  call  affords  me  to  lay  my 
own  views  of  public  policy  and  public  affairs  before  you,  and  in  so  doing  I  trust 
1  shall  not  be  deemed  an  intruder,  for  I  would  not  thrust  myself  before  you,  or 
press  my  views  upon  unwilling  ears.  It  has  long  been  a  part  of  my  political 
ethics  that  the  true  method  of  discussing  public  affairs  was  for  the  pros  and 
cons  to  go  together  before  the  people.  In  every  public  address  for  the  past 
years  of  my  life  I  have  enforced  the  correctness  of  this  understanding.  I,  there- 
fore, request  the  attention  of  all,  for  I  am  no  party  man.  I  am  chained  to  the 
partisan  car  of  no  class,  no  interest,  no  organization ;  to  my  country — to  my 
country  alone  do  I  owe  fealty  and  render  homage.  I  love  that  country.  It 
nurtured  me  in  my  youth.  It  honored  me  in  my  manhood  and  now  when  I  am 
past  the  meridian  of  life  I  love  to  respond  to  any  call  to  plead  in  her  behalf.  As 
we  cast  our  eyes  over  the  land  and  witness  the  tears  that  everywhere  prevail 
and  the  dangers  that  now  environ  the  Republic,  the  heart  of  the  patriot  sinks 
with  doubt  and  dread.  War  with  all  its  dread  calamities  following  in  its  train 
is  convulsing  the  Nation.  The  art  of  arms  has  succeeded  the  pursuits  of  peace 
and  nearly  a  million  of  men  confront  each  other  in  battle  array.  Amid  the  hor- 
rors of  war  we  naturally  look  and  long  for  peace.  The  fathers  and  mothers  of 
Chicago,  whose  sons  are  braving  the  hazards  of  battle  and  perils  of  disease,  long 
for  peace.  The  wives  of  Illinois,  whose  husbands  have  perished  and  are  per- 
ishing in  the  terrible  struggle,  send  up  their  daily  prayers  for  the  cessation  of 
the  strife.  My  one  word  and  hope  is  for  peace.  My  regret  when  the  mad- 
dened traitors  of  South  Carolina  fired  upon  the  National  ensign  and  forced  the 
Federal  authority  into  a  conflict  was  not  more  keen  and  poignant  than  my  joy 
will  be  deep  and  sweet  when  they  lay  down  their  arms  and  cease  the  warfare 
they  so  wickedly,  foolishly  and  devilishly  inaugurated.  This  is  the  peace  for 
which  we  hope,  for  which  we  pray  and  for  which  we  fight.  This  struggle  is 
like  every  conflict  that  has  ever  existed  since  time  began.  If  we  would  have  a 
termination  of  the  struggle  we  must  conquer.  The  road  to  victory  is  the  road 
to  peace.  It  is  to  this  alternative  that  we  are  driven — a  shameful  surrender  or  a 
certain  triumphant  lasting  victory,  and  consequently  peace. 

"I  have  listened  with  great  interest  to  the  eloquent  and  well  considered  re- 
marks of  that  peculiarly  Democratic  champion  who  has  just  addressed  you 
from  the  stand.  I  have  heard  him  bewail  in  feeling,  touching  terms  the  existence 
and  continuance  of  this  'accursed  war.'  In  terms  of  indignation,  he  has  invoked 
against  the  Federal  Administration  for  the  part  it  has  had  to  act  in  the  bloody 
drama.  But  while  he  was  thus  deprecating  war  and  violence,  I  listened  in  vain 
for  one  single  breath  of  censure,  one  word  of  reproof  from  his  lips  for  those  who 
first  madly  unchained  the  ugly  demon  and  let  loose  the  storm  of  deadly  hate. 
Why  was  not  the  vials  of  his  wrath  poured  upon  the  head  of  the  infamous  Beau- 

101 


regard  and  the  insurgent  government  at  Montgomery,  who  basely  trained 
their  cannon  upon  a  citadel  floating  the  National  Flag  and  shed  the  first  blood 
in  this  fraternal  fight?  Not  a  Federal  gun  had  been  fired,  not  an  act  of  hos- 
tility committed,  when  the  rebellious  chief  acting  as  Secretary  of  War  for  the 
rebel  government  telegraphed  the  fatal  order,  'open  fire  upon  Fort  Sumpter.' 
Thus  the  strife  began.  But  this  denunciator  of  war,  this  deprecator  of  strife,  this 
messenger  of  peace,  in  his  speech,  running  very  near  an  hour  and  one-half,  had 
not  one  word  of  denunciation  and  reproof  for  those  who,  before  God  and  man, 
are  guilty  of  its  commencement.  Why  this  omission?  Why  this  studied  silence 
on  the  part  of  Mr.  Vallandingham  ?  Why  are  his  invectives  directed  solely  to 
the  government  which  when  assailed  only  then  attacked?  Does  Mr.  Valland- 
ingham wish  to  be  understood  that  the  act  of  the  traitors  in  opening  the  strife 
is  not  worthy  of  censure,  while  the  act  of  the  government  in  opposing  force  with 
force  is  entitled  to  an  hour's  intemperate  denunciation  ?  I  draw  no  uncharitable 
inferences  myself.  I  arraign  not  the  purity  or  interest  of  his  motives,  but  I 
submit  that  these  things  are  worthy  of  remembrance.  If  you,  my  friend,  are 
quietly  marching  along  the  street  and  are  brutally  assaulted  and  fight  back  as 
becomes  a  man,  would  you  not  say  to  the  man  who  denounces  you  for  striking 
back,  but  had  no  words  of  censure  for  your  assailant,  would  you  not  say  to 
him,  I  ask,  'that  he  was  your  enemy  and  would  have  tossed  up  his  hat  at  your 
defeat?'  Nor  would  the  inference  be  unjust.  My  peace  friends,  if  the  Repub- 
licans should  assail  your  gathering  here  to-night  and  fire  on  your  assemblage, 
would  you  be  responsible  for  the  fight  that  would  ensue  and  how  would  you 
obtain  peace,  by  vacating  the  square  or  enforcing  respect  for  law?  But  Mr.  Val- 
landingham tells  us  to  expect  peace,  to  stop  fighting  and  negotiate  for  a  re- 
construction. Sir,  we  want  no  'reconstruction.'  The  old  Constitution — the 
Union  as  it  was  and  Constitution  as  it  is  and  the  construction  of  Washington, 
Jefferson  and  Madison  is  all  we  desire.  Under  that  government  we  lived  and 
prospered  and  were  happy.  Under  it  the  West  grew  up  and  expanded ;  and 
under  it  Chicago  rose  up  to  be  the  pride  of  the  Northwest  and  glory  of  the  con- 
tinent ;  and  when  a  man  talks  to  me  about  reconstruetion  or  prates  about  a  new 
Union,  I  mark  him  as  an  enemy  of  my  country  and  robber  of  my  children. 

"The  old  Union  with  its  glorious  memories,  its  unfulfilled  hopes,  its  history 
blazing  upon  every  page  with  words  and  deeds  of  deathless  glory,  all  bind  me 
to  the  old  Union  and  cause  me  to  abhor  the  name  of  'reconstruction.'  I  would 
say  to  the  gentleman  from  Ohio  and  those  who  think  with  him,  'in  God's  name 
say  no  more  about  reconstruction.'  But  sinking  every  other  consideration,  for- 
getting all  other  motives,  moved  by  no  other  impulse,  let  your  zeal,  your  efforts 
and  your  energies  all  be  directed  to  the  maintenance  of  the  old  construction  that 
is  hallowed  by  the  memory  of  Washington,  the  glorious  history  of  our  revolu- 
tionary struggle,  and  dearer  by  far  is  it  to  us  and  our  children  than  any  new- 
fangled combination  that  can  be  hatched  up  in  convention.  It  is  rarely  that 
any  good  comes  out  of  a  convention  and  the  proposed  convention  of  the  States, 
both  rebel  and  loyal,  is  the  most  unpromising  of  the  entire  brood.  If  we  want 
peace,  then  let  us  conquer.  If  the  South  wants  peace,  let  them  lay  down  their 
arms  and  cease  war;  then  we  will  be  willing  to  deal  with  them  justly  and  gen- 
erously; then  will  I  try  to  forget  the  rivers  of  Northern  blood  that  they  have 
shed  in  their  unholy  struggle  for  slavery ;  then  will  I  try  to  forget  the  thousands 
they  have  slain,  the  moans  of  the  bereaved,  the  hopes  they  have  crushed  and 
hearts  they  have  broken.  But  while  an  arm  wields  a  sabre,  while  the  Con- 
stitution is  defied  and  the  laws  laughed  to  scorn,  I  will  uphold  the  authority 
whose  solemn  oath  was  that  the  Constitution  should  be  preserved  and  the  laws 
maintained. 

"But  Vallandingham  told  you  that  the  Government  could  never  be  held  to- 
gether by  coercive  force,  that  power  brought  to  apply  upon  the  unruly  could 
never  reduce  them  to  obedience.  Was  there  ever  a  greater  heresy  uttered  by 
the  mouth  of  man?  No  coercion!  Why,  gentlemen,  the  coercive  power  of 
government  is  the  only  safety  and  salvation  to  society.  No  government,  no 
community  can  exist  an  hour  without  it.  It  was  the  weakness  of  the  articles 
of  the  old  confederation  that  they  conferred  no  coercive  power,  and  the  states- 
men of  that  day  saw  the  pressing  necessity  of  the  new  constitution.  Take  today 

102 


from  municipal  and  governmental  organization  the  power  of  coercion  and  society 
goes  at  once  into  anarchy  and  chaos.  The  weak  would  become  the  modern 
prey  of  the  strong  and  might  would  indeed  become  right.  I  have  been  told  that 
there  are  those  who  would  disturb  the  quiet  of  the  gathering  in  this  city ;  but 
the  authorities  of  the  city  coerce  them  into  respect  for  law.  Surely  you  should 
not  denounce  coercion.  That  glorious  old  wheel-horse  of  Democracy,  General 
Jackson,  from  whose  lips  I  inhaled  the  pure  inspiration  of  Democracy  and  at 
whose  feet  I  received  the  first  lessons  of  political  and  governmental  duty,  was 
gloriously  free  from  this  modern  heresy.  His  celebrated  proclamation  against 
the  nullifiers  in  which  'coercion'  gleamed  and  glistened  in  every  line  will  give 
him  a  name  and  immortality  in  history  when  the  maligners  and  denunciators  of 
his  policy  shall  have  been  forgotten.  I  therefore  stand  for  General  Jackson  and 
against  Vallandingham.  Will  you  stand  for  Vallandingham  and  against  Gen- 
eral Jackson? 

"But  I  will  not  press  the  matter  further.  The  attention  you  have  given 
me  fills  me  with  gratitude  and  leads  me  to  hope  that  the  canvass  will  not  be 
marked  by  such  bigotry  and  intolerance  as  usually  attend  a  political  campaign. 
Our  interests  are  one,  our  hopes  are  identical.  Let  us,  therefore,  meet  and  dis- 
cuss this  matter  in  a  spirit  of  fraternal  love  and  good  will  flow  from  the  inter- 
change of  opinion  and  together  we  will  reap  the  rich  harvest  of  wealth  and 
glory  that  awaits  our  country.  As  the  children  of  a  common  destiny  the  path- 
way of  our  progress  should  be  marked  by  no  shameful  bickerings,  no  jarrings, 
no  discord.  Differ  we  may,  differ  we  must,  but  the  difference  may  be  honest 
and  the  association  not  unfriendly;  but  arm  in  arm,  two  by  two,  let  us  push  on 
in  the  race  of  civilization  and  progress  and  reach  the  summit  of  greatness  and 
glory ;  a  proud  example  of  a  free,  enlightened  and  tolerant  people  who  love 
union,  liberty  and  law ;  who,  when  their  country  was  assailed,  defended  it  and 
when  treason  reared  its  bloody  banner,  beat  it  back  and  handed  clown  to  pos- 
terity the  rich  legacy  of  their  fathers." 

The  Democratic  Convention  of  1864  was  a  notable  event.  Many  distinguished 
men  were  delegates.  In  the  New  York  delegation  were  Governor  Seymour, 
Samuel  J.  Tilden,  Dean  Richmond,  Sanford  S.  Church  and  ex-Governor  Wash- 
ington Hunt ;  from  Massachusetts,  Josiah  G.  Abbott  and  George  Lunt ;  from 
Pennsylvania,  ex-Governor  Bigler  and  William  Wallace,  afterwards  U.  S.  Sen- 
ator; Joseph  E.  McDonald  from  Indiana;  Governor  Powell,  James  Guthrie  and 
ex-Governor  Wyckliffe  from  Kentucky ;  W'illiam  Allen,  Allen  G.  Thurman, 
George  H.  Pendleton  and  Clement  L.  Vallandingham  from  Ohio ;  S.  S.  Marshall, 
John  D.  Caton,  O.  B.  Ficklin,  Melville  W.  Fuller,  John  M.  Douglas,  Augustus  M. 
Herrington  from  Illinois. 

Mr.  Vallandingham  was  the  most  forceful  character,  in  fact  the  central  fig- 
ure, of  the  Convention. 

August  Belmont  of  New  York,  the  great  banker,  Chairman  of  the  Demo- 
cratic National  Committee,  called  the  Convention  to  order;  his  violent  and  de- 
nunciatory speech  indicated  the  temper  of  the  Convention,  and  was  a  suitable  in- 
troduction to  its  unpatriotic  proceedings.  He  declared  that  "four  years  of  mis- 
rule by  a  sectional,  fanatical  and  corrupt  party  have  brought  our  country  to  the 
very  verge  of  ruin.  *  *  *  The  past  and  present  are  sufficient  warnings  of  the 
disastrous  consequences  which  would  befall  us  if  Mr.  Lincoln's  re-election  should 
be  made  possible  by  our  want  of  patriotism  and  unity.  *  *  *  The  inevitable 
results  of  such  a  calamity  must  be  the  utter  disintegration  of  our  whole  political 
and  social  system  amid  bloodshed  and  anarchy,  with  the  great  problems  of 
liberal  progress  and  self-government  jeopardized  for  generations  to  come." 

Governor  Horatio  Seymour  was  chosen  President  of  the  Convention.  Val- 
landingham was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  and  controlled  its 
action.  The  following  resolution  gave  full  expression  to  the  true  sentiments  of 
the  Convention  and  was  written  by  Mr.  Vallandingham : 

"Resolved,  That  this  convention  does  explicitly  declare,  as  the  sense  of  the 
American  people,  that,  after  four  years  of  failure  to  restore  the  Union  by  the  ex- 
periment of  war,  during  which,  under  the  pretense  of  a  military  necessity  of  a 
war  power  higher  than  the  Constitution,  the  Constitution  itself  has  been  disre- 
garded in  every  part,  and  public  liberty  and  private  right  alike  trodden  down,  and 

103 


the  material  prosperity  of  the  country  essentially  impaired;  justice,  humanity, 
liberty,  and  the  public  welfare  demand  that  immediate  efforts  be  made  for  a 
cessation  of  hostilities,  with  a  view  to  an  ultimate  convention  of  all  the  States, 
or  other  peaceable  means,  to  the  end  that  at  the  earliest  practicable  moment 
peace  may  be  restored  on  the  basis  of  the  federal  union  of  all  the  States." 

The  policy  of  a  majority  of  the  Convention  was  to  nominate  a  soldier  as 
their  candidate  for  President ;  Gen.  McClellan  was  a  Democrat,  and  had  a  griev- 
ance ;  he  had  been  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac ;  his 
name  was  brought  before  the  Convention ;  it  soon  became  manifest  that  he  had 
strong  opposition.  Mr.  Harris  of  Maryland  and  Congressman  Long  of  Ohio 
opposed  his  nomination;  they  declared  that  "all  the  charges  of  usurpation  and 
tyranny  that  can  be  brought  against  Lincoln  and  Butler  can  be  made  and  sub- 
stantiated against  McClellan. 

"He  is  the  assassin  of  State  rights,  the  usurper  of  liberty,  and  if  nominated 
will  be  beaten  everywhere,  as  he  was  at  Antietam." 

This  debate  continued  into  the  night ;  the  Convention  adjourned. 

The  next  day  a  vote  was  taken  and  Gen.  McClellan  was  nominated  for  Presi- 
dent ;  George  H.  Pendleton  of  Ohio  was  nominated  for  Vice-President. 

The  platform  of  the  party  aroused  great  indignation  throughout  the  country 
amongst  loyal  people. 

Gen.  McClellan  accepted  the  nomination,  but  disagreed  with  the  platform ; 
in  his  letter  of  acceptance  he  said :  "The  re-establishment  of  the  Union  in  all 
its  integrity  is  and  must  continue  to  be  the  indispensable  condition  of  any  settle- 
ment." 

The  country  accepted  the  platform  instead  of  the  letter  of  acceptance,  as  an 
expression  of  the  opinion  of  the  Democratic  party.  The  people  believed  that  if 
Gen.  McClellan  was  elected  President  by  the  party  that  made  the  platform,  his 
administration  would  necessarily  reflect  their  opinions. 

There  was  not  a  word  uttered  by  any  of  the  speakers,  nor  a  syllable  in  any 
of  their  resolutions  expressing  a  wish  that  the  Union  army  should  prevail  against 
the  rebellion.  The  whole  intent  and  scope  of  the  proceedings  was  to  arraign 
the  Government  for  its  efforts  to  prevent  the  dismemberment  and  overthrow  of 
ihe  Republic. 

The  Southern  Democracy  held  that  the  States  had  the  Constitutional  right 
to  secede  from  the  Union. 

The  Northern  Democracy  held  that  the  United  States  Government  had  no 
power  under  the  Constitution  to  use  force  to  save  the  Union. 

It  must  be  understood  that  in  speaking  of  the  Democratic  organization  it 
is  not  the  intention  to  include  those  Democrats  who  were  loyal  to  the  Union  and 
favored  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion ;  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Democrats — 
men  who  voted  against  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the  Presidency  in  1860 — were  the  most 
ardent  supporters  of  the  war ;  it  is  altogether  probable  that  at  least  one-half  of  the 
Union  army  was  composed  of  men  who  had  voted  the  Democratic  ticket;  take 
Southern  Illinois  as  an  illustration,  the  28  counties  lying  along  and  south  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad  gave  Mr.  Lincoln  only  15,199  votes  in  1860,  but 
they  furnished  40,839  soldiers  for  the  Union  army.  The  Counties  of  Alexander, 
Massac,  Pope,  Johnson,  Union,  Saline,  Hardin  and  Hamilton  gave  Mr.  Lincoln 
860  votes,  but  they  sent  9,748  soldiers  to  the  army. 

These  men  were  not  substitutes,  nor  were  they  drafted  men,  they  were  vol- 
unteers who  enlisted  because  they  were  in  favor  of  preserving  the  Union,  and 
because  they  knew  that  the  hour  for  compromise  had  passed;  the  only  way  to 
save  the  Union  was  to  suppress  the  rebellion  by  force  of  arms. 

Nearly  all  the  regiments  to  which  these  volunteers  belonged  became  veteran 
regiments  and  were  in  the  field  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

When  these  veteran  soldiers  came  home  from  the  war  they  found  the  Demo- 
cratic organization  controlled  by  rebel  sympathizers ;  they  were  not  in  harmony 
with  their  old  party,  and  with  rare  exceptions  those  men  affiliated  with  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  they  and  their  boys  have  voted  the  Republican  ticket  ever  since. 


104 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

UNION  STATE  CONVENTION,  SPRINGFIELD,  MAY  25,  1864 — DEMOCRATIC  STATE 
CONVENTION,  SPRINGFIELD,  JUNE  15,  1864 — RADICAL  CONVENTION,  CLEVE- 
LAND, O.,  MAY  31,  1864 — UNION  NATIONAL  CONVENTION,  BALTIMORE, 
JUNE  7,  1864 — RICHARD  J.  OGLESBY  ELECTED  GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS. 

Under  a  call  issued  for  the  Union  party  including  Republicans  and  all  others 
who  were  "unconditionally  in  favor  of  maintaining  the  supremacy  of  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States,  of  the  full,  final  and  complete  suppression  and 
overthrow  of  the  existing  rebellion,"  a  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield  May 
25,  1864,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candidates  for  State  offices,  and  for 
presidential  electors,  also  to  select  delegates  to  the  National  Convention  to  nom- 
inate candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

Major  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall,  a  war  Democrat  from  Johnson  County,  was 
selected  to  preside ;  he  was  a  Senator  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  ardently 
espoused  the  Union  cause ;  he  was  appointed  Major  of  the  3ist  Illinois  Volunteers 
and  was  now  the  Union  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Cairo  district. 

There  were  four  able  men  candidates  for  Governor.  On  the  first  ballot  the 
vote  was :  Richard  J.  Oglesby  283,  Allen  C.  Fuller  220,  Jesse  K.  Dubois  103  and 
John  M.  Palmer  75.  On  the  second  ballot  Oglesby  secured  358  votes,  being  a 
majority;  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous.  The  ticket  nominated  was  as 
follows :  For  Governor,  Richard  J.  Oglesby ;  Lieutenant  Governor,  William 
Bross;  Secretary  of  State,  Sharon  Tyndale ;  Auditor,  Orlin  H.  Miner;  Treasurer, 
James  H.  Beveridge ;  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction,  Newton  Bateman ; 
Congressman  at  Large,  Samuel  W.  Moulton. 

The  resolutions  reported  by  the  Committee  were  not  satisfactory  to  the  Con- 
vention ;  they  reflected  the  opinions  of  a  few  members  who  were  favorable  to  the 
movement  led  by  Secretary  Chase  and  Gen.  Fremont  against  the  renomination 
of  Mr.  Lincoln.  On  motion  of  Hon.  Burton  C.  Cook  these  resolutions  were  re- 
committed to  a  new  Committee.  The  new  platform  declared  that  the  first  and 
most  sacred  duty  of  every  citizen  is  to  sustain  the  Government  and  preserve  the 
Union  ;  that  human  slavery  being  the  cause  of  the  rebellion,  should  be  extirpated  ; 
the  resolutions  endorsed  Governor  Yates'  administration ;  thanked  the  soldiers 
for  their  heroic  services ;  expressed  pride  in  President  Lincoln,  endorsed  his  ad- 
ministration and  declared  "that  we  deem  his  re-election  to  be  demanded  by  the 
best  interests  of  the  country,  and  that  our  delegates  to  Baltimore  are  hereby 
instructed  to  use  all  honorable  means  to  secure  his  renomination,  and  to  vote  as  a 
unit  on  all  questions  which  may  arise  in  that  Convention." 

The  delegates  to  the  National  Convention  were,  at  large:  Burton  C.  Cook, 
Leonard  Swett,  Dr.  J.  A.  Powell,  Augustus  H.  Burley,  Henry  Dunimer,  John 
Huegly.  ist  district,  J.  Young  Scammon,  Lorenzo  Brentano ;  2nd,  George 
Bangs,  E.  P.  Terry;  3rd,  J.  Wilson  Shopper,  James  McCoy;  4th,  Harrison 
Dills,  Solon  Boroughs  ;  5th,  Henry  F.  Royce,  Clark  E.  Carr ;  6th,  Joseph  L. 
Braden,  Washington  Bushnell ;  7th,  Geo.  W.  Rives,  Dr.  James  Cone ;  8th,  R.  K. 
Fell,  James  Brown ;  pth,  William  A.  Grimshaw,  W.  B.  Green ;  loth,  Isaac  L. 
Morrison,  J.  T.  Alexander;  nth,  William  H.  Robinson,  Dr.  T.  H.  Sams;  I2th, 
John  Thomas,  William  Copp;  i3th,  F.  L.  Rhodes,  Morris  P.  Brown. 

The  action  of  the  Convention  was  received  with  great  enthusiasm  through- 
out the  State. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield  June  15.  William  A. 
Hacker  was  made  President.  No  platform  was  adopted,  but  a  resolution  pledg- 
ing the  Democracy  to  stand  by  Vallandingham  was  adopted  with  great  enthu- 
siasm and  excitement.  No  nominations  for  State  officers  were  made ;  delegates 

105 


were  appointed  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention  and  Presidential  electors 
chosen. 

The  action  of  this  Convention  did  not  satisfy  the  party.  A  mass  meeting  was 
held  at  Peoria,  August  3 ;  Gen.  J.  W.  Singleton  presided.  The  temper  of  the 
meeting  can  be  judged  by  the  resolutions  adopted. 

They  declared  against  coercion  and  the  subjugation  of  sovereign  States ;  that 
the  war  as  a  means  of  restoring  the  Union  had  proved  a  failure  and  a  delusion, 
and  "that  the  repeal  and  revocation  of  all  unconstitutional  edicts  and  pretended 
laws,  an  armistice,  and  a  National  Convention,  for  the  peaceful  adjustment  of 
our  troubles,  are  the  only  means  of  saving  our  Nation  from  unlimited  calamities 
and  ruin." 

Still  another  mass  convention  was  held  of  the  Democratic  party  at  Spring- 
field, August  18,  1864.  Two  stands  were  occupied  by  speakers.  The  principal 
speakers  were  Henry  Clay  Dean  of  Iowa,  William  Corry  of  Ohio,  William  J. 
Allen,  William  M.  Springer,  C.  L.  Higby  and  H.  M.  Vandeveer.  The  proceed- 
ings of  both  stands  were  characterized  by  great  excitement,  confusion,  and  gross 
personalities  upon  the  issue  of  an  unconditional  endorsement  of  the  Democratic 
nominee  for  President. 

Peace  resolutions  similar  to  those  adopted  June  17,  1863,  were  passed  by 
both  meetings.  The  Convention  for  nominating  a  State  ticket  was  held  Septem- 
ber 6  at  Springfield.  The  nominees  were :  For  Governor,  James  C.  Robinson ; 
Lieutenant  Governor,  S.  Corning  Judd ;  Auditor,  John  Hise,  State  Treasurer, 
Alexander  Starne ;  Secretary  of  State,  W'illiam  A.  Turney ;  Superintendent  of 
Public  Instruction,  John  P.  Brooks ;  Congressman  at  Large,  James  C.  Allen. 

Robinson  and  Allen  were  at  the  time  members  of  Congress ;  they  were  ar- 
dent peace  Democrats,  having  voted  with  Mr.  Pendleton  in  favor  of  all  proposi- 
tions for  securing  peace  by  compromise. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  no  war  Democrat  was  nominated  on  the  ticket 
named  at  this  mass  convention. 

Many  so-called  radical  men  were  opposed  to  the  re-election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  as  President.  The  great  complaint  made  •against  his  administration  was 
that  it  was  not  radical  enough  in  its  measures  against  the  rebellion.  Salmon  P. 
Chase,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  was  an  avowed  candidate,  as  was  Gen.  Fre- 
mont ;  they  both  encouraged  a  movement  against  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln. There  was  no  organized  opposition  to  Mr.  Lincoln  o'utside  of  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  but  those  who  claimed  to  be  radical  Republicans  made  an  effort  to 
arouse  Union  men  everywhere  against  his  election. 

This  movement  was  started  by  a  circular  letter  issued  by  Senator  Pomeroy 
of  Kansas  and  others  in  which  they  set  forth  their  reasons  for  favoring  a  new 
man  for  President.  A  call  addressed  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  for  a  con- 
vention to  meet  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  May  3ist,  1864,  was  issued  by  B.  Gratz 
Brown  of  Missouri,  Stephen  S.  Foster  of  Massachusetts,  A.  Van  Antwerp  of 
New  York,  Bird  B.  Chapman  of  Ohio,  Ezra  C.  Andrews  of  Maine,  and  some 
forty  other  prominent  men.  This  movement  was  endorsed  by  "A  call  to  the 
radical  men  of  the  Nation,"  signed  by  a  committee  of  five,  headed  by  David 
Plumb,  and  was  endorsed  by  George  B.  Cheever  of  New  York  and  fifty-five 
others.  An  address  "To  the  People"  was  also  issued  by  Lucius  Robinson,  Gen. 
John  Cochrane  and  thirty-eight  others,  calling  upon  the  people  to  attend  the 
Cleveland  convention. 

In  an  earnest  letter  criticizing  Lincoln's  administration,  Wendell  Phillips 
opposed  the  renomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  endorsed  the  holding  of  the 
Cleveland  convention. 

The  great  complaint  made  by  these  men  against  Lincoln's  administration 
was  that  it  was  not  radical  enough  in  its  measures  against  the  rebellion. 

This  Mass  Convention  met ;  Gen.  Cochrane  was  selected  as  chairman.  Gen. 
John  C.  Fremont  was  nominated  for  President  and  Gen.  John  Cochrane  for  Vice- 
President. 

On  June  4th  Generals  Fremont  and  Cochrane  accepted  the  nominations  of 
the  Cleveland  convention,  but  after  the  nomination  of  Lincoln  and  Johnson, 
Gen.  Fremont  recognized  the  futility  of  his  candidacy  and  withdrew,  recom- 
mending that  his  followers  support  the  Union  ticket. 

106 


A  call  was  issued  by  Edward  D.  Morgan,  Chairman,  February  22,  1864,  for 
the  Union  National  Convention  to  meet  at  Baltimore,  June  7,  1864.  Thirty  States 
were  represented,  including  Arkansas,  Missouri,  Tennessee,  Kentucky  and  West 
Virginia.  Robert  J.  Breckenridge  of  Kentucky  was  temporary  Chairman;  he 
delivered  an  able  and  patriotic  speech. 

William  Dennison  of  Ohio  was  made  permanent  Chairman. 

Illinois  was  represented  by  a  full  delegation,  of  which  Hon.  Burton  C.  Cook 
was  the  acknowledged  leader. 

The  platform,  adopted  with  great  enthusiasm,  consisted  of  eleven  resolu- 
tions; the  most  important  features  were  the  following:  ist,  Resolved,  that  it  is 
the  highest  duty  of  every  American  citizen  to  maintain  against  all  their  enemies 
the  integrity  of  the  Union,  and  the  paramount  authority  of  the  United  States. 
2nd,  that  we  approve  the  determination  of  the  Government  of  the  United  States 
not  to  compromise  with  rebels,  or  to  offer  them  any  terms  of  peace  except  such 
as  may  be  based  upon  an  unconditional  surrender  of  their  hostility  and  a  return 
to  their  just  allegiance  to  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  the  United  States.  3rd, 
that  Slavery  was  the  cause,  and  now  constitutes  the  strength  of  this  rebellion,  and 
as  it  must  be  always  and  everywhere  hostile  to  the  principles  of  Republican  Gov- 
ernment, justice  and  the  National  safety  demand  its  utter  and  complete  extirpa- 
tion from  the  soil  of  the  Republic.  4th,  that  the  thanks  of  tEe  American  people 
are  due  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  army  and  navy  who  have  periled  their 
lives  in  defense  of  their  country  and  in  vindication  of  the  honor  of  the  flag.  5th, 
that  we  approve  and  applaud  the  practical  wisdom,  the  unselfish  patriotism  and 
unswerving  fidelity  to  the  Constitution  and  the  principles  of  American  liberty, 
with  which  Abraham  Lincoln  has  discharged  under  circumstances  of  unparalleled 
difficulty,  the  great  duties  and  responsibilities  of  the  Presidential  office. 

There  was  no  opposition  to  Mr.  Lincoln's  nomination.  When  the  vote  by 
States  was  taken  it  was  found  that  all  had  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln,  except 
the  delegate  from  Missouri,  who  voted  for  Gen.  Grant ;  before  the  result  was  de- 
clared Mr.  Hume  of  Missouri  moved  that  the  nomination  be  made  unanimous, 
which  was  done. 

In  selecting  a  candidate  for  Vice-President  ten  persons  were  voted  for,  the 
contest,  however,  lay  between  Andrew  Johnson  of  Tennessee,  Daniel  S.  Dickin- 
son, a  Union  War  Democrat  of  New  York,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  of  Maine,  then 
Vice-President. 

On  the  first  ballot,  Johnson  received  200  votes,  Dickinson  108  and  Hamlin 
150.  On  the  second  ballot  Mr.  Johnson  received  404  votes,  and  on  the  motion! 
of  Mr.  Tremain  of  New  York  the  nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

There  was  no  personal  opposition  to  the  renomination  of  Mr.  Hamlin ;  he 
was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  experience,  with  a  wide  and  national  acquaintance, 
but  Mr.  Johnson  was  from  a  Southern  State,  had  adhered  zealously  to  the  Union 
and  retained  his  seat  in  the  United  States  Senate  when  all  other  Southern  Sen- 
ators had  resigned,  and  had  acted  as  Provisional  Governor  of  Tennessee  with 
ability.  Mr.  Johnson  had  been  a  Democrat,  but  had  opposed  the  secession  De- 
mocracy of  the  South  and  had  not  affiliated  with  the  anti-war  Democracy  of  the 
North,  it  was  believed  that  it  was  wise  policy  to  have  such  a  man  identified  with 
the  Government  as  Vice-President,  and  so  he  was  nominated. 

The  political  canvass  of  1864  was  a  great  event  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
The  contest  was  between  parties  representing  the  great  conflicting  opinions 
upon  Constitution  and  Government  which  was  being  settled  by  the  sword.  The 
Northern  Democracy,  who  nominated  Gen.  McClellan  for  Presid'ent,  entertained 
the  same  political  opinions  that  were  held  by  the  men  in  arms  against  the  Govern- 
ment. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Democracy  of  Illinois  in  the  Legislature,  in  their 
mass  convention,  June  17,  1863,  in  the  several  mass  meetings  and  conven- 
tion in  1864,  all  prove  that  they  were  in  sympathy  with  the  rebellion,  that  they 
opposed  the  use  of  an  army  as  a  means  of  preserving  the  Union  and  of  the 
abolition  of  Slavery.  Their  proposition  always  was  to  suspend  hostilities,  and 
settle  the  issues  by  compromise  through  a  National  Convention. 

They  ignored  the  fact  that  every  available  means  of  compromise  were  ex- 
hausted, the  Southern  leaders  refusing  to  consider  any  proposition  except  a 
dismemberment  of  the  Union. 

107 


The  country,  then,  was  involved  in  a  great  war  with  the  Southern  Democracy 
to  settle  their  issues  by  the  sword ;  while  they  were  engaged  in  a  great  political 
contest  with  the  Northern  Democracy  upon  the  question  as  to  whether  this  war 
should  be  prosecuted  at  all. 

This,  obviously,  was  a  crucial  test  of  the  merits  and  strength  of  our  Repub- 
lican system  of  Government. 

No  political  campaign  in  Illinois  was  ever  conducted  with  more  energy  than 
this.  The  Republican  electors  were  John  Dougherty,  Francis  A.  Hoffman,  Ben- 
jamin M.  Prentiss,  John  V.  Farwell,  Anson  S.  Miller,  John  V.  Eustace,  James 
S.  Poage,  John  I.  Bennett,  William  T.  Hopkins,  Franklin  Blades,  James  C.  Conk- 
ling,  William  Walker,  Thomas  W.  Harris,  N.  M.  McCurdy,  Henry  S.  Baker, 
Z.  S.  Clifford. 

The  Republican  candidates  for  Congress  who  were  elected  were  Samuel  W. 
Moulton,  John  Wentworth,  John  F.  Farnsworth,  E.  B.  Washburne,  Abner  C. 
Harding,  Ebon  C.  Ingersoll,  Burton  C.  Cook,  H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  Shelby  M. 
Cullom,  John  Baker  and  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall. 

All  of  these  candidates  besides  those  who  were  candidates  for  the  Legislature 
worked  actively  in  the  campaign.  A  number  of  these  gentlemen  had  supported 
Senator  Douglas  for  President  in  1860,  while  the  head  of  the  ticket,  Hon.  John 
Dougherty,  was  a  candidate  for  a  State  office  on  the  Breckenridge  ticket  of  1860, 
but  love  for  the  Union  brought  these  men  together  in  supporting  Abraham  Lin- 
coln in  1864.  But  the  most  notable  circumstance  in  the  campaign  was  the  part 
taken  by  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  Gen.  Isham  N.  Haynie  and  Col.  Robert  G.  Inger- 
soll ;  all  Democrats  when  the  war  began,  all  had  seen  active  service  in  the  army, 
and  now  all  earnestly  advocating  the  re-election  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  These 
men  canvassed  the  State,  addressed  immense  meetings — their  arraignment  of  the 
anti-war  Democracy  excited  profound  interest  throughout  the  State,  and  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  success  of  the  campaign.  The  canvass,  although  intensely 
exciting,  was  peaceful ;  the  Democracy  held  their  meetings  without  interference, 
just  as  though  their  efforts  were  being  directed  towards  saving  the  Union  by 
advocating  the  prosecution  of  the  war,  instead  of  denouncing  Lincoln's  adminis- 
tration and  advising  compromise. 

The  election  was  held  and  Abraham  Lincoln  was  chosen  President.  Richard 
J.  Oglesby  was  elected  Governor  of  Illinois  with  the  whole  State  ticket  Repub- 
lican. Abraham  Lincoln  received  212  electoral  votes.  George  B.  McClellan  re- 
ceived 21  electoral  votes.  The  popular  vote  was:  Lincoln,  2,216,067,  and  Mc- 
Clellan, 1,808,725.  The  39th  Congress  was  overwhelmingly  Republican,  the 
Senate  10  Democrats,  42  Republicans  ;  the  House  49  Democrats,  143  Republicans. 

By  this  election  the  political  complexion  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  was 
changed.  In  the  Senate  there  were  14  Republicans  and  n  Democrats;  in  the 
House  51  Republicans  and  34  Democrats,  giving  a  Republican  majority  of  20 
on  joint  ballot. 

The  people  throughout  the  United  States  had  at  the  ballot  box  sternly  re- 
buked the  anti-war  Democracy.  Of  the  25  States  that  voted  at  the  election,  all 
gave  majorities  to  Abraham  Lincoln,  except  Delaware,  Kentucky,  and  New  Jer- 
sey, and  of  those  States  the  two  former  elected  Republican  Governors,  the  lat- 
ter a  Democratic  Governor. 

The  effect  of  this  election  was  to  inspire  confidence  at  home  and  abroad.  It 
was  a  heroic  expression  of  the  majority  of  the  people,  that  the  Union  must  be 
preserved  at  whatever  cost  of  blood  and  treasure. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  was  born  in  Oldham 
County,  July  25,  1824.  When  twelve  years  of  age  he  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
uncle.  He  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  was  taught  rope  making  and  worked 
on  a  farm.  He  followed  these  employments  until  he  arrived  at  manhood.  He 
studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  practiced  his  profession  at  Sullivan, 
Moultrie  County. 

Nature  had  done  much  for  young  Oglesby.  Possessing  a  genial  spirit,  he 
made  many  friends ;  wonderfully  gifted  in  voice  and  manner  and  possessing 
great  power  of  argument  and  illustration,  he  soon  became  one  of  the  most  pop- 
ular and  persuasive  orators  of  the  State.  His  political  career  opened  in  1852, 
when  he  was  selected  by  the  Whig  convention  as  a  Scott  elector.  In  1856  he 
threw  himself  in  the  movement  for  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party.  In 

108 


109 


1858  he  was  an  unsuccessful  Republican  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Decatur 
district. 

In  1860  he  was  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate,  canvassed  actively  in 
support  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  President  and  was, himself  elected.  This  was 
his  first  success  in  the  political  field.  When  the  Civil  War  came  on  he  was  com- 
missioned colonel  of  the  Eighth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  being  the  second 
regiment  of  the  Civil  War  series.  Having  seen  service  in  the  Mexican  War,  he 
was  not  a  stranger  to  the  duties  of  camp  life  and  the  dangers  of  the  battlefield. 
He  was  soon  placed  in  important  commands,  and  promoted  to  the  office  of 
brigadier-general  by  President  Lincoln. 

In  1862  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade  in  Davies'  division 
and  fought  with  gallantry  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  October  3-4,  1861.  On  the 
first  day  of  the  battle  he  received  a  dangerous  gunshot  wound  through  the  left 
lung.  From  the  wound  he  did  not  recover  so  as  to  enable  him  afterwards  to 
take  an  active  command  of  troops  in  the  field.  He  was  promoted  to  the  position 
of  major-general,  and  resigned  May,  1864.  His  nomination  and  election  to  the 
office  of  Governor  was  a  fitting  tribute  to  him  as  a  man  and  manifested  the 
regard  the  people  have  for  the  men  who  served  their  country  in  war.  His 
administration  as  Governor  was  eminently  satisfactory. 

In  1872  he  was  again  elected  Governor,  and  was  inaugurated  January  13, 
1873.  On  January  23,  ten  days  after  his  inauguration,  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate.  He  served  in  this  capacity  six  years,  when,  in  1884,  ne 
was  for  the  third  time  elected  Governor,  serving  out  the  full  term  of  four  years. 
No  man  in  the  State  ever  had  a  more  secure  hold  of  the  popular  hearts  of  Illinois 
than"  Richard  J.  Oglesby. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  third  term  as  Governor  he  retired  to  his  home, 
"Oglehurst,"  near  Elkhart,  Illinois,  appearing  from  time  to  time  on  public  occa- 
sions and  on  the  stump,  particularly  in  the  campaign  of  1896.  He  was  always 
received  by  the  public  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  affection.  He  died  April 
24,  1899. 


110 


CHAPTER   XV. 

EMANCIPATION. 

President  Lincoln  believed  that  Slavery  was  not  only  the  cause  but  the 
strength  of  the  rebellion.  The  question  of  emancipating  the  slaves  was  earnestly 
pressed  upon  his  attention  by  many  persons  of  great  influence.  On  March  6th, 
1862,  the  President  sent  a  message  to  Congress  recommending  the  adoption  of 
a  joint  resolution,  as  follows : 

"Resolved,  That  the  United  States  ought  to  co-operate  with  any  State  which 
may  adopt  gradual  abolishment  of  Slavery,  giving  to  such  State  pecuniary  aid, 
to  be  used  by  such  State  in  its  discretion  to  compensate  for  the  inconvenience, 
public  and  private,  produced  by  such  change  of  system."  On  March  loth  on 
motion  of  Roscoe  Conkling,  under  a  suspension  of  the  rules  this  resolution  was 
adopted  by  the  House  of  Representatives  by  a  vote  of  97  yeas  to  36  nays.  On 
April  2d  the  resolution  passed  the  Senate,  yeas  32,  nays  10.  Senators  Davis  of 
Kentucky  and  Henderson  of  Missouri  voted  in  favor  of  this  resolution. 

Congress  had  already,  August  5th,  1861,  passed  a  law  forfeiting  all  right  in 
slaves  where  the  owner  shall  employ  or  permit  to  be  employed  such  slave  in 
aiding  or  promoting  any  insurrection  or  resisting  the  laws  of  the  United  States. 

On  April  i6th,  1862,  a  bill  was  passed  and  approved  by  the  President  liberat- 
ing all  slaves  held  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  owners  to  be  compensated  at 
the  average  of  $300  per  slave,  and  $1,000,000  was  appropriated  to  pay  loyal 
owners,  and  $100,000  to  colonize  in  Hayti  or  Liberia  such  of  the  slaves  as  desired 
to  emigrate. 

On  May  I2th,  1862,  the  Union  Convention  of  Baltimore  met,  Archibald 
Stirling,  Jr.,  President,  John  H.  Lloyd,  Secretary. 

A  series  of  patriotic  resolutions  were  adopted.  Amongst  other  things  the 
Convention  resolved  "That  we  cordially  approve  the  firm  and  vigorous  efforts 
of  the  administration  to  maintain  the  integrity  and  honor  of  our  country,  to 
crush  rebellion,  and  to -anticipate  and  defeat  the  acts  of  traitors.  That  we  ap- 
prove the  wise  and  conservative  policy  proposed  by  the  President  in  his  message 
of  March  6th,  1862,  and  sanctioned  by  Congress,  tendering  pecuniary  aid  to  such 
States  as  may  choose  to  adopt  a  system  of  gradual  emancipation." 

On  July  I2th,  1862,  President  Lincoln,  by  appointment,  had  an  interview 
with  a  number  of  Senators  and  members  from  the  border  States,  urging  them 
to  exert  their  influence  in  their  States  in  favor  of  compensated  emancipation  and 
colonization. 

The  President  received  four  written  communications  in  reply.  Hon.  John 
W.  Noell  of  Missouri  and  six  others  favoring  the  plan,  in  conclusion  said :  "We 
are  the  more  emboldened  to  assume  this  position  from  the  fact,  now  become  his- 
tory, that  the  leaders  of  the  Southern  rebellion  have  offered  to  abolish  Slavery 
amongst  them  as  a  condition  to  foreign  intervention  in  favor  of  their  inde- 
pendence as  a  Nation.  If  they  can  give  up  Slavery  to  destroy  the  Union,  we  can 
surely  ask  our  people  to  consider  the  question  of  emancipation  to  save  the 
Union." 

Senator  Henderson  of  Missouri  also  wrote  favoring  the  plan  of  the  Presi- 
dent. 

The  fortunes  of  war  had  been  against  the  Union  forces.  McClellan's  penin- 
sular campaign  had  failed.  Hooker  abandoned  Malvern  Hill.  Pope's  army  was 
defeated  at  the  second  battle  of  Bull  Run.  Gen.  Kearney  and  Stevens  killed  at 
Chantilla.  Burnside  evacuated  Fredericksburg.  Gen.  Lee  threatened  Wash- 
ington and  invaded  Maryland.  McClellan  again  at  the  head  of  the  army  of  the 

ill 


Potomac  gained  a  great  victory  at  Antietam  September  i^th,  1862.  The  tide  of 
war  is  changed;  the  Confederate  army  abandons  Sharpsburg  and  recrosses  the 
Potomac. 

This  change  in  military  affairs  decided  the  President  to  issue  a  preliminary 
proclamation  in  regard  to  emancipaton.  This  he  did  on  September  22nd,  1862, 
warning  all  persons  in  armed  rebellion  against  the  United  States  to  cease  their 
warfare  and  return  to  their  allegiance  within  one  hundred  days,  otherwise  he 
would  issue  a  proclamation  emancipating  the  slaves  in  the  insurrectionary  States. 

This  proclamation  met  the  approval  of  the  numerous  religious  bodies  and 
citizens  who  had  been  urging  the  President  to  take  such  action. 

President  Lincoln  was  anxious  to  put  an  end  to  the  war  without  further 
bloodshed;  he  was  desirous  of  conciliating  the  South.  On  December  ist,  1862, 
before  the  one  hundred  days  of  his  proclamation  had  expired,  in  his  second  an- 
nual message  he  recommended  the  adoption  of  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution 
providing  for  compensated  emancipation  in  all  the  States  of  the  Union  wherever 
Slavery  existed,  which  shall  abolish  Slavery  at  any  time  before  January  ist, 
1900.  In  discussing  the  articles  proposed,  he  said :  "As  to  the  first  article,  the 
aiain  points  are :  first,  the  emancipation ;  secondly,  the  length  of  time  for  con- 
summating it — thirty-seven  years,  and,  thirdly,  the  compensation. 

"The  emancipation  will  be  unsatisfactory  to  the  advocates  of  perpetual 
Slavery ;  but  the  length  of  time  should  greatly  mitigate  their  dissatisfaction. 

"The  time  spares  both  races  from  the  evils  of  sudden  derangement,  in  fact 
from  the  necessity  of  any  derangement."  The  whole  message  was  an  earnest, 
eloquent,  pathetic  appeal  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  without  further  blood- 
shed. 

The  President's  paramount  object  was  to  save  the  Union;  in  doing  this  he 
earnestly  desired  to  inflict  as  little  injury  as  possible  upon  the  people  of  the  re- 
bellious States. 

Time  sped  on.  There  was  no  response  from  the  South,  except  of  scorn  and 
of  determined  resistance.  The  first  day  of  January,  1863,  came  and  Abraham 
Lincoln  issued  his  proclamation  of  emancipation ;  that  mighty  missile  of  war ; 
that  great  act  of  humanity  and  justice ;  sounded  the  doom  of  Slavery,  and  en- 
dorsed the  principle  that  all  men  everywhere  should  be  free. 

The  people  at  the  polls  in  November,  1864,  by  the  re-election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln,  gave  their  approval  to  the  Proclamation  of  Emancipation.  The  opera- 
tions of  the  Proclamation  were  confined  to  States  and  parts  of  States  actually  in 
rebellion,  and  did  not  affect  Slavery  in  the  border  States.  The  progress  of  the 
war,  and  a  growing  public  opinion,  clearly  indicated  the  destruction  of  Slavery. 

The  Legislatures  of  Maryland  and  Missouri  had  in  1863  taken  steps  looking 
to  the  abolition  of  Slavery  in  those  States. 

On  January  I3th,  1864,  John  B.  Henderson  of  Missouri  introduced  a  joint 
resolution  in  the  U.  S.  Senate  proposing  an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States  abolishing  Slavery.  Senator  Sumner  of  Massachusetts  intro- 
duced a  similar  resolution ;  both  were  referred  to  the  Judiciary  Committee  of 
which  Senator  Trumbull  was  Chairman. 

On  February  loth,  Judge  Trumbull  reported  to  the  Senate  the  thirteenth 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  as  it  was  finally  ratified.  It  passed  the  Senate 
April  8th,  1864,  but  failed  in  the  House  to  receive  the  necessary  two-thirds  vote. 

In  his  message  of  December  6th,  1864,  President  Lincoln  urged  upon  Con- 
gress the  wisdom  of  adopting  the  amendment.  In  speaking  of  the  election  Mr. 
Lincoln  said:  "It  is  not  claimed  that  the  election  has  imposed  a  duty  on  mem- 
bers to  change  their  views  or  their  votes  any  further  than,  as  an  additional  ele- 
ment to  be  considered,  their  judgment  may  be  affected  by  it.  It  is  the  voice  of  the 
people  now  for  the  first  time  heard  upon  the  question.  The  most  reliable  indica- 
tions of  public  purpose  in  this  country  are  derived  through  our  popular  elections." 
On  January  6th,  1865,  on  motion  of  James  M.  Ashley  of  Ohio,  the  resolution  was 
called  up  for  reconsideration;  a  vote  was  not  taken  until  January  3ist,  when  the 
previous  vote  was  reconsidered  and  the  resolution  adopted;  yeas  119,  nays  56. 

Speaker  Colfax  announced  the  result;  it  was  received  by  the  House  and 
spectators  with  an  outburst  of  enthusiasm.  The  resolution  was  returned  to  the 
Senate  and  on  February  ist  was  approved  by  the  President.  Senator  Trumbull 
was  highly  elated  over  the  success  of  his  labors ;  he  at  once  telegraphed  the  facts 

112 


to  Governor  Oglesby,  who  in  turn  sent  a  message  to  the  Legislature  which  was 
then  in  session,  urging  the  immediate  adoption  of  the  amendment.  He  said: 
"Let  Illinois  be  the  first  State  in  the  Union  to  ratify  by  act  of  her  Legislature  this 
proposed  amendment.  It  is  just,  it  is  humane,  it  is  right  to  do  so.  *  *  *  It 
is  a  fit  occasion  to  speak  out  to  the  world  upon  a  question  of  such  magnitude,  and 
the  whole  civilized  world  will  joyously  ratify  the  deed ;  the  proud  soldier  in  the 
field  will  shout  'Amen !'  and  march  on  to  new  victories  with  a  firmer  and  more 
confident  step."  On  the  same  day,  February  ist,  1865,  Senator  A.  W.  Mack 
moved  that  the  rules  be  suspended  that  he  might  present  a  joint  resolution  to 
ratify  the  amendment.  The  resolution  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Federal 
Relation  and  reported  back  with  the  recommendation  that  it  be  adopted.  Sena- 
tors Green  and  Cohrs  spoke  against  the  resolution,  but  Gen.  Murray  McConnell, 
a  life  long  Democrat,  the  friend  of  Douglas,  "the  Nestor  of  the  Senate,"  spoke 
eloquently  and  ably  in  its  favor. 

The  motion  of  Senator  Vandeveer  to  lay  on  the  table  was  lost.  The  previous 
question  was  moved  and  ordered  and  the  joint  resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote 
of  18  to  6. 

Those  voting  for  the  resolution  were  Senators  Addams,  Allen,  Bushnell, 
Eastman,  Green  of  Marion,  Lansing,  Lindsay  (Democrat),  Mack,  Mason  (Demo- 
crat), McConnell  (Democrat),  Metcalf,  Peters,  Richards,  Strain,  Schofield  (Dem- 
ocrat), Ward,  Webster  and  Worcester  (Democrat),  Senator  Funk  absent. 

The  joint  resolution  was  at  once  reported  to  the  House.  Alexander  McCoy 
moved  that  the  House  concur.  Merritt  L.  Josslyn  moved  the  previous  question, 
which  was  ordered.  The  Joint  Resolution  was  adopted  by  a  vote  of  58  yeas,  28 
nays.  Six  Democrats  did  not  vote ;  all  the  others  voted  in  opposition.  And  so 
on  the  same  day  that  President  Lincoln  approved  the  amendment,  the  Illinois 
Legislature  ratified  it,  being  the  first  of  the  States  to  act  upon  this  great  bene- 
ficent measure.  All  honor  to  Senators  Lindsay,  Mason,  McConnell,  Schofield 
and  Worcester. 

Disregarding  party  trammels  they  voted  the  dictates  of  their  conscience  and 
secured  the  immediate  ratification  of  this  great  amendment. 


113 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

EVENTS  OF  THE  WAR — SURRENDER    OF  GENERAL  LEE,  APRIL  9,  1865 — ASSAS- 
SINATION OF  PRESIDENT  LINCOLN,  APRIL  14,  1865. 

As  the  war  progressed  and  enlistments  increased  there  was  a  steady  growth 
of  patriotism  amongst  the  people  remaining  at  home ;  old  party  names  began  to 
lose  their  power;  Republicans  and  war  Democrats  were  animated  by  the  same 
impulse — that  of  saving  the  Union ;  they  found  a  common  name  to  rally  under ; 
they  were  Union  men. 

The  meetings  for  public  discussion  were  Union  meetings ;  the  theme  of  the 
orators  was  love  for  the  Union,  and  a  willingness  to  fight  for,  and  to  die  for  the 
Union. 

Women  prepared  delicacies  for  the  sick  and  wounded  Union  soldiers ;  when 
veterans  came  home  on  furlough,  singly  or  by  regiments,  they  were  welcomed  as 
Union  soldiers ;  the  soldiers  in  the  field  and  their  kindred  and  friends  at  home 
were  in  accord  upon  the  question  of  preserving  the  Union ;  this  was  the  bond  that 
held  the  soldiers  and  the  people  at  home  together;  abuse  of  the  administration 
and  of  the  war  was  taken  as  reflections  on  the  soldier  boy  who  was  exposing  his 
life  in  the  army ;  this  feeling  exerted  a  powerful  influence  in  political  action.  The 
leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  were  so  intensely  radical  in  their  views,  and  so 
obviously  sympathized  with  the  enemies  of  the  Government,  that  the  plain  people 
soon  began  to  fall  away  from  them,  and  the  counties  which  had  in  1860  been 
most  strongly  Democratic  were  becoming  the  most  strongly  Union  ;  this  reaction 
in  favor  of  the  Union  cause  set  in  strongly  in  the  fall  of  1863;  the  capture  of 
Vicksburg  and  the  victory  at  Gettysburg  convinced  thousands  of  intelligent  peo- 
ple that  the  claim  .that  the  rebellion  could  not  be  crushed  was  an  error,  and  the 
statement  that  the  offensive  prosecution  of  the  war  tended  to  misrule  and  anarchy 
was  the  raving  of  disloyalty.  Many  meetings  were  held  after  the  fall  of  Vicks- 
burg ;  some  were  addressed  by  officers  who  had  engaged  in  that  campaign.  The 
greatest  Union  meeting  held  in  Illinois  during  the  war  was  at  Springfield,  Sept. 
3,  1863.  It  was  a  mighty  concourse  of  loyal  men  and  women.  The  weather  was 
delightful ;  addresses  were  delivered  from  five  stands  at  the  same  time.  The 
principal  speakers  for  the  occasion  were  Gov.  Henry  S.  Lane  of  Indiana,  Senator 
Chandler  of  Michigan,  Judge  J.  R.  Doolittle  of  Wisconsin,  Gov.  Yates,  Generals 
McClernand,  Prentiss  and  Haynie. 

A  letter  from  President  Lincoln  to  James  C.  Conkling  upon  the  Emancipa- 
tion Proclamation  was  read. 

Many  of  the  speeches  were  a  noble  vindication  of  the  right  and  duty  of  the 
Government  to  maintain  the  Union  and  perpetuate  the  free  Government.  Union 
and  Freedom  were  the  watchwords  of  the  hour. 

For  the  purpose  of  counteracting  the  evil  influences  of  the  Knights  of  the 
Golden  Circle,  the  Union  League  of  America  was  organized.  Hon.  George  H. 
Harlow  was  one  of  its  chief  promoters  and  officers.  The  first  meeting  was  held 
in  Tazewell  County,  Illinois,  in  the  summer  of  1862.  It  was  a  quasi  secret  society, 
with  impressive  initiatory  ceremonies.  Its  object  was  wholly  patriotic ;  to  bring 
loyal  men  together ;  to  unite  public  opinion  in  support  of  the  Government  and 
to  extend  aid  and  sympathy  to  the  soldiers  and  their  families. 

There  was  no  secrecy  as  to  its  membership  or  its  places  of  meeting.  This 
League  spread  rapidly  throughout  Illinois,  and  within  a  year  had  a  National 
organization  with  1,300  councils  and  a  membership  of  175,000.  Its  influence  was 
of  great  benefit  to  the  cause  of  the  country ;  its  Councils  formed  a  rallying  place 

114 


for  Union  men  and  the  League  was  soon  in  friendly  touch  with  the  army  at  the 
front. 

The  American  Civil  War  is  now  recognized  as  the  most  extraordinary  exhi- 
bition of  military  strength  ever  seen  in  the  history  of  the  world. 

During  the  four  years  of  its  duration  more  than  four  million  of  men  were 
put  under  arms  in  the  armies  and  navies  of  the  Union  and  Confederacy.  The  field 
of  operations  between  the  contending  hosts  had  a  frontage  of  fully  two  thousand 
miles ;  more  than  twenty-two  hundred  engagements,  great  and  small,  occurred 
between  the  forces;  there  were  three  hundred  and  thirty  battles  in  which 
the  Union  losses  were  more  than  one  hundred  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing. 
There  were  many  battles  which  in  point  of  the  number  engaged,  the  generalship 
displayed,  the  losses  incurred  and  the  splendid  valor  of  the  troops,  take  their 
places  amongst  the  greatest  battles  of  the  world.  The  campaigns  of  the  Union 
armies  were  necessarily  aggressive ;  it  was  their  business  to  go  in  search  of  the 
Confederate  armies,  and  by  force  of  arms  to  overcome  all  resistance  to  the 
authority  of  the  Government. 

The  Confederate  generals  promptly  made  West  Virginia,  Kentucky  and 
Missouri  the  seat  of  war,  their  forces  were  met  and  overcome  in  those  States  and 
gradually  the  tide  of  battle  was  carried  southward ;  their  efforts  to  hold  the 
great  rivers,  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  the  Cumberland,  and  the  Tennessee,  failed ; 
these  rivers  and  all  the  railroads  leading  into  the  Southern  States  were  held  and 
used  by  the  Union  forces ;  gunboats  policed  the  rivers  from  Pittsburgh  to  Cairo 
and  Nashville,  and  from  Kansas  City  and  Hannibal  to  New  Orleans.  Garrisons 
guarded  the  railroads  from  Cincinnati  to  Atlanta,  from  Columbus  and  Memphis 
to  Corinth  and  Chattanooga  and  from  Washington  to  Wheeling  and  Parkers- 
burgh,  while  more  than  seven  hundred  vessels  were  used  as  transports  and  for 
blockading  Southern  ports. 

The  military  operations  of  the  army  of  the  East  were  mainly  confined  to 
Virginia,  but  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  were  the  scenes  of  two  of  the  greatest 
and  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war,  Antietam  and  Gettysburg.  But  that  narrow 
space  of  country  lying  between  Washington  City  and  Richmond  became  the 
great  battlefield  of  the  Republic;  the  largest  armies  were  marshalled  there,  the 
greatest  generals  engaged  on  both  sides  of  the  conflict  were  from  time  to  time 
facing  each  other  there,  but  in  the  great  struggle  for  mastery  no  really  decisive 
battles  were  fought  until  the  end  of  the  struggle  in  April,  1865. 

In  the  West  and  Southwest,  the  field  of  operations  was  coextensive  with  the 
Southern  States ;  every  State  summoned  its  entire  military  strength  and  con- 
tinued the  struggle  until  further  resistance  was  useless. 

Many  regiments  and  divisions  campaigned  in  Kentucky,  Missouri,  Ten- 
nessee, Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  South  Carolina  and 
North  Carolina,  and  marching  through  Virginia  were  in  the  grand  review  in 
Washington  in  May,  1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war;  the  greatest  military  pageant 
of  modern  times. 

Illinois  performed  her  entire  duty  in  that  momentous  struggle.  Her  quota 
of  the  two  million  and  three-quarters  of  troops  called  for  was  244,496.  She  fur- 
nished 255,057,  being  over  fifteen  per  cent  of  her  population. 

These  soldiers  were  organized  into  151  regiments  and  9  companies  of  infan- 
try, 17  regiments  of  cavalry  and  two  regiments  and  four  companies  of  artillery. 
Some  of  the  Illinois  soldiers  served  in  the  Eastern,  army,  but  the  great 
majority  of  them  served  in  the  West.    Seventy-three  regiments  of  infantry  alone 
served  in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

Of  these  Illinois  soldiers,  34,834  lost  their  lives  in  the  service;  they  were 
either  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  wounds,  diseases  or  from  other  causes.  The 
soldiers  from  Illinois  were  brought  to  the  highest  standard  of  military  skill  and 
discipline ;  their  valor  was  unsurpassed  by  any  soldiers  in  the  field. 

The  records  of  the  Adjutant-Generals  of  Illinois  and  of  the  War  Department 
at  Washington  show  that  fifty-two  of  these  regiments  enlisted  during 'the  first 
year  of  the  war,  re-enlisted  as  veterans  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
that  officers  were  steadily  promoted  from  the  ranks  in  recognition  of  their 
capacity  and  services,  and  that  of  the  officers  commissioned  by  Governor  Yates 
12  were  commissioned  by  the  President  as  Major-Generals,  20  as  Brevet  Major- 
Generals,  24  as  Brigadier-Generals,  and  121  as  Brevet  Brigadier-Generals. 

115 


The  story  of  the  four  years  of  civil  war,  from  Bull  Run  to  Appomattox, 
covers  the  most  intensely  interesting  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  United  States. 

The  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  the  maintenance  of  the  national  author- 
ity, was  a  cause  which  inspired  a  patriotism  that  did  not  flag,  and  a  valor  that 
was  invincible. 

The  people  came  to  feel  that  the  struggle  involved  the  issue  of  free  gov- 
ernment not  only  for  this  country,  but  for  the  whole  world.  If  the  experiment 
of  republican  government  failed  in  America,  in  what  country  or  in  what  clime 
could  it  exist  ?  If  it  succeeded  here,  the  example  would  challenge  the  attention 
of  all  mankind  and  uplift  the  race. 

Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois  was  the  leader  of  the  people,  and  of  the  public 
sentiment,  which  saved  the  country. 

And  Ulysses  S.  Grant  of  Illinois,  first  a  clerk  in  the  Adjutant-General's  office 
at  Springfield,  next  Colonel  of  the  21  st  Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry,  became  the 
great  field  marshal  of  the  Union  forces.  Victorious  at  Belmont,  Fort  Henry, 
Fort  Donalson,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg  and  Chattanooga,  he  was  made  Commander- 
in-Chief.  From  that  hour  the  Union  forces  moved  in  unison  and  upon  a  great 
plan.  The  military  campaign  of  1864-5  tne  country  knows  by  heart.  Grant  with 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  Sherman  with  the  Army  of  Georgia,  commenced  the 
great  movement  on  May  5,  1864.  Each  of  these  great  armies  was  composed 
of  veterans  and  led  by  experienced,  successful  and  distinguished  commanders. 

The  Army  of  the  Potomac  met  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  in  the  Wilder- 
ness. A  series  of  terrific  and  bloody  battles  ensued,  indecisive,  but  the  Union 
forces  steadily  gaining  ground.  When  the  winter  came  on,  Lee,  with  the  Con- 
federate forces,  were  beleaguered  at  Richmond  and  Petersburg.  The  Army  of 
Georgia  had  captured  Atlanta,  had  divided  its  forces.  Sherman  had  marched 
down  to  the  sea  and  captured  Savannah,  while  Thomas  at  Nashville  defeated 
and  dispersed  Hood's  army. 

These  great  victories  thrilled  the  people  of  the  North,  and  brought  from 
President  Lincoln  warm  words  of  praise  and  thanks.  The  campaign  knew  no 
pause.  Sherman  entered  Savannah  December  22d,  1864;  on  the  24th  he  wrote 
General  Grant,  outlining  his  plans  for  an  immediate  advance.  He  said :  "Now 
that  Hood  is  used  up  by  Thomas,  I  feel  disposed  to  bring  the  matter  to  an  issue 
as  soon  as  possible.  I  feel  confident  that  I  can  break  up  the  whole  railroad  sys- 
tem of  South  Carolina  and  North  Carolina,  and  be  on  the  Roanoke,  either  at 
Raleigh  or  Weldon,  by  the  time  spring  fairly  opens ;  and  if  you  feel  confident 
you  can  whip  Lee  outside  of  his  entrenchments,  I  feel  equally  confident  that  I 
can  handle  him  the  open  country." 

By  the  middle  of  January  the  final  movement  for  Sherman's  campaign 
Through  the  Carolinas  was  well  under  way,  moving  northward  through  South 
Carolina.  Sweeping  everything  before  him,  crossing  the  Edisto,  Broad,  Catawba, 
Pedee  and  Cape  Fear  riven,  and  marching  425  miles,  on  March  23,  1865,  he 
reached  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  forming  a  junction  with  General  Terry,  and 
with  General  Schofield,  who  had  brought  the  2$d  Army  Corps  by  railroad  and  sea 
from  Nashville.  On  March  2/th  General  Sherman  visited  General  Grant  at 
City  Point,  where  he  met  President  Lincoln.  Here  the  final  conference  and 
arrangements  were  made  for  the  closing  movements  of  the  war. 

The  mighty  tragedy  of  war  was  drawing  to  its  close.  President  Lincoln 
was  deeply  interested  in  the  approaching  campaign.  His  heart  yearned  for  a 
cessation  of  bloodshed.  He  decided  to  remain  at  City  Point,  the  headquarters 
of  General  Grant,  so  that  he  would  be  conveniently  near  in  case  it  was  important 
to  communicate  with  him. 

Grant's  army  moved  to  further  envelop  Richmond  and  Petersburg  and  to 
seize  their  railroads.  The  pressure  now  became  so  great  that  General  Lee 
decided  to  abandon  his  works  and  save  his  army  by  retreat.  His  withdrawal 
was  completed  April  2d,  the  Confederate  Government  leaving  Richmond  on  the 
afternoon  of  that  day. 

General  Grant's  determination  was  to  head  off  and  capture  Lee's  retreating 
army.  General  Sheridan  commanded  the  troops  in  the  advance.  That  intrepid 
soldier  knew  his  business.  Moving  forward  with  rapidity  and  without  repose, 
he  reached  Five  Forks,  gaining  the  front  of  Lee's  army.  Here  a  bloody  battle 
was  fought.  General  Grant  saw  the  end ;  he  was  anxious  to  stop  the  effusion  of 

116 


blood.  On  April  7th  he  wrote  General  Lee,  pointing  out  the  "hopelessness  of 
further  resistance,"  and  asked  him  to  surrender.  But  it  was  not  until  April  the 
9th  that  General  Lee,  at  the  moment  of  an  impending  battle  with  defeat  staring 
him  in  the  face,  decided  to  surrender.  He  accepted  the  generous  terms  offered 
by  General  Grant,  and  28,356  Confederate  soldiers  were  paroled. 

The  news  of  the  surrender  of  Lee  was  received  with  universal  joy  through- 
out the  North.  The  people  knew  that  the  war  was  practically  ended. 

President  Lincoln  entered  Richmond  after  its  fall,  and  sought  to  allay  the 
great  consternation  of  the  people,  who  surrounded  him  at  every  turn.  He 
returned  to  Washington  full  of  gratification  that  the  storm  of  war  was  practically 
over,  and  was  moved  with  compassion  at  the  misfortunes  of  the  Southern  people. 
The  Union  was  saved !  The  sacrifice  had  been  great,  but  he  felt  that  the  Union, 
free  government,  and  freedom  were  worth  unmeasurably  more  than  they  had 
cost. 

But  still  another  great  sacrifice  was  to  be  made — the  President  himself  was 
to  fall  a  victim  to  the  malevolent  hatred  aroused  by  the  war.  No  one  supposed 
that  the  life  of  Mr.  Lincoln  was  in  danger.  His  official  career  was  absolutely 
wanting  in  acts  of  severity  or  cruelty,  such  as  might  arouse  the  hatred  or  malice 
of  individuals  and  inspire  them  to  murder.  Upon  the  contrary,  his  kindness  of 
heart,  his  benevolent  disposition,  his  sympathy  for  those  on  both  sides  of  the 
struggle,  who  were  victims  of  the  misfortunes  and  sorrows  of  the  war,  were 
well  known  both  North  and  South.  Private  malice  was  disarmed.  But  some 
deluded  persons,  urged  on,  no  doubt,  months  before  by  influential  people  whose 
connection  with  the  horrid  deed  never  became  known,  as  the  result  of  a  well- 
laid  conspiracy,  decided  to  assassinate  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Seward. 
This  bloody  deed  was  performed  on  the  night  of  April  14,  1865.  While  sitting  in 
a  private  box  at  Ford's  Theater,  witnessing  a  performance,  John  Wilkes  Booth 
entered  the  box  from  the  rear,  shot  the  President  in  the  back  of  the  head,  leaped 
to  the  floor  of  the  stage,  ran  out  at  the  rear  of  the  theater,  mounted  a  horse  in 
waiting  and  made  his  escape  to  Virginia.  The  terrible  deed  threw  the  audience 
into  a  tumult  of  excitement.  The  wounded  and  dying  man  was  at  once  carried 
to  a  private  residence  across  the  street,  where  on  the  morning  of  April  I5th,  at 
22  minutes  past  7  o'clock  he  died.  The  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  now  filled 
the  world ;  his  death  was  mourned  in  every  land.  To  his  country  his  loss  was 
irreparable ;  but  the  great  work  he  had  finished  will  endure  forever. 


117 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

PRESIDENT  JOHNSON'S  ADMINISTRATION — THE  RECONSTRUCTION  PERIOD. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  on  the  morning  of  April 
15,  1865,  Andrew  Johnson,  Vice-President,  was  sworn  into  office  as  President. 
He  had  the  good  will  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  North  including  the  army  and 
navy.  He  had  been  nominated  and  elected  Vice-Presiclent  as  a  mark  of  their 
confidence  and  respect  in  his  ability,  patriotism  and  loyalty. 

In  a  few  days  after  Mr.  Johnson's  accession  to  office,  all  the  Confederate 
forces  had  surrendered.  The  great  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  over. 

The  Congress  had  adjourned  March  4th  and  was  not  in  session  when  the 
war  ended.  The  President  did  not  convene  Congress  in  extra  session  and  give 
the  law-making  power  of  the  country  an  opportunity  to  be  heard  upon  the  issues 
growing  out  of  the  war.  The  President  took  the  whole  matter  of  reconstructing 
the  seceded  States  into  his  own  hands. 

It  is  fair  to  say  that  Secretary  Seward  fully  concurred  in  the  view  that  the 
executive  department  of  the  Government  possessed  full  power  to  rehabilitate  the 
seceded  States  without  the  aid  of  Congress.  On  May  29,  1865,  two  important 
steps  were  taken :  William  H.  Holdeh  was  appointed  Provisional  Governor  of 
North  Carolina,  and  a  proclamation  of  amnesty  and  pardon  was  issued,  "to  all 
persons  who  have  directly  or  indirectly  participated  in  existing  rebellion,"  con- 
ditioned upon  their  taking  an  oath  to  support  and  defend  the  Constitution  and 
Union,  and  abide  by  and  support  all  lawrs  and  proclamations  in  regard  to  the 
emancipation  of  slaves.  Fourteen  classes  of  persons  were  excepted  from  the 
amnesty  because  of  conspicuous  connection  with  the  rebellion — all  diplomatic 
offices ;  all  who  left  United  States  judicial  stations ;  all  military  and  naval  officers 
above  the  rank  of  colonel ;  all  who  left  seats  in  the  United  States  Congress ;  all 
officers  in  the  rebel  service  who  had  been  educated  at  the  United  States  military 
or  naval  academies,  etc.,  etc.,  the  aim  being  to  exclude  the  more  prominent  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  rebellion ;  but  the  proclamation  provided  for  special  pardons 
to  persons  who  would  apply  to  the  Executive.  Applications  for  pardon  were 
numerous  and  promptly  granted.  The  records  of  the  State  Department  (24 
volumes)  show  about  14,000  pardons  were  granted  within  nine  months  after  the 
proclamation  was  issued.  The  oath  might  be  taken  before  any  military  or  naval 
officer  of  the  United  States,  or  any  military  or  civil  officer  of  the  State,  author- 
ized to  administer  oaths. 

The  order  appointing  Mr.  Holden  Provisional  Governor  outlined  a  plan 
for  calling  a  State  Convention  to  form  a  Constitution,  and  frame  work  of  gov- 
ernment, the  electors  to  be  loyal  citizens  as  recognized  by  the  amnesty  procla- 
mation, and  to  have  the  qualifications  of  electors  in  North  Carolina  prior  to  the 
act  of  secession. 

This  order  was  applied  to  other  States.  William  L.  Sharkey  was  appointed 
Provisional  Governor  for  Mississippi  June  I3th;  James  Johnson  for  Georgia 
and  Andrew  J.  Hamilton  for  Texas  June  i/th;  Lewis  E.  Parsons  for  Alabama 
June  2ist,  and  Benjamin  F.  Perry  for  South  Carolina  June  3Oth. 

The  heads  of  the  several  executive  departments  were  directed  to  establish 
the  machinery  of  government  in  those  States. 

The  governments  which  had  been  previously  established  in  Virginia,  Ten- 
nessee, Louisiana  and  Arkansas  were  recognized. 

The  President's  plans  were  being  fully  carried  out  by  the  middle  of  July ; 
he  had  declared  in  his  proclamation  that  "the  rebellion  in  its  revolutionary 

118 


progress,  has  deprived  the  people  (of  the  revolted  States)  of  all  civil  government"  ; 
the  conventions,  however,  instead  of  drafting  new  constitutions,  prepared  amend- 
ments to  the  old  ones ;  and  without  submitting  the  amendments  to  be  voted  on 
by  the  people,  adopted  them  by  the  vote  of  the  conventions.  These  reconsruc- 
tion  conventions  then  assumed  legislative  powers  and  ordered  the  election  of 
representatives  in  Congress.  In  respect  to  the  franchise,  President  Johnson  in 
his  circular  to  the  Provisional  Governors,  suggested  that  the  elective  franchise 
should  be  extended  to  all  persons  of  color  "who  can  read  the  Constitution  of 
the  United  States,  and  write  their  names,  and  also  to  those  who  own  real  estate 
valued  at  not  less  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  and  pay  taxes  thereon." 

In  writing  to  Governor  Sharkey,  Mr.  Johnson  said:  ''I  hope 'and  trust 
that  your  Convention  will  do  this,  and  as  a  consequence  the  radicals  who  are 
wild  upon  negro  franchise,  will  be  completely  foiled  in  their  attempt  to  keep  the 
Southern  States  from  renewing  their  relations  to  the  Union  by  not  accepting 
their  Senators  and  Representatives." 

But  none  of  the  Conventions  paid  heed  to  the  suggestions  of  the  President ; 
upon  the  contrary  Codes  of  Black  Laws  were  enacted  with  no  other  design  than 
the  re-enslavement  of  the  negro  race.  The  magnanimity  of  the  Amnesty  Proc- 
lamation took  the  Southern  leaders  by  surprise ;  many  had  left  the  country,  and 
others  were  preparing  to  do  so  to  avoid  the  consequences  of  their  acts ;  but 
they  now  found  themselves  within  three  months  after  Lee  surrendered,  en- 
trusted with  the  restoration  of  civil  governments  in  their  States.  Nothing  like 
this  had  ever  occurred  before  in  the  history  of  the  world. 

It  probably  was  too  much  to  expect  of  these  men,  defeated  in  the  greatest 
of  civil  wars,  to  take  up  this  task  of  reconstruction  with  the  same  spirit  of 
leniency  and  generosity  that  had  inspired  the  Proclamation  of  Amnesty ;  at  all 
events  no  such  spirit  did  animate  the  Convention. 

Southern  men  who  had  favored  the  Union  cause  received  no  consideration. 
The  leading  spirits  of  secession  and  rebellion  ^controlled  and  guided  the  action  of 
the  Conventions,  and  were  selected  to  all  the  important  offices,  although  many 
of  them  were  disqualified  from  taking  the  lawful  oaths  of  office ;  while  on  all 
sides  the  doctrine  of  secession  was  still  maintained,  and  hatred  of  the  Union 
announced. 

The  oath  of  amnesty  required  them  to  "abide  by  and  faithfully  support  all 
laws  and  proclamations  which  have  been  made  during  the  existing  Rebellion, 
with  reference  to  the  emancipation  of  slaves" ;  instead  of  enacting  some  simple 
statutes  to  protect  and  encourage  freedmen  in  their  right  to  work  and  enjoy  the 
fruits  of  their  labor,  they  passed  the  most  odious  and  unjust  "Black  Codes." 

The  Black  Laws  of  Mississippi  and  South  Carolina  clearly  show  the  spirit 
of  the  old  master  class  to  the  colored  race.  Under  those  codes  negroes  were 
deprived  of  their  right  of  purchasing  a  home ;  they  were  prohibited  from  culti- 
vating the  soil  on  their  own  account ;  they  were  required  to  pay  an  onerous 
license  for  the  privilege  of  pursuing  the  business  of  an  artisan,  mechanic  or  shop- 
keeper. They  were  required  to  become  employed  as  "husbandmen"  or  "house 
servants,"  their  employers  were  to  be  known  as  "masters"  and  they  as  "serv- 
ants." Contracts  for  services,  in  case  of  disagreement  between  master  and 
servant,  were  to  be  regulated  and  the  rate  of  wages  fixed  by  the  district  judge  or 
magistrate ;  they  were  subject  to  arrest  and  imprisonment  if  they  abandoned 
their  contracts  of  labor ;  they  were  prohibited  from  making  new  contracts  with- 
out having  the  discharge  of  their  old  masters ;  the  law  fixed  their  time  of  rising 
and  retiring,  their  hours  of  labor,  and  regulated  their  social  intercourse. 

The  responsibilities  of  self-support  were  imposed  by  their  condition  of  free- 
dom ;  but  by  these  laws  they  were  to  be  deprived  of  the  right  of  choosing  the 
means  by  which  this  end  was  to  be  secured.  In  fact  they  were  hedged  around 
by  so  many  legal  disabilities  and  regulations,  that  they  possessed  none  of  the 
ordinary  rights  of  free  men  and  women. 

They  were  to  be  controlled  by  the  most  odious  and  tyrannical  customs  of 
the  old  slave  system,  now  for  the  first  time  made  statutory  law. 

This  legislation  possessed  one  merit — it  was  not  insidious;  it  was  a  frank 
and  open  movement  of  the  old  master  class  to  maintain  their  hold  upon  the 
negro  by  a  system  of  restrictions  and  limitations  which  would  reduce  him  to  a 

119 


state  of  servitude  more  abject,  degrading  and  pitiable  tlian  the  slavery  from 
which  he  had  been  just  released.  While  slaves,  their  masters  were  interested 
in  them  because  they  possessed  a  money  value ;  besides,  the  docility  of  the  negro 
and  their  attachment  to  the  master's  family,  brought  -master  and  slave  to  feel  a 
sincere  interest  in  and  devotion  towards  each  other. 

The  Civil  War  fully  demonstrated  the  existence  of  this  human  sentiment. 

While  the  war  raged  the  negroes  all  over  the  South  came  fully  to  under- 
stand that  Freedom  and  Slavery  were  contending  forces  in  the  strife,  and  that 
the  success  of  the  Rebellion  meant  a  continuance  of  Slavery ;  while  the  triumph 
of  the  Union  army  meant  their  freedom;  and  yet  throughout  the  whole  South 
there  was  no  conspiracy  of  slaves  against  masters ;  there  were  no  cases  of  mur- 
der, pillage,  arson  or  rape.  A  statement  of  Gen.  J.  B.  Gordon  of  Georgia,  who 
commanded  the  left  wing  of  Lee's  army  at  Appomattox,  made  before  a  Congres- 
sional Committee  is  worthy  of  note.  The  general  was  asked  the  question: 
"How  did  they  (the  negroes)  behave  during  the  war  when  the  white  men  went 
off  to  fight  and  left  them  at  home?"  Gen.  Gordon  answered:  "Well,  sir,  I 
had  occasion  to  refer  just  now  to  a  little  speech  which  I  made  at  Montgomery, 
Alabama,  when  Gen.  Clanton  also  spoke.  He  and  I  both  struck  on  that  strain 
of  thought.  I  went  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  citizens  of  the  South  owed  it  to  the 
negroes  to  educate  them.  One  of  the  things  which  I  mentioned,  and  which 
Gen.  Clanton  also  mentioned,  was  the  behavior  of  the  negroes  during  the  war ; 
the  fact  that  when  almost  the  entire  white  male  population  old  enough  to  bear 
arms  was  in  the  army,  and  large  plantations  were  left  to  be  managed  by  the 
women  and  children,  not  a  single  insurrection  had  occurred,  not  a  life  had  been 
taken,  and  that,  too,  when  the  Federal  armies  were  marching  through  the  coun- 
try with  freedom,  as  was  understood,  upon  their  banners." 

Governor  Orr  of  South  Carolina  also  stated :  "While  almost  the  entire 
able-bodied  population  of  the  Southern  States  was  absent  from  home  in  the 
Confederate  army,  fighting  to  destroy  the  Union  and  to  perpetuate  Slavery,  the 
negroes  remained  upon  the  plantations,  labored  faithfully,  were  orderly  and 
obedient,  and  took  care  of  and  protected  the  families  of  their  masters." 

The  conduct  of  the  negroes  toward  escaped  Union  prisoners  is  a  matter 
of  history;  they  never  betrayed  them,  and  never  failed  to  feed  them  and  aid 
them  to  escape. 

In  1863,  when  the  Union  armies  had  gained  a  secure  foothold  in  Mississippi 
and  other  seceded  States,  and  negroes  were  invited  to  enlist,  many  left  the 
plantations  to  enter  the  army,  but  the  act  of  leaving  their  masters  was  not 
accompanied  with  insult  or  outrage,  they  simply  walked  away.  In  their  lowly 
cabins,  when  at  midnight  escaping  Union  soldiers  knocked  at  their  doors,  they 
were  faithful ;  as  servants  in  the  army  they  were  faithful ;  and  as  soldiers  they 
were  both  faithful  and  courageous. 

The  negro  race  has  shown  itself  to  possess  in  a  high  degree  the  virtue  of 
fidelity.  This  quality  of  heart  and  mind  aroused  great  respect  for  the  negro  in 
the  breasts  of  the  Union  soldiers,  and  should  have  appealed  to  the  better  side  of 
the  nature  of  the  Southern  leaders  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  when  they  were 
entrusted  with  the  reconstruction  of  their  State  Governments. 

The  work  of  reconstruction  under  the  President's  plan  went  steadily  on.  In 
December,  1865,  when  Congress  met,  the  Legislative,  Executive  and  Judicial 
powers  of  the  seceded  States  were  controlled  by  men  recently  in  rebellion. 
Senators  and  Representatives  had  been  chosen,  nearly  all  of  whom  had  taken 
conspicuous  part  in  the  Rebellion,  and  these  gentlemen  were  present  in  Wash- 
ington demanding  admission  without  conditions.  As  an  illustration  of  the  situa- 
tion, the  case  of  Alexander  H.  Stephens  of  Georgia  may  be  cited.  On  March 
3rd,  1865,  when  Congress  adjourned,  Mr.  Stephens  was  Vice-President  of  the 
Confederate  Government,  and  was  doing  all  he  could  to  dissolve  the  Union  and 
destroy  the  National  Constitution.  In  December,  1865,  when  Congress  met, 
Mr.  Stephens,  with  a  certificate  of  election  as  Senator  of  the  United  States  from 
Georgia,  was  in  Washington  City  demanding  admission  to  the  Senate. 

Mr.  Colfax  was  re-elected  Speaker,  December,  1865 ;  in  his  address  he  spoke 
of  the  war  and  rejoiced  that  "today,  from  shore  to  shore  of  our  land,  there  is 
peace;"  he  declared  that  "the  duties  of  Congress  are  as  obvious  as  the  sun's 

120 


pathway  in  the  heavens.  Its  first  and  highest  obligation  is  to  guarantee  to  every 
State  a  Republican  form  of  Government,  to  establish  the  rebellious  States  on 
such  a  basis  of  enduring  justice  as  will  guarantee  all  safeguards  to  the  people 
and  protection  to  all  men  in  their  inalienable  rights."  This  speech  was  re- 
ceived with  hearty  applause  by  the  Republican  members. 

Mr.  Thaddeus  Stevens  at  once  offered  a  resolution  for  the  appointment  of 
a  joint  committee  of  fifteen  members,  nine  from  the  House  and  six  from  the 
Senate,  "who  shall  inquire  into  the  condition  of  the  States  which  formed  the 
so-called  Confederate  States  of  America  and  report  whether  they,  or  any  of 
them,  are  entitled  to  be  represented  in  either  House  of  Congress,  with  leave  to 
report  at  any  time  by  bill  or  otherwise,  and  until  such  report  shall  have  been  made 
and  finally  acted  upon  by  Congress,  no  member  shall  be  received  into  either 
House  from  any  of  the  so-called  Confederate  States."  This  resolution,  although 
objected  to,  was  at  once  passed  under  a  suspension  of  the  rules  by  a  vote  of  129 
yeas  to  35  nays. 

When  the  Senate  was  called  to  order  Senator  Sumrier  introduced  resolu- 
tions outlining  a  plan  of  reconstructing  the  seceded  States;  the  resolutions  of 
the  House,  however,  were  taken  up,  amended  and  on  December  I2th  passed. 
The  House  concurred  in  the  Senate  amendment,  and  so  the  Joint  Committee 
on  Reconstruction  was  authorized.  Great  interest  centered  in  the  composition 
of  this  Committee;  a  conflict  between  Congress  and  the  President  seemed  in- 
evitable. President  Johnson  was  self-reliant,  combative  and  uncompromising; 
there  was  little  hope  that  he  would  co-operate  with  Congress  in  any  steps  of  re- 
construction beyond  those  he  had  already  taken. 

The  committee  was  composed  as  follows :  Senate — William  P.  Fessenden 
of  Maine,  James  W.  Grimes  of  Iowa,  Ira  Harris  of  New  York,  Jacob  M.  Howard 
of  Michigan,  George  H.  Williams  of  Oregon  (Republicans)  and  Reverdy  John- 
son (Democrat)  Maryland.  House — Thaddeous  Stevens  of  Pennsylvania,  Elihu 
B.  Washburne  of  Illinois,  Justin  S.  Morrill  of  Vermont,  John  A.  Bingham  of 
Ohio,  Roscoe  Conkling  of  New  York,  George  S.  Boutwell  of  Massachusetts, 
Henry  T.  Blow  of  Missouri  (Republicans),  A.  J.  Rogers  of  New  Jersey  and 
Henry  Grider  of  Kentucky  (Democrats). 

This  action  of  Congress  was  approved  by  public  opinion  in  advance. 

The  struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  had  been  too  severe,  the 
sacrifice  of  life  and  treasure  too  great,  and  the  controversy  involved  in  the  war 
too  radical  to  be  disposed  of  in  a  summary  manner  by  a  few  Executive  orders. 

It  was  conceived  that  the  war  settled  something,  and  that  the  decision  of  the 
sword  should  be  permanently  recorded  upon  the  Statute  book  by  Congress  and 
the  people. 

The  Congress  took  into  account  the  momentous  changes  wrought  by  the 
war,  the  creation  of  a  mountain  of  public  debt  and  the  necessity  of  taking  meas- 
ures to  preserve  the  public  credit.  They  recognized  the  great  obligation  of  the 
country  to  provide  suitable  pensions  to  the  wounded  and  disabled  soldiers  of  the 
Union,  and  their  widows  and  orphans. 

They  recognized  the  duty  of  the  Government  to  protect  the  emancipated 
slaves  in  their  freedom,  and  the  right  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor. 

The  debate  on  reconstruction  was  opened  by  Thaddeus  Stevens,  December 
i8th,  1865.  Mr.  Stevens  was  the  recognized  leader  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives— learned,  able,  experienced,  courageous,  resourceful ;  a  born  leader  of  men, 
old  and  infirm  in  body,  but  mentally  strong,  alert  and  aggressive,  he  had  been 
the  leading  spirit  in  the  House  for  the  enactment  of  laws  to  raise  and  support 
the  Union  armies,  and  now  he  was  the  first  man  in  Congress  to  discuss  the 
question  of  reconstruction. 

Mr.  Stevens  boldly  antagonized  the  President ;  he  contended  that  there  are 
two  provisions  of  the  Constitution,  under  one  of  which  the  case  must  fall.  The 
fourth  article  says  that  "New  States  may  be  admitted  by  the  Congress  into  the 
Union."  In  my  judgment  this  is  the  controlling  provision  in  this  case.  Unless 
the  law  of  Nations  is  a  dead  letter,  the  late  war  between  the  two  acknowledged 
belligerents  severed  their  original  contracts  and  broke  all  the  ties  that  bound 
them  together.  The  future  condition  of  the  conquered,power  depends  on  the 
will  of  the  conqueror.  They  must  come  in  as  new  States  or  remain  as  conquered 

121 


provinces.  "Suppose/'  said  he,  "as  some  dreaming  theorists  imagine,  that  these 
States  have  never  been  out  of  the  Union,  but  have  only  destroyed  their  State 
Governments,  so  as  to  be  incapable  of  political  action,  then  the  fourth  section 
of  the  Fourth  Article  applies,  which  says  'The  United  States  shall  guarantee  to 
every  State  in  this  Union  a  Republican  form  of  government.'  But,"  he  in- 
quired, "who  is  the  United  States  ?  Not  the  Judiciary,  not  the  President,  but  the 
sovereign  power  of  the  people,  exercised  through  their  representatives  in  Con- 
gress with  the  concurrence  of  the  Executive.  It  means  political  government — 
the  concurrent  action  of  both  branches  of  Congress  and  the  Executive ;  the  sep- 
arate action  of  the  President,  or  the  Senate,  or  the  House,  amounts  to  nothing, 
either  in  admitting  new  States  or  guaranteeing  Republican  forms  of  Government 
to  lapsed  or  outlawed  States.  Whence  springs  the  preposterous  idea  that  any 
one  of  these,  acting  separately,  can  determine  the  rights  of  States  to  send  Rep- 
resentatives or  Senators  to  the  Congress  of  the  Union." 

This  speech,  of  which  the  foregoing  is  simply  a  suggestion,  was  accepted 
by  the  administration  as  a  warning  of  the  opposition  that  might  be  expected 
to  their  policy  of  reconstruction.  The  speech  must  be  answered  and  Hon.  Henry 
J.  Raymond  of  New  York,  a  close  personal  friend  of  Secretary  Seward,  the 
editor  of  the  New  York  Times,  the  author  of  the  first  platform  of  the  Republican 
party,  adopted  at  Pittsburg,  February  22nd,  1856,  was  selected  to  make  the 
answer.  He  was  a  Republican,  a  man  of  splendid  ability  and  had  just  entered 
Congress.  Mr.  Raymond  addressed  the  House  December  21  st.  It  was  an  able 
speech  from  a  brilliant  man.  He  defended  the  policy  of  President  Johnson  and 
took  issue  with  Mr.  Stevens  upon  the  proposition  that  the  seceded  States  had 
gone  out  of  the  Union.  He  declared :  "I  cannot  believe  that  those  States  have 
ever  been  out  of  the  Union  or  that  they  are  now  out  of  the  Union.  If  they  were, 
sir,  how  and  when  did  they  become  so?  By  what  specific  act,  at  what  precise 
time,  did  any  one  of  those  States  take  itself  out  of  the  American  Union?  Was 
it  by  the  ordinance  of  secession  ?  I  think  we  all  agree  that  an  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion passed  by  any  State  of  the  Union  is  simply  a  nullity,  because  it  encounters 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  which  is  the  supreme  law  of  the  land. 
Were  their  arms  victorious?  If  they  were,  thfen  their  secession  was  an  accom- 
plished fact.  If  not,  it  was  nothing  more  than  an  abortive  attempt — a  purpose 
unfulfilled.  In  other  words  they  failed  to  secede." 

On  the  day  this  speech  was  delivered  Congress  took  a  recess  for  the  Christ- 
mas holidays.  Congress  reassembled  January  6th,  1866.  On  the  8th  Hon. 
Samuel  Shellabarger  of  Ohio  delivered  an  address  answering  Mr.  Raymond. 
Mr.  Shellabarger  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers,  and  probably  the 
closest  and  most  logical  thinker  in  Congress.  His  remarks  on  Reconstruction 
were  very  forcible.  He  said : 

"If  in  debating  this  question  I  debate  axioms,  my  apology  is  that  there  are 
no  other  questions  to  debate  in  Reconstruction.  If  in  this  discussion,  I  make 
self-evident  things  absurd  or  incomprehensible,  my  defence  shall  be  that  I  am 
conforming  to  the  usages  of  Congress.  I  will  not  inquire  whether  any  subject  of 
this  Government,  by  reason  of  the  revolt,  passed  from  under  its  sovereignty  or 
ceased  to  owe  it  allegiance ;  nor  shall  I  inquire  whether  any  territory  passed 
from  under  that  jurisdiction,  because  I  know  of  no  one  who  thinks  that  any  of 
these  things  did  occur.  I  shall  not  consider  whether,  by  the  Rebellion,  any  State 
lost  its  territorial  character  of  its  defined  boundaries  or  subdivisions,  for  I  know 
of  no  one  who  would  obliterate  those  geographical  qualities  of  the  State.  These 
questions,  however  much  discussed,  are  in  no  practical  sense  before  Congress. 

"What  is  before  Congress?"  asked  Mr.  Shellabarger.  "I  at  once  define 
and  affirm  it  in  a  single  sentence.  It  is,  under  our  Constitution,  possible  to,  and 
the  late  Rebellion  did  in  fact,  so  overthrow  and  usurp,  in  the  insurrectionary 
States,  the  loyal  State  Governments,  as  that  during  such  usurpation  such  States 
and  their  people  ceased  to  have  any  of  the  rights  or  powers  of  government  as 
States  of  the  Union,  and  this  loss  of  the  rights  and  powers  of  government  was 
such  that  the  United  States  may,  and  ought  to,  assume  and  exercise  local  powers 
of  the  lost  State  governments,  and  may  control  the  re-admission  of  such  States 
to  their  powers  of  government  in  this  Union,  subject  to,  and  in  accordance  with, 
the  obligation  to  guarantee  to  each  State  a  republican  form  of  government." 

122 


Mr.  Raymond  had  in  his  speech  asked  with  great  earnestness,  "By  what 
specific  act,  *  *  *  did  any  one  of  these  States  take  itself  out  of  the  Union  ?" 
Mr.  Shellabarger  answered  that  inquiry  with  great  power.  ''I  answer  him,"  he 
said,  "in  the  words  of  the  Supreme  Court.  'The  causeless  waging  against  their 
own  Government  of  a  war  which  all  the  world  acknowledges  to  have  been  the 
greatest  civil  war  known  in  the  history  of  the  human  race.'  That  war  was 
waged  by  these  people  as  States,  and  it  went  through  long,  dreary  years.  In  it 
they  threw  off  and  defied  your  Constitution,  your  laws,  and  your  Government. 
They  obliterated  from  their  State  Constitution  and  laws  every  vestige  of  recog- 
nition of  your  Government.  They  discarded  all  their  official  oaths,  and  took,  in 
their  places,  oaths  to  support  your  enemy's  Government.  They  seized,  in  their 
States,  all  the  Nation's  property. 

"Their  Senators  and  Representatives  in  your  Congress  insulted,  bantered, 
defied  and  then  left  you.  They  expelled  from  their  lands  or  assassinated  every 
inhabitant  of  known  loyalty.  They  betrayed  and  surrendered  your  arms.  They 
passed  sequestration  and  other  acts  in  flagitious  violation  of  the  law  of  nations, 
making  every  citizen  of  the  United  States  an  alien  enemy,  and  placing  in  the 
treasury  of  their  rebellion  all  money  and  property  due  such  citizens.  They 
framed  iniquity  and  universal  murder  into  law.  For  years  they  besieged  your 
capital  and  set  your  bleeding  armies  in  rout  back  here  upon  the  very  sanctuaries 
of  your  national  power.  Iheir  pirates  burned  your  unarmed  commerce  upon 
every  sea.  They  carved  the  bones  of  your  unburied  heroes  into  ornaments  and 
drank  from  goblets  made  out  of  their  skulls.  They  poisoned  your  fountains, 
put  mines  under  your  soldiers'  prisons,  organized  bands  whose  leaders  were 
concealed  in  your  homes,  and  whose  commissions  ordered  the  torch  to  be 
carried  to  your  cities,  and  the  yellow  fever  to  your  wives  and  children.  They 
planned  one  universal  bonfire  of  the  North,  from  Lake  Ontario  to  the  Missouri. 
They  murdered  by  systems  of  starvation  and  exposure,  60,000  of  your  sons,  as 
brave  and  heroic  as  ever  martyrs  were.  They  destroyed,  in  the  four  years  of 
horrid  war,  another  army  so  large  that  it  would  reach  almost  around  the  globe 
in  marching  column.  And  then  to  give  the  infernal  drama  a  fitting  close,  and 
to  concentrate  into  one  crime  all  that  is  criminal  in  crime  and  all  that  is  detest- 
able in  barbarism,  they  murdered  the  President  of  the  United  States.  I  allude 
to  these  horrid  events  not  to  revive  frightful  memories,  or  to  bring  back  the 
impulses  towards  the  perpetual  severence  of  this  people  which  they  provoke. 
]  allude  to  them  to  remind  us  how  utter  was  the  overthrow  and  the  obliteration 
of  all  Government,  divine  and  human,  how  total  was  the  wreck  of  all  constitu- 
tions and  laws,  political,  civil  and  international.  I  allude  to  them  to  condense 
their  monstrous  enormities  of  guilt  into  one  crime,  and  to  point  the  gentleman 
from  New  York  to  it,  and  to  tell  him  that  that  was  the  specific  act." 

Many  able  speeches  were  made  on  the  Republican  side  upon  the  subject 
of  reconstruction,  but  it  is  probable  that  none  exerted  more  influence  than  the 
speech  of  Mr.  Shellabarger.  Some  days  later  Mr.  Raymond  replied  to  Mr. 
Shellabarger,  but  his  leadership  in  favor  of  the  administration  proved  abortive. 
He  had  but  a. single  Republican  follower  in  the  House,  his  colleague,  William  A. 
Darling  of  New  York. 

Three  important  measures  were  adopted  by  Congress  touching  the  subject 
of  reconstruction,  ist,  The  Civil  Rights  Bill,  entitled,  An  act  to  protect  all 
persons  in  the  United  States  in  their  civil  rights,  and  furnish  their  means  of 
vindication.  2nd,  The  Freedman  Bureau  Bill,  which  continued  in  force  the  act 
of  March  3rd,  1865,  and  extends  the  supervision  of  the  Bureau  to  all  legal  refu- 
gees and  freedmen  as  far  as  shall  be  necessary  to  enable  them  to  become  self- 
supporting. 

The  President  vetoed  these  measures  and  Congress  passed  them  over  the 
vetoes. 

The  3rd  measure  was  the  I4th  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United 
Slates,  which  will  not  be  given  in  full  here,  but  deserves  a  careful  study  by  all. 
\vho  wish  to  have  a  clear  understanding  of  the  history  of  that  period.  This 
amendment  being  proposed  by  a  two-thirds  vote  of  each  House  of  Congress,  did 
not  require  action  by  the  President,  but  President  Johnson  made  known  his 
dissent  to  the  measure. 

123 


The  Joint  Committee  on  Reconstruction  made  a  lengthy  report  against 
recognizing  the  Governments  established  under  the  proclamations  of  the  Presi- 
dent. Both  Houses  refused  to  admit  members  from  any  of  the  seceded  States. 

The  theory  upon  which  President  Johnson  proceeded  was  that  the  State 
governments  might  be  reorganized,  and  the  powers  of  the  States  fully  re-estab- 
lished without  any  Congressional  legislation  whatever;  that  the  right  of  the 
people  of  those  states  to  representation  in  Congress  had  not  been  impaired  by 
the  fact  that  the  great  body  of  the  electors  had  actually  made  war  upon  the 
Government,  and  had  placed  their  State  governments  in  the  same  position.  Ac- 
cording to  President  Johnson's  conception,  all  Congress  had  to  do  was  to  open 
their  doors  and  admit  to  seats  in  the  two  houses  Senators  and  Representatives 
which  might  be  elected  from  the  revolted  States,  and  these  new  members  were 
to  be  permitted  without  note  or  comment  to  enter  upon  the  work  of  making  laws 
for  the  Union. 

The  Republican  National  Committee  issued  an  address  presenting  the  issues, 
and  the  matter  was  taken  up  by  the  people.  This  conflict  of  opinions  between 
the  President  and  Congress  resulted  in  bringing  Democrats  North  and  South 
to  the  support  of  the  President. 

These  forces  held  a  convention  in  Philadelphia  which  was  attended  by  lead- 
ing Democrats  from  every  state  in  the  Union.  They  were  unanimous  in  sup- 
porting President  Johnson's  plan  of  reconstruction,  and  violently  opposing  the 
proposed  I4th  amendment  to  the  Constitution.  To  show  the  complete  harmony 
between  the  reunited  Democratic  forces,  North  and  South,  a  dramatic  scene 
was  enacted  in  the  convention  by  delegates  from  South  Carolina  and  Massachu- 
setts, who  walked  arm  in  arm  into  the  convention  hall.  But  such  a  spectacle 
could  not  turn  the  minds  of  loyal  people  away  from  the  important  issues  involved 
in  the  campaign. 

While  the  cause  for  which  the  Confederates  fought  was  lost,  their  opinions 
in  respect  to  it  had  not  changed,  nor  had  the  passions  and  prejudices  engendered 
by  the  war  cooled.  Although  they  had  been  treated  leniently  they  exhibited  no 
magnanimity  towards  Southern  men  who  had  remained  loyal  to  the  Union. 
The  leaders  in  secession  and  rebellion  were  leaders  still. 

The  breach  between  Congress  and  the  President  was  complete.  With  a 
man  of  President  Johnson's  temperament,  it  meant  that  on  his  part,  at  least, 
the  struggle  would  be  fierce  and  vindictive. 

A  new  Congress  was  to  be  elected  in  November,  1866;  the  issues  involved 
in  the  controversy  were  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  decision.  It  was 
an  off  year,  so-called,  in  politics,  but  it  must  be  recorded  that  the  political  tide 
rose  higher  in  1866  than  ever  before  or  since.  Four  great  National  political 
conventions  were  held  that  year,  not  to  nominate  National  candidates,  but  to 
give  expression  to  political  opinions. 

The  Republican  party  met  in  State  Convention  at  Springfield  August  8th. 
The  issues  of  the  war  had  caused  a  new  alignment  in  politics ;  many  men  promi- 
nent as  supporters  of  the  Democratic  party  now  affiliated  with  the  Republicans. 
The  soldier  element  was  well  represented  in  the  Convention.  Gen.  Green  B. 
Raum,  who  had  supported  Mr.  Douglas  in  1860,  was  selected  as  the  President 
of  the  Convention ;  he  had  already  been  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate 
for  Congress  in  the  Cairo  district.  James  P.  Root  was  Secretary. 

The  Convention  nominated  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  for  Congressman  at  Large, 
Gen.  George  W.  Smith  of  Chicago  for  Treasurer,  and  Newton  Bateman  was 
renominated  by  acclamation  for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction.  The 
platform  endorsed  the  I4th  amendment  to  the  Constitution,  the  Congressional 
reconstruction  policy  for  the  South,  expressed  unfeigned  and  heartfelt  thanks  to 
the  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  paid  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  President  Lincoln. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield  August  29th,  and  was 
presided  over  by  Gen.  John  A.  McClernand ;  nominated  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey  for 
Congressman  at  Large,  Gen.  Jesse  J.  Phillips  for  Treasurer,  and  Col.  John  M. 
Crebs  for  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction. 

The  principal  plank  in  the  Democratic  platform  was  the  endorsement  of 
the  reconstruction  policy  of  President  Johnson,  as  set  forth  in  the  platform  of 
the  "National  Union"  Convention  held  in  Philadelphia  August  I7th. 

124 


The  Republican  candidates  for  Congress  were  Norman  B.  Judd,  John  F. 
Farnsworth,  E.  B.  Washburne,  A.  C.  Harding,  E.  C.  Ingersoll,  Burton  C.  Cook, 
H.  P.  H.  Bromwell,  S.  M.  Cullom,  Charles  E.  Lippincott,  -  -  Case,  Ed- 
ward Kitchell,  Jehu  Baker  and  Green  B.  Raum. 

The  canvass  involved  the  issues  of  the  war  and  the  adoption  of  the  I4th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution. 

Democratic  candidates  endorsed  the  action  of  the  President  in  attempting 
to  restore  the  Southern  States  to  their  proper  relation  to  the  Union  without 
conditions  and  violently  opposed  the  I4th  amendment.  Joint  debates  were  held 
between  Gen.  Logan  and  Col.  Dickey,  between  Mr.  Bromwell  and  Gen.  J.  C. 
Black,  between  Mr.  Cullom  and  Dr.  Edwin  S.  Fowler,  and  between  Gen.  Raum 
and  Judge  W.  J.  Allen.  Large  crowds  attended  these  meetings,  and  great 
interest  was  excited  throughout  the  State.  The  Democratic  ticket,  composed 
of  valiant  Union  soldiers,  could  not  stem  the  rising  tide  of  Republican  popu- 
larity. The  people  were  ready  to  honor  these  men,  individually,  but  could  not 
forget  the  disloyalty  of  Democratic  leaders. 

The  Republicans  carried  the  State  by  a  great  majority,  electing  the  State 
ticket  and  eleven  Congressmen,  all  in  fact,  except  Messrs.  Lippincott,  Case  and 
Kitchell.  The  majority  of  Gen.  Logan  was  55,987.  The  Legislature  had  a  large 
Republican  majority..  The  Senate  stood  16  Republicans  to  9  Democrats,  the 
House  60  Republicans  to  25  Democrats.  Many  prominent  men  were  members 
of  this  Legislature — Gen.  A.  C.  Fuller,  Col.  Thomas  A.  Boy_d,  Gen.  Greenbury 
L.  Fort,  Daniel  Munn  and  William  Shepard  were  in  the  Senate ;  James  C.  Conk- 
ling,  Gen.  Stephen  A.  Hurlbut,  Col.  E.  N.  Bates,  Gen.  James  M.  True,  Capt.  Ed 
Harlan,  William  M.  Smith,  James  Dinsmore,  Edward  S.  Taylor,  Joseph  M. 
Bailey  and  Lester  M.  Bond,  members  of  the  House. 

Franklin  Corwin  of  LaSalle  County  was  elected  Speaker,  Stephen  G.  Pad- 
dock, Clerk,  and  Gen.  Charles  E.  Lippincott  was  elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate. 
It  was  the  duty  of  this  Legislature  to  elect  a  Senator  to  succeed  Hon.  Lyman 
Trumbull,  who  was  a  candidate  for  re-election. 

Many  persons  were  favorable  to  the  election  of  a  soldier.  Gen.  John  M. 
Palmer,  Gen.  Oglesby  and  Gen.  Logan  were  candidates ;  after  a  careful  canvass 
amongst  their  friends  Gen.  Palmer  was  selected  as  the  candidate  to  oppose 
Senator  Trumbull  in  the  caucus.  On  a  preliminary  ballot  in  the  caucus  Judge 
Trumbull  received  48  votes  and  Gen.  Palmer  28  votes.  Gen.  Palmer's  name  was 
then  withdrawn  and  Senator  Trumbull  nominated  by  acclamation.  On  January 
16,  1867,  Judge  Trumbull  was  elected  Senator,  the  Democratic  vote  being  cast 
for  Col.  T.  Lyle  Dickey. 

The  4Oth  Congress,  chosen  at  the  election  of  1866,  was  overwhelmingly 
Republican.  The  Senate  had  42  Republicans  and  10  Democrats,  the  House  143 
Republicans  and  49  Democrats.  The  39th  Congress  adjourned  March  4th,  1867, 
at  12  o'clock  noon;  the  4Oth  Congress  met  at  the  same  hour,  and  organized  by 
the  election  of  Schuyler  Colfax,  Speaker.  This  was  practically  a  continuation 
of  the  Congressional  session. 

A  special  act  had  been  passed  to  secure  this  end.  It  was  felt  that  the  inter- 
ests of  the  country  required  prompt  action  on  the  part  of  Congress.  While 
the  military  conflict  was  over,  the  action  of  the  President  had  aroused  in  the 
master  class  of  the  South  the  hope,  the  belief,  that  their  power  over  the  subject 
race  could  be  retained,  and  that  the  revolted  States  would  be  restored  to  their 
political  power  in  the  Union  without  conditions.  They  were  supported  in  this 
position  by  the  Democratic  organization  of  the  North,  and  the  Southern  States 
had  elected  members  to  both  Houses  of  Congress. 

The  4Oth  Congress  refused  admission  to  Senators  and  Representatives  from 
the  revolted  States  upon  the  ground  that  the  State  Governments  had  not  been 
recognized  by  Congress  as  legally  existing ;  and  that  the  people  of  those  States 
were  not  entitled  to  representation  except  upon  such  terms  as  Congress  might 
prescribe  by  law. 

On  March  2nd,  1867,  a  law  was  passed  entitled,  "An  act  to  provide  for  more 
efficient  Government  of  the  Rebel  States." 

On  the  23rd  of  the  same  month  a  supplementary  act  was  passed  for  the 
same  purpose.  These  acts  divided  the  States  into  five  military  districts,  and 

125 


provided  for  calling  Constitutional  Conventions  under  military  authority,  for 
impartial  suffrage  including  the  colored  race,  and  the  adoption  of  the  i4th 
amendment  to  the  Constitution  as  a  condition  to  representation  in  Congress. 
The  great  majority  of  the  white  men  of  the  South  sullenly  declined  to  partici- 
pate in  the  Congressional  plan  of  reconstruction,  and  did  not  become  candi- 
dates for  office  nor  vote  at  the  election.  Only  two  or  three  men  of  National 
standing  who  had  taken  part  in  the  Rebellion  identified  themselves  with  the 
Congressional  plan  of  reconstruction,  and  they  were  condemned  and  ostracized 
for  this  action. 

The  work  of  Congressional  reconstruction  went  steadily  forward  under  the 
superintendence  of  some  of  the  most  distinguished  generals  of  the  army. 

Many  men  who  had  served  with  distinction  in  the  Union  army,  and  others 
who  had  gone  South  and  bought  property  and  settled  there,  participated  in 
organizing  Governments  in  the  Southern  States. 

The  conditions  imposed  by  Congress  were  complied  with  from  time  to  time 
by  the  various  States ;  their  representatives  in  Congress  were  given  seats  and  the 
States  were  fully  restored  to  tneir  relation  to  the  Union. 

In  the  meantime  the  i/|.th  amendment  was  ratified  by  thirty  States,  and  July 
28th,  1868,  was  by  proclamation  announced  as  a  part  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
-country. 

Many  native  born  Southern  white  men  participated  in  this  work  of  recon- 
struction; some  of  these  were  original  Union  men,  others  had  served  in  the 
Confederate  army,  but  they  all  believed  that  the  true  policy  for  the  South  was 
to  comply  with  the  laws  of  Congress,  submit  with  good  grace  to  the  inevitable 
results  of  the  war,  and  go  to  work  and  develop  the  great  natural  resources  of  the 
country.  Looking  back  over  the  tragic  history  of  politics  in  the  South  since 
the  war,  the  assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln  looms  up  as  a  great  National 
misfortune.  Lincoln  was  wise,  kind,  considerate. 

The  great  triumphant  army  led  by  Grant  was  not  filled  with  malice  and 
thoughts  of  revenge ;  they  recognized  the  courage  of  the  men  they  had  fought 
for  four  years,  and  were  animated  by  a  spirit  of  magnanimity  towards  them. 

The  loyal  people  of  the  North,  rejoicing  over  the  fact  of  the  preservation  of 
the  Union,  were  ready  to  approve  by  public  opinion  and  at  the  polls  any  just 
settlement  of  the  issues  of  the  war.  It  is  not  too  much  to  believe  that  if  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  had  lived  he  would  have  found  a  way  to  unite  and  restore  the  bonds 
of  Union  upon  terms  acceptable  and  satisfactory  to  both  North  and  South. 

But  Andrew  Johnson  was  not  the  man  for  such  a  crisis ;  he  had  ability  and 
experience,  but  he  was  combative,  uncompromising  and  vindictive ;  he  was  self- 
reliant,  and  had  overweening  confidence  in  his  own  judgment.  Starting  out  with 
an  expressed  determination  to  punish  traitors  wherever  they  could  be  found, 
he  ended  by  turning  the  State  Governments  of  the  South  over,  without  condi- 
tions, to  men  who  had  been  active  in  the  rebellion,  without  a  protest  on  his  part 
against  Black  Codes  which  were  enacted  for  no  other  purpose  than  re-enslaving 
the  negro  race.  And  when  the  people  who  elected  him  to  office  raised  their 
voices  against  such  proceedings,  he  indignantly  denounced  the  leaders  of  the 
Republican  party,  and  threw  himself  bodily  into  the  arms  of  the  reunited  De- 
mocracy. 

The  breaking  away  of  President  Johnson  from  the  Republican  party,  and  the 
rancor  with  which  he  opposed  all  their  measures,  sowed  the  seeds  for  that  dis- 
cord and  bloody  confusion  which  reigned  in  the  South  for  years,  and  which  cul- 
minated in  articles  of  impeachment  against  him  and  his  trial  before  the  Senate. 


126 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

CONVENTIONS   or    1868 — ELECTION  OF  GRANT  AXO  COLFAX — Jonx  M.  PALMER 
ELECTED  GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS. 

The  animosity  aroused  by  President  Johnson's  administration  had  not 
cooled,  nor  had  the  Democratic  party  abated  any  of  its  opposition  to  the  recon- 
struction measures  of  the  Republican  Congress  ;  they  had  high  hopes  of  carrying 
the  country,  and  determined  to  be  early  in  the  field. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  was  held  at  Springfield,  April  15,  1868. 
Anthony  L.  Thornton  was  made  President.  The  platform  opposed  the  recon- 
struction measures  of  Congress,  favored  payment  of  the  National  debt  in  legal 
tenders ;  the  abolition  of  National  banks  and  the  taxation  of  Government  securi- 
ties ;  opposed  the  protection  tariff  and  favored  the  nomination  of  George  H. 
Pendleton  for  President.  John  R.  Eden  was  nominated  for  Governor  with  a  full 
State  ticket. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  met  at  Peoria,  111.,  May  6,  1868.  Frank- 
lin Corwin  was  chosen  President  and  James  C.  Root  Secretary.  Robert  G. 
Ingersoll,  S.  W.  Moulton  and  Jesse  K.  Dubois  were  candidates  for  Governor. 
The  Convention  contanied  many  friends  of  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer,  and  although 
he  was  not  a  candidate  and  telegraphed  that  he  could  not  accept,  he  was  nomi- 
nated on  the  second  ballot.  John  Dougherty  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  Edward  Rummel  for  Secretary  of  State,  Charles  E.  Lippincott  for 
Auditor,  Erastus  N.  Bates  for  Treasurer  and  Washington  Bushnell  for  Attor- 
ney-General. Andrew  Sherman,  Robert  E.  Logan  and  John  Reid  were  nomi- 
nated for  Penitentiary  Commissioners,  and  Gen.  John  A.  Logan  was  nominated 
by  acclamation  for  Congressman  at  Large. 

The  following  named  persons  were  selected  as  delegates  to  the  Republican 
National  Convention  at  Chicago :  John  A.  Logan,  B.  J.  Swjeet,  A.  C.  Babcock, 
J.  K.  Dubois,  E.  A.  Storr  at  Large.  From  the  districts,  John  R.  Jones,  Herman 
Raster,  M.  L.  Joslyn,  Wm.  Hulin,  James  L.  Camp,  N.  D.  Swift,  Calvin  Trues- 
dale,  Ira  D.  Chamberlain,  Mark  Bangs,  W.  L.  Wiley,  Henry  Fish,  Calhoun  Grant, 
J.  W.  Langley,  James  H.  Steele,  Giles  A.  Smith,  I.  S.  Whetmore,  Hugh  L.  Fulk- 
erton,  C.  N.  Whitney,  John  A.  Logan,  A.  C.  Vanderwater,  I.  A.  Powell,  Wm.  H. 
Robinson,  P.  E.  Hosmer,  Philip  Isermeyer,  B.  G.  Roots,  Thomas  S.  Ridgway. 

The  following  named  persons  were  selected  as  Presidential  Electors : 

Gustavus  Keener,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Jesse  L.  Hildrup,  Henry  W. 
Draper,  Joseph  O.  Glover,  Samuel  C.  Parks,  John  B.  Strong,  Charles  F. 
Springer,  Stephen  A.  Hurlbert,  Lorenz  Brentano,  James  McCoy.  Thomas  G. 
Frost,  John  W.  Blackburn,  Damon  G.  Timnicliff,  Edward  Kitchell,  Daniel  W. 
Munn. 

The  Republican  platform  endorsed  the  reconstruction  policy  of  Congress, 
denounced  repudiation,  favored  paying  the  National  debt  according  to  the  letter 
and  spirit  of  the  law :  demanded  the  reduction  and  equalization  of  taxes ;  ex- 
pressed gratitude  to  the  soldiers,  and  endorsed  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  for  President. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  met  in  Chicago  May  21,  1868.  Gen. 
Carl  Schurz  was  temporary  Chairman  and  Gen.  Joseph  R.  Hawley  of  Connecti- 
cut was  made  permanent  Chairman.  Hon.  Richard  W.  Thompson  of  Indiana 
was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  On  the  second  day  the  plat- 
form was  presented  and  adopted.  It  consisted  of  fourteen  resolutions,  covering 
all  important  political  questions  then  before  the  people. 

The  country  was  congratulated  on  the  assured  success  of  the  reconstruction 
policy  of  Congress.  All  forms  of  repudiation  were  denounced ;  that  the  national 

127 


128 


debt  should  be  extended  over  a  fair  period  for  its  redemption,  and  the  rate  of 
interest  reduced  wherever  it  can  be  honestly  done ;  favored  improving  the  public 
credit  so  money  could  be  borrowed  at  a  lower  rate  of  interest.  Deplored  the 
untimely  death  of  President  Lincoln,  and  expressed  regret  at  the  secession  of 
Andrew  Johnson,  who  had  usurped  high  legislative  and  judicial  functions  and 
refused  to  execute  the  law.  Expressed  gratitude  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors. 

Nominations  for  President  being  declared  in  order,  General  Logan  arose  and 
addressed  the  Chair  as  follows :  "In  the  name  of  the  loyal  citizens,  soldiers,  and 
sailors  of  this  great  Republic  of  the  United  States  of  America;  in  the  name  ot 
loyalty,  liberty,  humanity,  and  justice;  in  the  name  of  the  National  Union  Re- 
publican party,  I  nominate  as  candidate  for  the  Chief  Magistracy  of  this  nation, 
Ulysses  S.  Grant."  The  nomination  was  received  with  unbounded  enthusiasm ; 
upon  the  call  of  the  roil  State  after  State  gave  General  Grant  its  vote.  When 
Ohio  was  reached  Chairman  Jones  responded :  "Ohio  has  the  honor  of  being  the 
mother  of  our  great  Captain,  who  never  knew  defeat,  to  fight  it  out  through  the 
summer  and  through  the  autumn  to  the  end  of  the  great  contest."  Ohio  gave  42 
votes  for  U.  S.  Grant.  The  vote  was  unanimous  and  General  Grant  was  declared 
the  nominee  of  the  Union  Republican  party  for  President. 

An  active  contest  occurred  for  the  second  place.  Eleven  names  were  men- 
tioned. The  first  ballot  was:  Wade  147,  Fenton  120,  Wilson  119,  Colfax  115, 
Durbin  51,  Hamlin  27,  Speed  22,  Harlan  16,  Cresswell  14,  Pomeroy  6  and  Kelsey 
4.  At  the  close  of  the  fifth  ballot  the  vote  stood,  Colfax  541,  Fenton  69,  Wade  38. 
Mr.  Colfax's  nomination  was  made  unanimous. 

General  Grant  was  also  nominated  for  President  by  a  Soldiers'  National 
Convention  held  in  Chicago  May  19,  1868.  General  Grant's  letter  of  acceptance 
bore  date  May  29th.  It  was  a  plain  epistle  such  as  only  he  could  write.  It  con- 
cluded with  those  memorable  words,  "Let  us  have  peace." 

The  Democratic  National  Convention  met  July  4,  1868,  at  Tammany  Hall, 
New  York.  George  H.  Pendleton  was  the  leading  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent. Horatio  Seymour  was  President  of  the  convention.  On  the  first 
ballot  for  a  candidate  for  President  the  vote  stood:  George  H.  Pendleton  105, 
Andrew  Johnson  63,  Winfield  S.  Hancock  33^,  Sanford  E.  Church  33,  Asa 
Parker  26.  On  the  I9th  ballot  Thomas  Hendricks  received  1071/2  votes.  On  the 
22d  ballot  a  stampede  was  made  to  Mr.  Seymour ;  he  protested,  "Gentlemen,  your 
candidate  I  cannot  be,"  but  nevertheless  he  received  317  votes  and  was  nomi- 
nated. General  Francis  P.  Blair  of  Missouri  was  nominated  for  Vice-President. 
on  the  first  ballot. 

The  Democratic  platform  opposed  everything  the  Republican  party  and 
Congress  favored ;  especially  insisting  upon  the  reconstruction  policy  of  Presi- 
dent Johnson.  That  issue  was  emphasized  by  what  is  known  as  the  Broadhead 
letter  written  by  General  Blair  to  Mr.  Broadhead  of  St.  Louis  upon  the  recon- 
struction policy  of  Congress.  In  that  letter  General  Blair  said:  "There  is  but 
one  way  to  restore  the  Government  and  the  Constitution,  and  that  is  for  the 
President  to  declare  these  acts  null  and  void,  compel  the  army  to  undo  its  usurp- 
ations at  the  South,  dispossess  the  carpet-bag  State  governments,  allow  the  white 
people  to  reorganize  their  own  State  governments  and  elect  Senators  and  Rep- 
resentatives." General  Blair  declared  that  this  was  "the  real  and  only  question" 
and  that  until  this  was  accomplished  "it  is  idle  to  talk  of  bonds,  greenbacks,  the 
public  faith,  and  the  public  credit." 

This  letter  suggested  the  resolution  of  the  Democratic  Convention,  which 
declared,  "We  regard  the  reconstruction  acts  (so-called)  of  Congress,  as  such,  as 
usurpations  and  unconstitutional,  revolutionary  and  void." 

General  Blair  was  placed  upon  the  ticket  because  of  his  revolutionary  ideas, 
with  a  view,  no  doubt,  that  he  would  aid  the  measures  he  suggested,  in  the  event 
of  Democratic  success. 

The  canvass  throughout  the  United  States  was  earnest  and  spirited.  In 
Illinois  the  people  were  profoundly  interested. 

The  election  was  held  and  a  great  Republican  victory  was  the  result.  Grant 
and  Colfax  carried  26  States  and  received  214  electoral  votes.  Seymour  and  Blair 
carried  8  States  and  had  80  electoral  votes.  The  popular  vote  stood :  For  Grant 
and  Colfax,  3,015,071 ;  for  Seymour  and  Blair,  2,709,613. 

129 


General  Palmer  was  elected  Governor  by  50,099  majority,  with  the  entire 
State  ticket.  The  Illinois  Legislature  was  Republican.  The  Senate  stood  18 
Republicans,  7  Democrats.  The  House,  58  Republicans,  27  Democrats. 

Franklin  Corwin  was  elected  speaker  and  James  P.  Root  clerk.  Chauncey 
Elwood  was  chosen  Secretary  of  the  Senate. 

John  M.   Palmer,   lawyer,   soldier,   statesman,   author,   was  born  in   Scott 
County,  Kentucky,  September  13,  1817;  removed  with  his  father  to  Madison 
County,  Illinois,  in  1831 ;  attended  the  common  schools  in  Kentucky  and  Illinois, 
and  entered  Alton  (now  Shurtlefr.')  College  in  1835,  where  he  remained  a  year, 
paying  his  expenses*  which  were  small,  by  his  labor;  in  1838  taught  school  and 
studied  law;  in  December,  1839,  was  admitted  to  the  bar;  in  1843  was  elected 
Probate  Judge  of  Macoupin  County;  in  1847  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Con- 
vention to  amend  the  State  Constitution;  in  1848  he  was    re-elected    Probate 
Judge;  and  in  November  of  the  same  year,  1848,  was  elected  County  Judge,  an 
office  created  by  the  new  Constitution,  served  until  1852  when  he  was  elected  to 
the  State  Senate  as  a  Democrat  to  fill  a  vacancy ;  opposed  the  repeal  of  the 
"Missouri  compromise."     In  1854  the  counties  composing  his  Senatorial  dis- 
trict adopted  resolutions  approving  the  Nebraska  bill ;  he  declined  a  Demo- 
cratic renomination  for  Senator,  but  became  an  Independent  candidate,  leading 
the  anti-Nebraska  Democrats,  and  was  elected.     In  1856,  owing  to  the  slavery 
controversy,  he  separated  from  the  Democratic  party;  resigned  his  seat  in  the 
Senate,  and  was  a  Delegate  to  the  Republican  State  Convention;  was  made 
its  President ;   was  Delegate  to  the  Convention  in  1856  in  Philadelphia,  which 
nominated  John  C.  Fremont ;  favored  the  nomination  of  Lincoln  as  a  candidate 
for  Senator  by  the  Republican  State  Convention  in  1858,  and  supported  him  dur- 
ing the  canvass;  in  1859  was  a  candidate  for  Congress.    The  John  Brown  raid 
into  Virginia  occurred  during  the  canvass,  and  in  consequence  he  was  beaten 
over  4,000  votes ;  in  1860  was  one  of  the  Electors-at-large  on  the  Republican 
ticket,  and  in  1861  was  a  member  of  the  Peace  Conference  at  Washington.     On 
the  9th  of  May,  1861,  was  commissioned  Colonel  in  the  I4th  Illinois  Infantry; 
marched  under   Fremont  to  Springfield,   Mo.,  in   October;  was  promoted  to 
Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers  in  November,  1861 ;  in  March  and  April,  1862, 
commanded   a   division   under   General   Pope   in  the   operations   against    New 
Madrid  and  Island  No.  10;   later  took  part  in  the  operations  against  Corinth"; 
in  August  and  September,  1862,  marched  to  Nashville;  took  part  in  the  battle 
of  Murfreesboro  in  December,  1862,  and  January,  1863;  was  promoted  to  Major- 
General  of  Volunteers ;  took  part  in  the  operations  against  the   Confederate 
Army  commanded  by  General  Bragg  on  its  retreat  via  Tullahoma  to   Chat- 
tanooga ;  commanded  a  division  in  the  battle  of  Chrickamauga ;  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  I4th  Army  Corps  in  October,   1863;  took  part  in  the 
operations  around  Chattanooga,  including  the  battles  of  Lookout  Mountain  and 
Missionary  Ridge,  in  November,  1863 ;  in  1864  commanded  the  I4th  Corps  on 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  was  relieved  at  his  own  request  August  4,   1864; 
commanded  the   Military  Department  of   Kentucky  from   February,    1865,  to 
May  i,  1866;  resignation  accepted  September  i,  1866;  removed  to  Springfield 
in  1867;  was  elected  Governor  of  Illinois  in  1868;  supported  Horace  Greeley  in 
1872  and  Samuel  J.  Tilden  in  1876;    was  one  of  the  Democratic  visitors  to 
Louisiana  after  the  Presidential  election  in  1876;  was  nominated  as  a  candidate 
for  United  States  Senator  by  the  Democratic  members  of  the  Legislature  in 
January,   1877,  and  was  afterwards  twice  nominated  for  the  same  office  and 
defeated;  was  Delegate-at-large  to  National  Democratic  Convention  in  1884; 
in  1888  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  State  Convention  a  candidate  for 
Governor  and  was  defeated;  in  1890  was  nominated  by  the  Democrats  of  the 
State  a  candidate  for  Senator;  carried  the  State  by  30,000  plurality;  101  Demo- 
cratic members  of  the  Legislature  were  elected  who  voted  for  him  153  ballots; 
on  the  1 54th  ballot  the  Independents  united  with  the  Democrats,  and  he  was 
elected  United  States  Senator;  resumed  the  practice  of  law  after  his  senatorial 
term,  was  the  (Gold  Standard)  National  Democratic  candidate  for  President  in 
1896;  author  of  "Bench  and  Bar"  of  Illinois,  two  volumes.     General  John  M. 
Palmer  died  September  25,  1900,  at  Springfield,  mourned  by  the  people  of  the 
State  and  Nation. 


130 


131 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

WAR  FINANCES.    RESUMPTION  OF  SPECIE    PAYMENTS.      DEVELOPMENT  OF   THE 
NATIONAL  BANKING  SYSTEM. 

On  March  4,  1861,  the  credit  of  the  Government  was  at  its  lowest  ebb ; 
during  the  preceding  four  years  the  revenues  were  insufficient  to  meet  expendi- 
tures by  about  fifteen  million  dollars  per  annum.  These  deficiencies  were  met  by 
repeated  loans  issued  at  high  rates  of  interest.  Under  the  act  of  December  17, 
1860,  $10,010,900  of  one  year  treasury  notes  were  issued,  $4,840,000  of  which 
bore  12  per  cent  interest;  the  $18,415,000  loan  of  February,  1861,  was  placed  at 
$89.03  per  $100.  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  John  A.  Dix  in  his  report  of  Decem- 
ber, 1860,  recommended  as  a  means  of  creating  confidence  "that  the  public  lands 
be  unconditionally  pledged  for  the  ultimate  redemption  of  all  the  Treasury  notes 
which  it  may  become  necessary  to  issue." 

The  Treasury  was  empty  when  Mr.  Lincoln  became  President,  but  the  Mor- 
rill  tariff  law  approved  two  days  before  his  inauguration  soon  began  to  increase 
the  custom  house  receipts,  and  but  for  the  war  would  have  yielded  revenue  suffi- 
cient to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  Government  without  a  deficiency. 

The  war  came,  and  with  it  the  responsibility  of  providing  enormous  sums 
of  money  to  meet  its  expenses.  It  is  well  for  the  country  that  no  one  could  foresee 
what  the  cost  of  that  war  was  to  be ;  the  bravest  statesman  would  have  stood 
appalled,  could  they  have  lifted  the  veil  and  seen  that  it  would  be  necessary  to 
raise  two  and  a  half  millions  of  men,  and  expend  six  billion  dollars  to  save  the 
Union. 

The  extra  session  of  Congress  called  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumpter  met 
July  4,  1861 ;  there  was  great  unanimity  of  sentiment  to  provide  means  for  the 
suppression  of  the  rebellion.  Two  important  financial  bills  were  passed  July  17 
and  August  5.  They  provided  for  issuing  six  per  cent  bonds,  demand  Treasury 
notes  and  interest  bearing  Treasury  notes.  The  success  of  these  loans  was  en- 
couraging. There  were  issued  $189,000,000  six  per  cent  bonds,  $140,000,000 
seven-thirty  Treasury  notes  and  $60,000,000  demand  notes.  But  the  expenses  of 
the  war  were  almost  double  the  estimates. 

When  Congress  met  in  December,  1861,  the  financial  situation  was  one  of 
great  gravity.  Custom  receipts  had  fallen  off  so  that  the  coin  receipts  were  in- 
sufficient for  the  redemption  of  the  demand  notes.  These  notes  had  depreciated 
in  value  and  banks  refused  them  as  current  deposits. 

The  necessity  of  a  national  currency  became  more  pressing  each  month.  A 
bill  was  introduced  to  authorize  the  issue  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  million  dollars 
of  Treasury  notes,  to  be  a  legal  tender  in  payment  of  all  debts,  public  and  private, 
except  duties  on  imports  and  interest  on  the  public  debt.  The  legal  tender  clause 
excited  a  great  debate.  On  the  final  vote  in  the  House  a  number  of  Republicans 
and  every  Democrat  voted  against  it.  The  bill  became  a  law  February  25,  1862. 
Two  subsequent  acts  authorized  the  issue  of  three  hundred  millions  more  of  these 
notes.  The  necessity  for  this  legislation  was  urgent  and  pressive,  for  when  the 
war  of  the  rebellion  began  all  the  banks  in  the  Northern  States  suspended  specie 
payments.  These  banks  had  issued  $150,000,000  of  circulation  notes,  and  held 
$217,000,000  of  deposits.  Gold  and  silver  coin  amounting  to  about  $200,000,000 
disappeared  utterly  from  circulation,  leaving  the  bank  notes  as  the  only  circulating 
medium  for  carrying  on  the  war  and  transacting  the  business  of  the  people.  To 
add  to  the  embarrassment,  nearly  all  these  bank  notes  were  at  a  discount.  A 
number  of  the  banks  failed,  in  many  cases  causing  a  total  loss  to  both  note  holders 
and  depositors.  The  rottenness  of  the  banks  in  a  number  of  States  was  such  that 

132 


all  bank  notes  were  discredited  to  such  an  extent  that  no  one  ventured  to  put 
them  aside  as  savings.  These  banks  were  chartered  by  State  laws,  they  were 
under  State  management,  but  the  disasters  resulting  from  their  failures  was 
national,  and  it  became  obvious  that  a  national  remedy  must  be  applied.  No 
country  was  ever  in  greater  financial  straits  than  the  United  States  in  1861, but  the 
wisdom  of  Republican  legislators  in  Congress  provided  the  remedies.  They  en- 
acted the  legal  tender  law,  the  national  bank  law,  and  the  law  imposing  a  tax 
of  10  per  cent  per  annum  on  State  bank  issues.  These  laws  were  experimental  at 
the  time,  but  the  experience  of  the  past  thirty-five  years  has  fully  demonstrated 
their  wisdom.  They  stand  to-day  as  a  monument  to  the  statesmanship  of  that 
period.  As  a  result  of  this  legislation,  an  ample  supply  of  legal  tender  notes  and 
national  bank  notes  was  issued,  based  on  the  credit  of  the  United  States.  The 
State  bank  notes  were  retired,  and  the  days  of  wild-cat  money  are  simply  a  mem- 
ory. This  new  money  filled  all  the  channels  of  trade,  the  people  transacted  their 
business  with  it  and  the  Government  used  it  for  paying  the  enormous  cost  of 
the  war. 

It  was  soon  developed  that  the  United  States  could  not  expect  any  financial 
aid  from  the  old  world ;  a  market  could  not  be  made  in  England  or  on  the  Con- 
tinent for  United  States  bonds.  The  opinion  with  the  ruling  classes  and  with 
bankers  was  that  the  Union  would  be  dissolved,  and  that  the  Southern  Confed- 
eracy would  be  the  only  stable  government  left.  Of  ten  million  dollars  of  bonds 
placed  with  a  prominent  banker  in  London  none  were  sold ;  drafts  drawn  on 
the  banker  in  anticipation- of  sales  of  bonds  were  paid  in  gold  sent  from  California. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  found  that  the  interest-bearing  securities  of 
the  Government  could  not  be  sold  to  bankers  and  capitalists  of  our  country  in 
amounts  sufficient  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Government.  The  Secretary 
employed  Mr.  Jay  Cooke,  banker,  as  General  Agent  of  the  Treasury,  to  place  the 
loan  with  the  people.  Bonds  were  issued  in  denominations  of  $50,  $100,  $500  and 
$1,000,  and  in  a  short  time  $400,000,000  of  these  bonds  were  sold.  This  experi- 
ment demonstrated  the  wealth  of  the  people,  and  their  willingness  to  sustain  the 
nation  in  its  trying  hour.  It  solved  the  financial  problem  of  the  war. 

Congress  passed  many  laws  for  raising  money  and  for  liquidating  the  debts 
continually  created  by  the  quartermasters  and  commissioners  for  supplies  for  the 
army,  but  the  direct  appeals  to  the  people  to  subscribe  to  the  various  loans  were 
always  promptly  met. 

But  Congress  did  not  stop  when  they  enacted  laws  for  borrowing  money. 
The  Internal  Revenue  system  was  established;  every  occuoation.  everv  industry, 
and  every  object  that  could  bear  a  tax  was  taxed.  These  revenues  rose  from 
forty-one  millions  per  annum  to  three  hundred  and  ten  millions  per  annum.  As 
each  new  loan  was  authorized,  additional  taxes  were  levied. 

Another  important  feature  of  this  financial  system  was  the  creation  of  a 
sinking  fund  whereby  a  certain  per  cent  of  the  bonded  debt  should  be  redeemed 
each  year  with  receipts  from  taxes.  These  measures  established  the  credit  of 
the  Government  upon  a  solid  foundation.  All  the  expenses  of  the  war  were 
promptly  met.  When  the  war  ended  and  the  army  was  disbanded,  every  officer 
and  soldier  received  his  pay.  Under  the  laws  for  funding  certificates  of  indebted- 
ness, "seven-thirty"  Treasury  notes  and  three-year  bonds,  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  by  August  i,  1865,  had  taken  up  all  the  short  term  issues,  and  in  ex- 
change therefor  had  issued  long  term  bonds. 

The  public  debt  incurred  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  reached  its  high- 
est point  on  the  3ist  August,  1865,  the  principal  of  the  debt,  less  cash  in  the 
Treasury,  being  $2,756,431,571,  with  an  annual  interest  charge  of  $150,977,697. 
Resisting  the  demands,  first  of  the  Democratic  party  and  afterwards  of  the  Green- 
back party,  that  this  debt  should  be  paid  off  in  an  issue  of  irredeemable  legal 
tender  notes,  the  Republican  party  insisted  that  the  debt  should  be  honestly  paid. 
Legislation  to  strengthen  the  public  credit,  to  provide  for  the  refunding  of  the 
debt  at  a  lower  rate  of  interest  and  to  resume  specie  payments  was  enacted  by 
Republican  votes  in  opposition  to  Democratic  votes,  and  duties  and  taxes  were 
retained  at  such  rates  as  to  enable  the  Government  annually  to  pay  off  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  the  principal  of  the  debt,  besides  defraying  the  annual  interest 
charge. 

133 


On  January  i,  1879,  m  pursuance  of  an  act  of  Congress  the  Government 
resumed  specie  payments  on  all  its  paper  promises.  On  that  day  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  the  United  States,  every  dollar  of  paper  money,  whether  issued 
by  the  Government  or  by  banks,  circulated  at  par  with  gold  coin  from  end  to  end 
of  the  republic,  and  these  paper  issues,  whether  legal  tender  notes,  Treasury 
notes,  silver  certificates  or  national  bank  notes,  have  since  January  i,  1879,  with 
an  increasing  volume,  circulated  throughout  the  United  States  at  par  with  gold, 
and  so  safe  and  sound  is  the  currency  that  it  is  freely  received  in  all  business 
centers  of  the  civilized  world  at  par  with  gold. 

Since  the  establishment  of  the  national  banking  system  300  of  these  banks 
have  failed  and  depositors  suffered  great  loss.  In  one  notable  instance  they 
received  only  14  per  cent  on  their  claims.  But  there  was  no  depreciation  of 
their  notes.  The  notes  of  these  failed  banks  were  secured  by  a  pledge  of  Gov- 
ernment bonds,  consequently  the  noteholders  did  not  lose  a  dollar.  During  the 
existence  of  the  old  State  bank  issues  loss  by  counterfeiting  was  a  heavy  item ; 
under  the  present  system  counterfeiting  has  become  almost  a  lost  art. 

The  exchanges  between  distant  cities  is  now  effected  at  nominal  cost, 
whereas  in  the  old  days  the  discount  on  circulation  added  to  the  premium  on 
exchange,  often  amounting  to  from  3  to  5  per  cent.  One  of  the  greatest  merits 
of  the  present  monetary  system  is  the  powerful  influence  for  good  it  exerts  upon 
the  public  mind  in  cases  of  financial  panics.  Formerly,  when  the  panic  came 
banks  failed  and  bank  note  values  collapsed.  Now  the  panic  may  come  and  the 
banks  may  fail,  but  every  noteholder  knows  that  it  is  impossible  for  him  to  incur 
loss  on  his  bank  notes,  and  he  knows  also  that  Uncle  Sam  will  redeem  every  dollar 
of  his  greenback  issues  in  gold  coin,  consequently  people  are  not  afraid  of  loss  by 
the  depreciation  of  paper  money. 

Under  the  existing  financial  system  the  people  of  the  United  States  have 
prospered  as  no  other  people  in  the  history  of  the  world  have  prospered.  The 
United  States  has  become  the  leader  amongst  Cations  in  agriculture,  in  manu- 
facture, in  mining,  in  internal  trade,  and  internal  transportation,  and  all  the  great 
financial  operations  necessary  to  produce  these  results  have  been  carried  on  under 
the  existing  financial  system.  As  the  people  have  prospered  and  grown  in  wealth 
the  national  banking  system  has  grown,  and  its  business  has  increased  in  pro- 
portion to  the  increase  of  business  and  wealth  of  the  country. 

While  the  State  banks  in  1861  had  $150,000,000  of  circulation,  they  had  only 
$217,000,000  of  deposits,  while  the  national  banks  now,  with  a  circulation  of 
$199,000,000,  have  $1,853,000,000  of  deposits  and  hold  $239,000,000  of  specie.  In 
1860  the  State  banks  of  Illinois  had  a  circulation  of  $11,000,000,  but  had  only 
$808,000  deposits,  while  the  national  banks  of  Illinois  in  1899  had  $6,100,000  cir- 
culation and  the  enormous  amount  of  $116,500,000  of  deposits  and  $25,674,000 
specie.  Under  the  national  bank  act  banking  in  the  United  States  has  had  a 
great  progressive  development,  and  is  now  the  best  banking  system  in  the  world. 


134 


CAPETRH  XX. 

THE  TARIFF. 

The  Republican  party  has,  from  the  beginning,  favored  the  levying  of  imports 
so  "as  to  encourage  the  development  of  the  industrial  interests  of  the  whole 
country,"  and  "that  policy  of  national  exchanges  which  secures  to  the  working- 
men  liberal  wages,  to  agriculture  remunerative  prices,  to  mechanics  and  manu- 
facturers an  adequate  return  for  their  skill,  labor  and  enterprise,  and  to  the 
nation  commercial  prosperity  and  independence."  This  was  the  language  of  the 
Republican  National  Convention  in  May,  1860. 

This  was  not  a  new  doctrine — it  was  as  old  as  the  Government.  The  neces- 
sity of  encouraging  home  manufacturers  by  protective  duties  as  a  means  of 
securing  commerial  prosperity  and  independence  was  forcibly  presented  to  Con- 
gress by  Alexander  Hamilton  while  Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  and  approved  by 
Washington.  Later  Mr.  Clay  advocated  a  protective  tariff,  and  it  became  known 
as  the  American  System. 

Three  times  prior  to  1861,  namely,  in  1812,  1824-1828  and  1842  was  the 
country  placed  under  the  encouraging  influences  of  the  protective  system,  and 
each  time  large  sums  of  money  were  invested  in  new  manufacturing  enterprises, 
and  general  prosperity  was  the  result.  These  periods  of  prosperity,  however, 
were  short ;  the  enactment  by  the  Democratic  party  of  low  tariff  laws,  based 
upon  the  ad  valorem  system,  opened  the  United  States  to  foreign  markets,  flooded 
the  country  with  foreign  products,  broke  down  home  industries,  established  a 
heavy  balance  of  trade  against  the  United  States,  caused  a  steady  drain  of  gold 
and  silver,  produced  stringency  in  the  money  market,  advanced  the  rate  of  in- 
terest, discouraged  enterprise  and  industry,  and  placed  the  country  in  the  grip 
of  hard  times. 

This  was  the  condition  of  the  United  States  when  the  Republican  party  made 
the  foregoing  announcement  of  its  principles.  Looking  back  over  the  past 
forty  years  at  the  results  which  have  flown  from  the  protective  system  established 
and  maintained  by  the  Republican  party  when  in  power,  the  dispassionate  mind 
must  yield  to  the  claim  that  the  resolutions  of  the  Republican  Convention  were 
words  of  wisdom  and  prophecy. 

The  Democratic  party  had  long  ago  firmly  taken  the  position  in  favor  of  a 
tariff  for  revenue  only,  and  against  imposing  duties  discriminating  in  favor  of 
American  products ;  they  held  that  laws  imposing  protective  duties  were  uncon- 
stitutional. They  utterly  repudiated  the  contention  that  the  development  of  the 
internal  resources  of  the  United  States  and  the  establishment  of  manufacturing 
industries  in  this  country  would  result  in  the  reduction  of  prices  of  manufac- 
tures ;  they  contended  that  the  tariff  duty  would  necessarily  increase  the  price  of 
the  foreign  article  in  this  country,  and  continue  to  do  so  without  reference  to  the 
increase  of  home  products  in  competition.  The  Democratic  party  has  never 
yielded  the  law  question,  that  protective  duties  are  unconstitutional.  The  United 
States  courts  have  been  open  to  them  for  forty  years  to  test  that  question,  but 
no  Democratic  lawyer  fresh  from  a  National  Democratic  Convention  where  he 
has  voted  as  a  delegate  in  favor  of  a  platform  declaring  protective  duties  uncon- 
stitutional has  ever  had  the  courage  to  present  a  brief  in  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States  alleging  that  the  duty  on  a  particular  article  was  unconstitu- 
tional because  the  rate  of  duty  was  protective  in  its  character ;  that  it  discrim- 
inated in  favor  of  the  American  product  to  such  an  extent  that  the  foreign  product 
could  not  be  imported  in  competition  ;  and  that,  therefore,  the  Supreme  Court 
should  declare  the  law  null  and  void. 

135 


But  while  this  cry  of  unconstitutionality  of  protective  tariff  laws  is  not  good 
enough  to  base  a  law  brief  upon,  it  is  quite  good  enough  for  a  Democratic  rally- 
ing cry  in  a  heated  political  campaign. 

It  is  perfectly  just  and  fair  to  say  that  there  is  no  force  whatever  in  the  claim 
of  the  Democratic  party  that  protective  laws  are  unconstitutional.  The  pro- 
tective system  has  been  advocated  and  defended  by  many  of  the  most  able  men 
in  the  country,  George  Washington,  Alexander  Hamilton,  Henry  Clay,  Daniel 
Webster,  and  Andrew  Jackson  gave  the  weight  of  their  great  influence  for  levying 
protective  duties.  John  C.  Calhoun  had  voted  for  such  a  measure  and  advocated 
protective  duties  in  a  speech  in  April,  1816,  but  later  made  protective  legislation 
the  ground  for  South  Carolina  nullification.  Henry  C.  Gary  and  Horace  Greeley 
wrote  with  great  power  and  clearness  upon  the  benefits  which  would  result  from 
a  diversification  of  the  productive  industries  of  the  country,  arguing  that  by 
levying  of  protective  duties  as  a  permanent  system,  the  natural  resources  of  the 
United  States  would  be  developed ;  that  manufactures  of  all  articles  which  could 
profitably  be  produced  in  this  country  would  be  established ;  that  wages  would  be 
increased ;  that  the  home  market  would  be  secured  for  home  products ;  that 
prices  of  manufacturers  would  be  reduced  ;  that  there  would  be  a  large  and  better 
market  for  agricultural  products ;  that  exports  would  be  increased ;  that  the 
balance  of  trade  would  finally  be  with  this  country ;  that  the  exportation  of  gold 
and  silver  would  practically  cease ;  that  the  country  would  become  independent 
and  the  people  more  prosperous. 

One  of  the  earliest  writers  upon  this  subject  was  W.  Winterbotham  in  his 
"Historical  View  of  the  United  States  of  America"  (4  vols.,  New  York,  1796). 
In  volume  I  he  says  : 

"There  seems  to  be  a  moral  certainty  that  the  trade  of  a  country,  which  is 
both  manufacturing  and  agricultural,  will  be  more  lucrative  and  prosperous  than 
that  of  a  country  which  is  merely  agricultural.  Not  only  the  wealth,  but  the  inde- 
pendence and  security  of  a  country  appear  to  be  materially  connected  with  the 
prosperity  of  manufactures.  Every  nation,  with  a  view  to  those  great  objects, 
ought  to  endeavor  to  possess  within  itself  all  the  essentials  of  national  supply. 
These  comprise  the  means  of  subsistence,  habitation,  clothing,  and  defence.  The 
possession  of  these  is  necessary  to  the  perfection  of  the  body  politic ;  to  the 
safety  as  well  as  to  the  welfare  of  the  society ;  the  want  of  either  is  the  want  of 
an  important  organ  of  political  life  and  motion ;  and  in  the  various  critical  events 
which  await  a  State,  it  must  severely  feel  the  effects  of  any  such  deficiency." 

"The  extreme  embarrassment  of  the  United  States  during  the  late  war  (re- 
ferring to  the  revolution),  and  from  an  incapacity  of  supplying  themselves,  are  still 
matters  of  keen  recollection." 

"The  importation  of  manufactured  supplies  seem  invariably  to  drain  the 
merely  agricultural  people  of  their  wealth.  But  the  uniform  appearance  of  an 
abundance  of  specie,  as  the  concomitant  of  a  flourishing  state  of  manufactures, 
and  of  the  reverse  where  they  do  not  prevail,  afford  a  strong  presumption  of 
their  favorable  operation  upon  the  wealth  of  a  country.  There  is  always  a  higher 
probability  of  a  favorable  balance  of  trade  in  regard  to  countries  in  which  manu- 
factures founded  on  the  basis  of  a  thriving  agriculture,  flourish,  than  in  regard 
to  those  which  are  confined  wholly  or  almost  wholly  to  agriculture." 

Mr.  Winterbotham  insisted  that  the  introduction  of  manufactures  would 
occasion  a  positive  augmentation  of  the  produce  and  revenue  of  the  society ;  that 
they  contribute  essentially  to  rendering  them  greater  than  they  could  possibly 
be,  without  such  establishments,  because  of  the  following  circumstances : 

First — The  division  of  labor. 

Second — An  extension  of  the  use  of  machinery. 

Third — Additional  employment  to  classes  of  the  community  not  ordinarily 
engaged  in  the  business. 

Fourth — The  promoting  of  emigration  from  foreign  countries. 

Fifth — The  furnishing  greater  scope  for  the  diversitv  of  talents  and  disposi- 
tions which  discriminate  men  from  each  other. 

Sixth — The  affording  of  more  ample  and  various  fields  for  enterprise. 

Seventh — The  creating,  in  some  instances,  a  new,  and  securing  in  all,  a  more 
certain  and  steady  demand  for  the  surplus  products  of  the  soil. 

136 


The  same  writer,  referring  to  the  state  of  manufactures  in  the  United  States 
soon  after  the  revolutionary  war,  says : 

"There  is  a  vast  scene  of  household  manufacturing,  which  contributes  more 
largely  to  the  supply  of  the  community  than  could  be  imagined,  without  having 
made  it  an  object  of  particular  inquiry.  This  observation  is  the  pleasing  resu*» 
of  the  investigation  to  which  the  subject  has  led,  and  is  applicable  as  well  to  the 
Southern  as  to  the  Middle  and  Northern  States.  Great  Quantities  of  coarse  ciotns, 
coatings,  serges,  and  flannels,  linsey  woolseys,  hosiery  of  wool,  cotton  and  thread, 
coarse  fustians,  jeans  and  muslins,  checked  and  striped  cotton  and  linen  goods, 
bed-ticks,  coverlets  and  counterpanes,  tow  linens,  coarse  shirtings,  sheetings,  tow- 
eling and  table  linen,  and  various  mixtures  of  wool  and  cotton,  and  of  cotton  and 
flax,  are  made  in  the  household  way,  and  in  many  instances  to  an  extent  not  only 
sufficient  for  the  supply  of  the  families  in  which  they  were  made,  but  for  sale, 
and  even  in  some  cases  for  exportation.  It  is  computed  in  a  number  of  districts 
that  two-thirds,  three-fourths,  and  even  four-fifths,  of  all  the  clothing  of  all  the 
inhabitants  is  made  by  themselves." 

The  important  measures  suggested  by  the  writer  for  successfully  encourag- 
ing home  industries  were  "Protective  duties — or  duties  on  those  foreign  articles 
which  are  the  rivals  of  the  domestic  ones  intended  to  be  encouraged.  The  ex- 
emption of  the  materials  of  manufactures  from  duty.  Drawbacks  of  the  duties 
which  are  imposed  on  the  materials  of  manufacture — the  encouragement  of  new 
inventions  and  discoveries,  and  of  the  introduction  into  the  United  States  of  such 
as  have  been  made  in  other  countries,  particularly  those  which  relate  to  ma- 
chinery. Judicious  regulations  for  the  inspection  of  manufactured  commodities. 
The  facilitating  of  pecuniary  remittances  from  place  to  place,  and  the  facilitating 
of  the  transportation  of  commodities." 

These  wise  suggestions  made  and  printed  104  years  ago — nine  years  after 
the  constitutional  government  was  launched — constitute  to-day  the  foundation 
of  Republican  tariff  legislation  and  the  commercial  prosperity  of  the  country. 

It  is  obviously  the  business  of  the  lawmakers  of  each  country  to  legislate 
to  promote  the  interests  of  their  own  people.  It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the 
lawmakers  of  one  country  will  knowingly  enact  laws  to  advance  the  interests  of 
a  foreign  country  to  the  prejudice  of  their  own. 

Free  trade  may  be  wise  and  beneficial  for  some  countries,  while  for  others  it 
may  be  ruinous.  England  became  the  workshop  for  the  world  under  the  pro- 
tective system;  she  then  adopted  free  trade,  not  only  as  a  rule  for  her  own 
action,  but  as  a  great  commercial  and  moral  principle  for  the  government  of  other 
countries.  Her  leading  statesmen  organized  a  free  trade  propaganda,  supported 
by  the  writings  of  Adam  Smith,  John  Stewart  Mill,  John  Bright,  Mr.  Gladstone 
and  others.  Free  trade  as  a  fundamental  principle  of  true  political  economy  was 
the  watchword,  the  shibboleth  of  their  clubs,  public  speakers,  writers,  and  press. 
English  free  trade  was  not  presented  as  a  system  specially  suited  to  that  country 
whereby  breadstuffs,  provisions,  cotton  and'  other  raw  materials  came  in  free  for 
the  use  of  manufactures  and  their  employes,  but  as  a  system  suited  to  all  coun- 
tries, all  climates  and  all  conditions — countries  principally  engaged  in  the  pro- 
duction of  food  stuffs  and  raw  material  for  manufacturers,  were  encouraged  to 
continue  in  producing  both  for  itself  and  for  others  the  things  in  which  its  labor 
was  relatively  most  efficient,  and  leave  manufacturing  to  the  countries  where  it 
was  already  established  and  where  skilled  labor  for  such  industries  abounded ; 
and  to  depend  upon  free  and  untrammeled  interchange  of  products  as  the  basis 
for  wealth  and  progress. 

The  Republican  party  was  not  a  believer  in  the  universal  application  of  the 
doctrines  of  free  trade ;  such  a  system  was,  no  doubt,  suited  to  England  with  its 
limited  agriculture,  its  enormous  investment  in  manufactures,  its  dependence  on 
foreign  countries  for  food  and  raw  material,  its  dominating  navy  and  commercial 
marine,  its  immense  foreign  commerce  and  accumulated  wealth  which  made 
London  the  financial  center  of  the  world. 

But  in  the  opinion  of  the  Republican  partv  this  countrv  was  not  to  be  gov- 
erned by  the  rules  adopted  by  the  British  Islands.  They  were  of  opinion  that  free 
trade  was  not  suited  to  the  conditions  of  this  great  continental  Republic ;  they 
knew  that  the  United  States  occupied  the  best  subdivision  of  the  earth's  surface, 

137 


namely,  the  great  central  belt  of  North  America ;  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  the  Great  Lakes,  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  affording  them  greater  facilities 
for  water  transportation  than  are  possessed  by  any  other  nation. 

The  diversity  of  climate  is  unequaled  by  any  other  country.  The  United 
States  has  more  rich  agricultural  land ;  larger  deposits  of  granite  and  fine  build- 
ing stone ;  greater  forests  of  good  timber ;  greater  coal  deposits ;  greater  iron, 
copper,  zinc,  lead,  gold  and  silver  deposits ;  and  more  diversified  productions  from 
the  soil  than  Great  Britain  and  the  whole  of  Europe.  It  was  clear  to  Republican 
statesmen  that  the  establishment  of  manufacturing  industries,  and  the  develop- 
ment of  the  natural  resources  of  the  country  would  inevitably  produce  wealth 
rapidly,  increase  wages  and  enlarge  commerce.  A  just  consideration  of  the  causes 
which  have  led  to  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  United  States,  and  the  wonderful 
prosperity  of  the  country,  must  find  in  the  protective  legislations  of  Congress 
the  original  inspiration,  and  the  continuing  encouragement  to  capital,  enterprise 
and  industry. 

Such  a  wonderful  result  could  not  come  by  chance.  The  laws  of  cause  and 
effect  operate  at  all  times,  and  under  all  circumstances.  Millions  of  people  have 
immigrated  to  this  country,  not  simply  to  get  better  government  but  to  get  better 
wages.  This  is  made  clear  by  the  fact  that  when  times  are  good  immigration  is 
greater  than  when  times  are  hard.  People  from  every  clime  and  country  have 
come  to  the  United  States  because  the  word  has  gone  out  over  the  world  that  labof 
received  a  better  reward  here  than  elsewhere.  Labor  received  a  better  reward 
here  because  the  products  of  poorly  paid  labor  were  not  permitted  to  come  in  com- 
petition with  the  higher  paid  labor  of  this  country. 

The  producers  of  the  old  world  were  required  to  pay  for  the  privilege  of 
selling  their  wares  in  this  country  in  competition  with  the  products  of  our  own 
people.  And  why  not?  The  foreigner  pays  no  taxes  here  for  the  support  of 
government.  He  does  not  fight  our  battles  in  time  of  war.  Why  then  should 
he  have  access  to  our  market  without  paying  for  the  privilege,  when  he  brings 
articles  to  be  sold  in  competition  with  similar  articles  produced  here? 

Foreign  manufacturers  object  to  our  protective  system.  If  this  system  was 
to  their  advantage  and  not  to  ours  they  would  favor  it,  but  as  it  enables  our 
manufacturers  to  engross  the  home  market,  largely,  to  the  exclusion  of  foreign 
goods,  they  do  not  favor  it. 

This  country  now  has  reached  such  a  development  of  mechanical  energy 
and  skill  that  the  balance  of  trade  will,  no  doubt,  be  favorable  for  years  to  come ; 
the  yield  of  precious  metals  will  be  kept  at  home,  and  financially  the  people  will 
be  in  better  condition  than  the  people  of  all  other  nations.  Free  trade  between 
the  States  would  result  in  a  great  increase  in  products  and  their  annual  value, 
and  thus  bring  about  a  great  increase  in  both  domestic  and  foreign  trade. 

The  Republicans  believed  that  the  true  policy  for  this  country  was  to  en- 
courage the  people  to  do  their  own  work  of  manufacturing  instead  of  having  the 
foreigner  do  it  for  them.  To  sell  more  than  they  bought,  to  export  more  than 
they  imported ;  and  by  this  means  to  have  an  annual  balance  of  trade  in  favor 
of  the  United  States  instead  of  against  them. 

From  colonial  times  to  the  date  of  the  passage  of  the  Morrill  tariff  law,  March 
3,  1861,  the  people  of  this  country  were  dependent  upon  foreign  manufactures  for 
most  of  the  simple  necessaries  of  life,  and  all  of  the  elegancies  of  dress  and 
household  decoration. 

The  cutlery,  queensware  and  table  linen  of  the  kitchen  and  dining  room ; 
the  sheets,  bed-spreads,  lace  curtains,  brussel  and  velvet  carpets,  vases  and  bric- 
a-brac  were  of  foreign  make.  The  wardrobes  of  men,  women  and  children  when 
made  of  fine  goods  of  wool,  silk,  linen  or  cotton,  plain  or  printed,  were  imported ; 
while  over  thirty  million  of  dollars  of  silk  goods  were  imported  in  1860,  not  a 
yard  of  silk  was  manufactured  in  the  United  States. 

In  the  manufactures  of  iron,  steel  and  other  metals  substantially  the  same 
condition  prevailed. 

The  civil  war  aroused  the  dormant  energies  of  the  people.  The  Government 
became  a  large  purchaser  of  everything  produced  by  farm  or  factory.  The  Pacific 
Railroad  was  subsidized  and  homesteads  were  granted  to  settlers  on  public  lands. 
An  immense  impetus  was  given  to  all  industries. 

138 


The  war  ended.  A  million  men  left  the  field  of  war,  and  returned  to  the  field 
of  enterprise  and  labor.  In  1865  without  a  pause  this  country  entered  upon  the 
most  extraordinary  era  of  development  that  has  ever  been  witnessed  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world.  The  industrial  progress  of  the  States  of  the  old  world  has 
been  constant  but  slow ;  but  in  this  country  the  development  has  gone  forward 
by  leaps  and  bounds.  In  thirty-five  years  the  population  has  increased  forty 
million ;  eleven  States  have  been  added  to  the  Union ;  one  hundred  and  fifty-six 
thousand  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  miles  of  railroad  have  been  built ;  five 
lines  of  railroad  joins  the  East  with  the  Pacific  States.  The  world  recognizes 
the  leadership  of  the  United  States  in  agriculture,  manufactures,  mining,  means 
of  internal  transportation,  in  domestic  commerce  and  wealth.  There  is  no  con- 
troversy over  the  proposition  that  the  scale  of  wages  and  style  of  living  is  higher 
here  than  in  other  countries.  Nor  can  it  be  disputed  that  American  invention, 
skill,  and  enterprise  has  enabled  manufacturers  to  cheapen  processes,  hasten  pro- 
duction and  reduce  prices,  thereby  outstripping  foreign  competitors.  The  world 
has  shared  the  benefits  of  lower  prices  and  increased  consumption  as  the  result 
of  the  building  up  of  American  industries. 

In  1848,  when  gold  was  discovered  in  California,  the  stock  of  the  precious 
metals  in  the  United  States  was  very  low.  The  output  of  the  mines  was  large, 
but  very  little  of  it  could  be  retained  in  this  country.  From  1850  to  1878  inclusive, 
a  period  of  twenty-six  years,  the  balance  of  trade  against  the  United  States  was 
$I>535>579>655-  In  1877  the  exports  were  larger  than  the  imports,  but  it  was  not 
until  1880  that  the  flow  of  coin  came  this  way.  From  1850  to  1879,  inclusive,  a 
period  of  thirty  years,  the  net  export  of  gold  and  silver  from  this  country  was 
$1,256,431,408.  Almost  the  entire  output  of  the  mines  was  shipped  abroad  to  pay 
the  trade  balances. 

In  1876,  however,  domestic  manufactures  had  become  so  extensive  that  the 
home  market  was  largely  engrossed  by  home  products,  and  exports  exceeded 
imports  by  nearly  eighty  million  dollars.  In  1881  the  exports  exceeded  the  im- 
ports by  nearly  two  hundred  and  sixty  million  dollars ;  in  1898  the  exports  ex- 
ceeded the  imports  by  nearly  six  hundred  and  fifteen  and  a  half  million  dollars. 
From  1876  to  1899  inclusive,  a  period  of  twenty-four  years,  the  exports  have 
exceeded  the  imports  by  $3,722,315,000. 

A  forcible  illustration  of  the  wonderful  increase  of  business  in  this  country 
is  shown  by  a  few  facts :  In  1860  pig-iron  produced  in  the  United  States  was 
821,223  tons;  in  Great  Britain,  3,826,725  tons.  In  1890  the  United  States  pro- 
duced 9,012,379  tons  pig-iron,  while  Great  Britain  produced  7,904,214  tons.  In 
1860  the  United  States  produced  11,838  tons  of  steel,  but  in  1895  produced  6,114,- 
834  tons  of  steel.  In  1870  the  coal  mined  in  the  United  States  was  29,342,580 
tons  ;  in  1894  it  was  152,447,791  tons. 

In  every  line  of  industry  the  same  marvelous  increase  in  production  can  be 
observed.  The  most  important  fact  is  that  the  improved  machinery  introduced 
into  agriculture,  manufactures,  mining  and  commerce  in  the  United  States  enables 
a  given  number  of  operators  here  to  turn  out  a  larger  quantity  of  products  than 
can  be  produced  by  the  same  number  of  persons  in  any  other  country.  In  the 
United  States  the  forces  of  nature  are  utilized  in  a  greater  degree  for  performing 
labor  for  man  than  in  any  other  country. 


139 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

GENERAL  GRANT'S  ADMINISTRATION.     THE  CONVENTIONS  OF  1872. 

The  inauguration  of  General  Grant  as  President  brought  the  legislative  and 
executive  departments  of  the  Government  into  complete  harmony.  The  Southern 
people  had  great  respect  for  and  confidence  in  the  President.  The  generosity  and 
kindness  with  which  he  treated  General  Lee  and  the  Confederate  Army  at  the 
time  of  the  surrender  at  Appomattox  touched  the  hearts  of  the  Southern  people. 

But  it  was  scarcely  consistent  with  human  nature  that  those  who  had  favored 
secession,  and  had  supported  the  Confederate  cause  during  the  war,  should 
quietly  and  cheerfully  acquiesce  in  the  great  changes  which  necessarily  took 
place  as  a  result  of  the  emancipation  of  the  slaves. 

The  opposition  to  Congressional  reconstruction  during  President  Johnson's 
regime  was  continued :  these  questions  were  finally  taken  to  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States,  and  a  decision  had.  The  Supreme  Court  held  that  the  State 
had  no  right  to  secede,  that  the  ordinances  of  secession  were  absolutely  null ; 
that  because  of  rebellion,  their  State  governments  were  not  competent  to  repre- 
sent them  in  their  relation  to  the  Union ;  and  that  Congress  had  the  right  to  enact 
laws  to  re-establish  the  relation  of  the  Confederate  States  to  the  Union. 

This  decision  of  the  court  sustained  the  convention  of  the  Republican  leaders 
in  Congress  in  every  particular. 

President  Johnson's  idea  of  settling  everything  by  executive  proclamation 
was  overthrown  ;  and  the  proposition  that  the  Southern  States  were  to  be  restored 
to  their  proper  relation  to  the  Union  by  law  was  established.  When  Congress 
met  December  5,  1870,  all  the  Southern  States  were  fully  represented. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  the  Republicans  had  172  and  the  Demo- 
crats 71  members.  The  Senate  stood  61  Republicans  and  13  Democrats. 

Many  of  the  Southern  States  had  strong  Republican  delegations  in  Congress. 
These  men  were  elected  by  the  loyal  whites,  joined  by  the  colored  vote.  Consid- 
erable emigration  set  in  from  the  Northern  States  to  the  South.  Many  officers 
of  the  Union  Army,  after  their  term  of  service,  became  citizens  of  Southern 
States.  These  people  were  usually  Republicans  and  took  part  in  politics ;  they 
participated  in  the  work  of  organizing  governments  under  the  reconstruction 
laws  and  took  office  in  the  State  and  county  governments,  and  as  members  of 
Congress.  Political  power  had  thus  passed  from  the  hands  of  those  who  organ- 
ized rebellion  and  opposed  the  authority  of  Congress  to  the  hands  of  those 
Southerners  who  loyally  accepted  the  result  of  the  war,  reinforced  by  Northern 
emigrants,  and  the  enfranchised  negroes. 

The  Southern  leaders  decided  to  regain  political  power,  come  what  might 
come.  They  knew  that  a  majority  of  the  qualified  voters  were  against  them. 
They  decided  to  conduct  their  political  campaigns  through  secret  organization, 
and  secure  by  intimidation  and  force  what  they  felt  could  not  be  gained  by 
argument. 

These  secret  societies  were  organized  all  over  the  South,  and  were  known 
by  various  names ;  but  the  most  common  was  the  "Ku-Klux-Klan ;"  the  mem- 
bership was  exclusively  Democratic. 

The  lawlessness  of  their  conduct  increased,  as  they  spread  terror  by  their 
midnight  raids,  and  it  became  manifest  that  detection  and  punishment  would  not 
follow  their  misdeeds.  During  the  political  canvass  of  1868,  intimidation  and 
murders  were  frequent.  While  a  reign  of  terror  prevailed  in  some  other  States, 
Louisiana  was  the  scene  of  the  bloodiest  deeds  during  that  year.  There  were 
fully  one  thousand  political  murders  perpetrated  in  1868.  It  was  not  until  Con- 

140 


gress  passed  a  law  for  the  suppression  of  such  deeds  that  the  "Ku-Klux-Klan" 
disbanded. 

The  power  of  the  United  States  to  issue  a  paper  currency,  and  declare  it 
to  be  a  legal  tender  in  payment  of  public  and  private  debts,  was  fiercely  contested 
by  the  Democratic  party ;  it  was  made  a  political  question,  and  was  brought  be- 
fore the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  which  then  had  a  Democratic 
majority.  The  court  held  that  the  legal  tender  act  was  unconstitutional,  although 
strong  dissenting  opinions  were  filed ;  that  of  Mr.  Justice  Miller  being  an 
exceptionally  strong  and  lucid  argument  in  favor  of  the  act. 
This  decision  was  rendered  in  1869. 

In  1870,  the  question  was  again  brought  before  the  court.  Two  new  mem- 
bers had  been  appointed ;  there  was  a  Republican  majority  on  the  bench ;  and 
in  the  second  decision  the  validity  of  the  legal  tender  act  was  sustained,  judge 
Miller's  dissenting  opinion  in  the  former  case  was  adopted  as  good  law  by  the 
court. 

No  reflection  can  be  justly  cast  upon  the  court  because  of  these  conflicting 
decisions.  The  Democratic  members  were  thoroughly  grounded  in  the  strict 
construction  theory  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  with  perfect  sincerity  rendered 
their  decision  adversely  to  the.  act. 

While  the  Republican  members  were  deeply  imbued  with  that  broader  prin- 
ciple of  construction  favored  by  Hamilton,  and  adopted  by  Chief  Justice  Mar- 
shall. They  therefore  held  that  the  legal  tender  act  was  fully  within  the  power 
of  Congress  and  was  therefore  constitutional.  That  decision  has  been  universally 
accepted  as  good  law. 

The  progressive  nature  of  a  free  government  creates  a  certain  unrest  in 
politics ;  besides  in  every  party  there  are  men  of  extreme  views  upon  the  various 
issues  that  arise;  these  added  to  the  ambitions  of  some,  and  the  jealousies  of 
others,  keep  up  a  constant  movement  for  new  parties  for  the  purpose  of  engraft- 
ing new  laws,  and  different  administration  on  the  country. 

In  1872,  the  spirit  of  unrest  animated  many  leading  Republicans.  They  were 
dissatisfied  with  the  laws  of  Congress,  and  the  executive  administration.  These 
people  called  themselves  "Liberal  Republicans."  The  "Liberal  Republican" 
movement  began  in  Missouri  in  1870,  under  the  leadership  of  B.  Gratz  Brown 
and  Carl  Schurz.  They  demanded  greater  liberality  in  the  laws  of  Missouri  in 
removing  the  disabilities  of  the  Confederates. 

The  Democracy  allied  themselves  with  the  "Liberal  Republicans"  and  they 
carried  Missouri  by  40,000  majority.  This  gave  great  prestige  to  the  move- 
ment ;  it  was  supported  by  a  number  of  very  able  newspaper  men,  namely : 
Whitelaw  Reid,  Horace  Greeley,  Murat  Halstead  and  Henry  Watterson.  Sen- 
ator Sumner,  Charles  Francis  Adams,  Judge  Trumbull  and  Governor  Palmer 
gave  it  their  support,  but  Horace  Greeley  editor  of  the  New  York  Tribune,  was 
the  recognized  leader. 

A  National  "Liberal  Republican"  Convention  was  held  at  Cincinnati,  May 
i,  1872.  Carl  Schurz  was  permanent  Chairman.  Horace  Greeley,  Charles  Fran- 
cis Adams,  B.  Gratz  Brown,  Jacob  D.  Cox,  Andrew  G.  Curtin,  David  Davis,  John 
M.  Palmer  and  Lyman  Trumbull  were  all  mentioned  and  considered  for  nomina- 
tion for  the  Presidency  by  the  Liberal  Republicans.  They  had  all  been  promi- 
nent in  the  counsels,  and  recognized  leaders  of  the  Republican  party. 

On  the  sixth  ballot  Horace  Greeley  was  nominated  for  President ;  Governor 
B.  Gratz  Brown  of  Missouri  was  chosen  as  candidate  for  Vice-President. 

The  regular  Democratic  National  Convention  met  at  Baltimore,  July  9th. 
James  R.  Doolittle  of  Wisconsin  was  made  President.  Mr.  Doolittle  had  been 
a  Republican  United  States  Senator  from  his  State.  The  convention  adopted 
the  "Liberal  Republican"  platform  and  endorsed  the  candidacy  of  Greeley  and 
Brown  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

The  "Straight-out  Democrats"  nominated  Charles  O'Connor  of  New  York, 
for  President  and  John  Quincy  Adams  of  Massachusetts  for  Vice-President. 

The  Temperance  National  Convention  of  February  22,  1872,  nominated 
James  Black  and  A.  H.  Colquitt  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

The  Labor  Reform  National  Convention  nominated  David  Davis  and  Joel 
Parker  for  President  and  Vice-President.  These  gentlemen  declined,  and  a  sub- 

141 


sequent  convention  held  August  22cl  at  Philadelphia  endorsed  the  nomination  of 
Charles  O'Connor. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  met  at  Philadelphia,  June  5,  1872.  A 
platform  of  principles  was  adopted,  the  most  important  plank  of  which  was  a 
declaration  in  favor  of  the  resumption  of  specie  payment  by  the  National  Gov- 
ernment. Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  renominated  for  President  and  Henry  Wilson 
of  Massachusetts,  then  a  Senator  from  that  State,  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President. 

A  spirited  canvass  followed  these  nominations.  Mr.  Greeley  made  a  tour 
of  the  country  and  delivered  a  number  of  speeches. 

The  continued  popularity  of  General  Grant  was  attested  by  the  vote  of  the 
people.  The  popular  vote  was,  for  Grant,  3,597,070 ;  for  Greeley,  2.834,079 ;  for 
O'Connor,  29,489 ;  for  Black,  5,608.  Grant  received  286  electoral  votes. 

Mr.  Greeley  having  died,  the  Liberal  Republican-Democratic  vote  of  80 
electors  was  scattered.  Thomas  A.  Hendricks  received  42  votes,  the  largest 
number  cast  for  one  person. 

The  43d  Congress  elected  in  1872  was  composed  as  follows:  Senate,  54  Re- 
publicans, 19  Democrats ;  House,  203  Republicans,  88  Democrats.  James  G. 
Elaine  was  re-elected  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives. 

General  Grant  was  inaugurated  as  President  the  second  time  March  4,  1873. 
During  the  eight  years  of  his  Presidency,  he  was  earnestly  devoted  to  the  ques- 
tion of  restoring  peaceful  relations  between  the  people  of  the  North  and  South. 

But  the  passions  of  the  war  had  not  cooled ;  nor  had  the  new  relations  ex- 
isting between  the  white  and  colored  people  of  the  South  been  acquiesced  in  by 
the  majority  of  the  whites.  Congress  passed  an  act  to  suppress  the  "Ku-Klux- 
Klan ;"  an  act  to  enforce  the  Fifteenth  Amendment  to  the  Constitution ;  an  act 
allowing  suit  against  persons  who  should  deprive  others  of  the  rights  of  citizen- 
ship; and  also  an  amnesty  act  which  relieved  from  political  disabilities  all  per- 
sons engaged  in  the  civil  war,  except  about  300  persons  who  had  served  the 
United  States  in  important  public  offices  immediately  preceding  the  rebellion. 

The  President  was  an  earnest  advocate  of  sound  finance.  He  opposed  the 
expansion  of  the  depreciated  legal  tender  notes,  and  favored  the  resumption  of 
specie  payments.  In  1875,  the  bill  providing  for  the  resumption  of  specie  pay- 
ments January  I,  1876,  was  passed  by  Congress  and  approved  by  the  President. 

A  most  important  service  to  the  United  States,  in  fact  to  all  civilized  nations, 
was  the  inauguration  by  President  Grant  of  the  principle  of  arbitration,  for  the 
settlement  of  grave  questions  of  dispute  between  nations. 

During  the  Civil  War,  certain  vessels  were  built  in  British  Navy  Yards  for 
the  Confederate  government,  to  be  used  as  cruisers  against  the  commerce  of  the 
United  States. 

Although  protests  were  made  by  the  American  Minister,  these  vessels  were 
allowed  to  go  to  sea,  where  they  received  their  armament  and  men,  and  at  once 
began  to  prey  upon  United  States  merchantmen. 

The  captures  became  so  numerous,  that  our  Merchant  Marine  found  it 
dangerous  to  navigate  the  ocean.  The  result  was  that  the  foreign  trade  of  the 
United  States  was  transferred  to  foreign  bottoms,  most  of  which  sailed  under  the 
British  flag. 

During  the  last  months  of  President  Johnson's  administration,  our  Minister 
to  England,  Reverdy  Johnson,  of  Maryland,  negotiated  a  treaty  for  the  settle- 
ment of  claims  between  the  two  nations.  The  preamble  of  the  treaty  referred  to 
claims  of  citizens,  and  subjects  of  the  two  nations,  which  "are  still  pending  and 
remain  unsettled"  and  that  a  settlement  of  such  claims  should  be  considered  as 
"a  full  and  final  settlement  of  every  claim  upon  either  government  arising  out 
of  any  transaction  of  a  date  prior  to  the  exchange  of  ratifications." 

This  treaty  left  out  of  view  the  complaints  made  by  the  United  States  against 
the  unfriendly  acts  of  the  British  government  during  the  civil  war,  particularly 
that  of  allowing  the  cruisers  built  in  British  navy  yards  to  prey  upon  American 
commerce. 

The  treaty  met  with  no  favor  in  the  Senate.  Mr.  Sumner,  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Foreign  Relations,  brought  in  a  report  recommending  that  it 
should  "be  rejected." 

142 


Mr.  Sumner  supported  the  report  with  an  able  speech.  After  speaking  of 
the  great  losses  to  this  country,  he  said :  'The  truth  must  be  told,  not  in  anger, 
but  in  sadness.  England  has  done  to  the  United  States  an  injury  most  difficult 
to  measure." 

In  April,  1869,. a  short  time  after  President  Grant  entered  upon  his  office, 
the  treaty  was  rejected. 

In  his  message  to  Congress  in  December,  1869,  the  President  expressed 
his  approval  of  the  action  of  the  Senate,  and  remarked  that  the  rejection  of  the 
treaty  was  "followed  by  a  state  of  public  opinion  on  both  sides  not  favorable  to 
an  immediate  attempt  at  renewed  negotiations,  but  he  expressed  the  hope  that 
the  time  will  soon  arrive  when  the  two  Governments  can  approach  the  solution  of 
this  momentous  question  with  an  appreciation  of  what  is  due  to  the  rights,  dignity 
and  honor  of  each."  A  year  passed  by.  The  British  Government  had  shown  it- 
self unwilling  to  go  beyond  the  treaty  negotiated  with  Reverdy  Johnson. 

In  December,  1870,  President  Grant  treated  of  this  subject  again  in  his 
annual  message  to  Congress.  He  said :  "The  Cabinet  at  London  does  not  appear 
willing  to  concede  that  her  Majesty's  Government  was  guilty  of  any  negligence, 
or  did,  or  permitted,  any  act  of  which  the  United  States  has  just  cause  of  com- 
plaint." He  added,  "Our  firm  and  unalterable  convictions  are  directly  the  re- 
verse." He  then  made  a  clear  and  practical  recommendation  that  Congress 
should  "authorize  the  appointment  of  a  commission  to  take  proof  of  the  amounts, 
and  the  ownership  of  these  several  claims,  on  notice  to  the  representative  of  her 
Majesty  at  Washington."  And,  that  authority  be  given  for  the  settlement  of 
these  claims  by  the  United  States,  so  that  the  Government  shall  have  the  owner- 
ship of  the  private  claims,  as  well  as  the  responsible  control  of  all  the  demands 
against  Great  Britain. 

This  was  an  unusual  step  for  a  Government  to  take.  It  showed  conclusively 
to  the  English  authorities  and  people,  that  President  Grant  was  profoundly  in 
earnest  in  regard  to  the  subject  in  hand.  He  had  lifted  the  question  entirely  out 
of  the  category  of  a  demand  for  the  payment  of  a  few  private  claims,  and  placed  it 
upon  the  basis  of  a  claim  of  the  United  States  against  Great  Britain,  involving  the 
rights  and  duties  of  Nations. 

This  action  of  President  Grant  was  taken  at  a  time  when  the  war  between 
France  and  Germany  was  at  its  height,  and  no  one  could  foresee  whether  other 
nations  would  become  involved  in  that  great  struggle  or  not.  Whether  this  war 
hastened  the  action  of  the  British,  will  never  be  known,  but  it  is  nevertheless  a 
fact  that  within  sixty  days  from  the  date  of  the  President's  message,  an  agree- 
ment had  been  reached  for  the  appointment  of  a  "Joint  High  Commission"  to 
meet  at  Washington  to  discuss  the  various  matters  of  difference  between  the  two 
governments. 

This  commission  met  and  soon  agreed  upon  a  basis  for  the  adjustment  of 
the  Alabama  claims  before  a  commission  to  meet  at  Geneva,  Switzerland,  where 
damages  of  $15,500,000  was  awarded.  But  the  most  important  and  substantial 
part  of  this  settlement  is  the  paragraph  in  the  treaty  of  Washington  wherein  it 
is  stated  that,  Her  Britanic  Majesty  had  authorized  her  High  Commissioners  and 
Plenipotentiaries,  "to  express  in  a  friendly  spirit  the  regret  felt  by  Her  Majesty's 
Government  for  the  escape,  under  whatever  circumstances,  of  the  Alabama  and 
other  vessels  from  British  ports,  and  for  the  depredations  committed  by  those 
vessels." 

Having  arranged  for  the  arbitration  of  these  claims,  it  was  also  stipulated  in 
the  treaty,  that  the  Northwest  boundary  question,  involving  the  ownership  of 
San  Juan  Island,  contiguous  to  Washington  Territory,  should  be  submitted  to 
the  Emperor  of  Germany,  who  was  authorized  to  decide  the  question,  "finally 
and  without  appeal." 

Upon  due  consideration,  Emperor  William  held  that  the  Island  of  San  Juan 
belonged  to  the  United  States. 

The  settlement  of  these  grave  questions,  by  arbitration  in  a  friendly  spirit, 
before  tribunals  of  distinguished  and  learned  men,  set  an  example  to  the  world, 
which  there  is  a  growing  disposition  to  follow. 

President  Grant,  and  his  Secretary  of  State,  Hamilton  Fish,  are  entitled  to 
the  highest  honor  for  the  services  they  rendered  their  country  in  these  affairs. 


143 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

GENERAL  JOHN  M.  PALMER'S  ADMINISTRATION.  GENERAL  OGLESBY  AGAIN 
ELECTED  GOVERNOR,  THEN  SENATOR.  LEIUT-GOVERNOR  BEVERIDGE  AS- 
SUMES THE  OFFICE  .  CONVENTIONS  OF  1876. 

The  election  of  1866,  the  first  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  and  held  dur- 
ing the  agitation  created  by  the  conflict  between  President  Johnson  and  Con- 
gress, brought  together  the  great  majority  of  the  men  who  supported  the  war; 
they  voted  the  Republican  ticket. 

The  accession  of  the  war  Democrats  to  the  Republican  column,  was  in  many 
counties,  particularly  in  southern  Illinois,  a  political  revolution.  The  election  of 
1868  thoroughly  consolidated  the  party. 

John  M.  Palmer,  an  original  Republican,  a  man  of  great  ability,  power  and 
influence,  distinguished  alike  in  his  civil  and  military  career,  entered  upon  the 
office  of  Governor,  supported  by  a  strong  body  of  Republicans  in  the  executive 
and  legislative  departments  of  the  Government.  John  Dougherty,  the  Lieutenant 
Governor,  was  a  man  of  ability  and  long  experience  in  public  affairs.  A  life-long 
Democrat,  he  promptly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  identified  himself 
with  the  Republican  party  as  the  only  course  left  to  a  man  who  favored  the 
preservation  of  the  Union. 

Edward  Rummel  was  well  qualified  for  tfre  office  of  Secretary  of  State.  Gen- 
eral Charles  E.  Lippencott.  auditor,  and  Col.  Erastus  N.  Bates,  treasurer,  were 
men  who  had  distinguished  themselves  in  the  army. 

They  were  able,  popular  and  eminently  successful  in  the  conduct  of  the  busi- 
ness of  their  office. 

Washington  Bushnell,  a  lawyer  of  recognized  ability  and  a  leading  Republi- 
can of  the  State,  was  Attorney  General.  James  P.  Slade,  School  Superintendent, 
and  Herbert  Dilger,  Adjutant  General,  were  able  and  diligent  in  their  perform- 
ance of  duty. 

The  administration  of  Governor  Palmer  was  eminently  successful ;  he  had  the 
good  will  and  hearty  support  of  the  Republican  party  of  the  State.  A  man  of 
strong  and  fixed  opinions  upon  Constitutional  questions,  jealous  of  any  apparent 
infringement  upon  his  powers  and  duties  of  office.  An  incident  connected  with 
the  great  Chicago  fire  in  October,  1871,  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon  his 
subsequent  political  career.  The  overwhelming  disaster  of  the  fire  made  im- 
mediate help  absolutely  necessary.  The  public  everywhere  responded,  and  food 
and  money  poured  into  the  city  as  if  by  magic.  But  the  unfortunate  people  were 
bereft  of  suitable  police  protection.  At  the  request  and  with  the  entire  sanction 
of  the  city  authorities,  General  P.  H.  Sheridan  commanding  the  department, 
ordered  troops  to  the  city  as  a  temporary  guard  to  protect  life  and  property. 

Governor  Palmer  was  not  consulted  by  the  City  Government  nor  by  General 
Sheridan.  He  had  not  called  for  the  troops,  and  he  regarded  the  stationing  of 
soldiers  in  the  City  of  Chicago  to  act  as  a  local  police  as  a  usurpation  of  authority 
and  an  infringement  upon  the  powers  and  duties  of  the  Executive  of  Illinois.  He 
could  not  justify  or  excuse  the  act  because  of  the  extraordinary  emergency  under 
which  it  was  done.  In  the  correspondence  which  followed,  Governor  Palmer 
indicated  his  opinions  upon  the  question  of  State  rights.  They  were  not  in  har- 
mony with  the  accepted  ideas  of  the  Republican  party,  but  were  not  new  to  Gov- 
ernor Palmer.  In  his  inaugural  address  delivered  January  nth,  1869,  he  had 
set  forth  with  considerable  force  his  views  upon  that  question. 

In  discussing  the  question  of  the  incorporation  of  railroads  by  national 
authority,  he  said:  "It  is  essential  to  the  usefulness  of  State  governments  that 

144 


145 


their  just  authority  should  be  respected  by  that  of  the  Nation.  Already  the 
authority  of  the  States  is  in  a  measure  paralyzed  by  a  glowing  convention  that 
all  their  powers  are  in  some  sense  derivative  and  subordinate,  and  not  original 
and  independent.  The  State  governments  are  a  par£  of  the  American  system  of 
government.  They  fill  a  well  defined  place  and  their  just  authority  must  be  re- 
spected by  the  Federal  Government,  if  it  is  expected  that  the  laws  will  be  obeyed. 

"It  is  the  clear  duty  of  the  National  Government  to  decline  the  exercise  of 
all  doubtful  powers,  when  the  neglect  to  do  so  would  be  to  bring  it  into  fields 
of  legislation  already  occupied  by  the  States,  thereby  raising  embarrassing  ques- 
tions and  presenting  a  singular  and  dangerous  instance  of  two  jurisdictions, 
claiming  the  right  to  control  the  same  class  of  subjects  and  treating  rival  cor- 
porations with  different  powers." 

This  unpleasant  episode  colored  the  administration  of  Governor  Palmer; 
he  gradually  dropped  away  from  his  political  moorings  and  was  ready  in  1872  to 
accept  a  nomination  for  the  Presidency  in  opposition  to  the  regular  Republican 
nominee.  He  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  and  affiliated  with  the 
Democracy,  but,  true  to  his  convictions,  as  he  always  has  been,  in  1896  he  re- 
fused to  support  the  free  silver  platform  of  the  Democratic  party,  and  was  voted 
for  for  President  as  a  sound  money  Democrat.  His  anti-Slavery  sentiments  in 
1854  carried  him  out  of  the  Democratic  ranks ;  but  his  State  rights  opinions 
caused  his  return  at  a  later  day  to  that  party. 

Of  the  fourteen  members  of  Congress  from  Illinois  chosen  at  November 
election,  1868,  eleven  were  Republicans,  namely:  John  A.  Logan,  Norman  B. 
Judd,  John  F.  Farnsworth,  Elihu  B.  Washburne,  Horatio  C.  Burchard,  John 
B.  Hawley,  Ebon  C.  Ingersoll,  Burton  C.  Cook,  Jesse  H.  Moore,  Shelby  M. 
Cullom  and  John  B.  Hay.  This  was  an  able  body  of  men  and  they  exerted  great 
influence  in  the  deliberations  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  General  Logan 
was  re-elected  in  1870 — was  chosen  Senator;  and  in  1888  was  the  Republican 
candidate  for  Vice-President  on  the  ticket  with  James  G.  Blaine. 

Mr.  Washburne  was  appointed  MinisteV  to  France.  Mr.  Burchard  was 
Director  of  the  Mint,  Mr.  Hawley  was  made  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
General  Moore  was  appointed  Pension  Agent,  and  Mr.  Cullom  was  twice  elected 
Governor  of  Illinois  and  is  now  serving  his  third  term  in  the  United  States 
Senate. 

In  1870  the  Republican  party  elected  nine  members  of  Congress.  John  L. 
Beveridge  succeeded  General  Logan,  who  was  elected  to  the  Senate. 

Charles  B.  Farwell  succeeded  Mr.  Judd ;  Bradford  N.  Stevens  succeeded  Mr. 
Ingersoll  and  Henry  Snapp  succeeded  Mr.  Cook,  who  died.  The  other  Republi- 
can members  elected  in  1868  were  re-elected,  except  Mr.  Cullom,  who,  owing  to 
a  split  in  the  party,  was  defeated  by  James  C.  Robinson,  Democrat. 

At  the  November  election,  1872,  Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  Governor, 
John  L.  Beveridge  was  elected  Lieutenant  Governor,  George  H.  Harlow,  Secre- 
tary of  State,  Charles  E.  Lippincott,  Auditor,  Edward  Rutz,  Treasurer,  James  K. 
Edsall,  Attorney  General,  and  Newton  Bateman,  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction. Edward  L.  Higgins  was  appointed  Adjutant  General. 

The  Legislature  was  strongly  Republican.  Shelby  M.  Cullom  was  elected 
speaker  of  the  House,  and  Daniel  Shepard,  clerk.  Daniel  Ray  was  elected  Secre- 
tary of  the  Senate. 

The  Congressional  delegation  now  contained  nineteen  members  of  the 
House.  Of  these  fourteen  were  Republicans  and  five  Democrats.  The  Republi- 
can members  were  John  B.  Rice,  Jasper  D.  Ward,  Charles  B.  Farwell,  Stephen  A. 
Hurlbut,  Horatio  C.  Burchard,  John  B.  Hawley,  Franklin  Corwin,  Greenberry 
L.  Fort,  Granville  Barriere,  William  H.  Ray,  John  McNulta,  Joseph  G.  Cannon, 
James  S.  Martin  and  Isaac  Clemens.  The  Democratic  members  were  Robert 
M.  Knapp,  James  C.  Robinson,  John  R.  Eden,  William  R.  Morrison  and  Samuel 
S.  Marshall.  Mr.  Rice  having  died  was  succeeded  by  Bernard  G.  Caulfield,  a 
Democrat. 

This  delegation  was  composed  of  men  of  ability  and  experience.  Messrs. 
Hurlbut,  Fort,  McNulta,  Martin,  Clemens  and  Morrison  had  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  the  army.  Mr.  Marshall  had  been  returned  to  Congress  after  a 
previous  service  in  the  house  and  on  the  bench. 

146 


When  the  Legislature  convened  in  January,  1873,  one  of  their  first  duties  was 
to  elect  a  United  States  Senator.  Governor  Oglesby  was  a  candidate  and  was 
elected  without  Republican  opposition.  He  was  inaugurated  Governor,  January 
1 3th,  and  was  elected  Senator,  January  23rd,  having  remained  in  office  only  ten 
days,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Lieutenant  Governor  Beveridge,  who  was  in 
turn  succeeded  as  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate  by  John  Early  of  Winnebago 
County,  who  was  elected  President  of  the  Senate  for  two  years,  when  he  in  turn 
was  succeeded  by  Archibald  A.  Glenn  of  Brown  County,  a  Democrat. 

The  financial  panic  of  1873  was  widespread  and  disastrous.  Many  of  the 
greatest  houses  in  the  country  went  down  as  the  result  of  over-trading  and  the 
utter  collapse  of  values. 

The  financial  disorders  precipitated  a  flood  of  discussion ;  the  great  panacea 
offered  for  the  relief  of  the  country  by  a  large  faction  of  both  of  the  old  parties 
was  an  unlimited  issue  of  legal  tender  notes. 

Members  of  Congress  elected  from  Illinois :  Charles  B.  Farwell,  Stephen  A. 
Hurlbut,  Horatio  C.  Burchard,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Greenberry  L.  Fort, 
Ruhard  H.  Whiting  and  Joseph  G.  Cannon ;  six  in  number  were  Republicans : 
Bernard  G.  Caulfield,  Carter  H.  Harrison,  John  C.  Bogby,  Scott  Wike,  William 
M.  Springer,  John  R.  Eden,  William  A.  J.  Sparks,  William  R.  Morrison  and 
William  Hartzell ;  nine  in  number  were  Democrats,  and  Alexander  Campbell, 
Adlai  E.  Stevenson  and  William  B.  Anderson,  three  in  number,  were  Green- 
backers. 

The  Greenbackers  in  Congress  affiliated  with  the  Democratic  party  in  the 
House  of  Representatives;  the  Democrats  had  181,  the  Republicans  107,  In- 
dependent 3.  In  the  Senate  the  Republicans  had  54  and  the  Democrats  19.  In 
the  Illinois  Legislature  the  opposition  had  a  majority.  As  before  stated  Archi- 
bald A.  Glenn  was  elected  President  of  the  Illinois  Senate  and  R.  R.  Townes  was 
elected  Secretary.  Elisha  M.  Haynes  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  House  and 
Jeremiah  J.  Crowley,  clerk. 

The  discordant  element  in  this  Legislature  forbade  the  enactment  of  any 
beneficial  legislation  for  the  State. 

The  Republican  party  of  Illinois  was  divided  upon  the  financial  question. 
Many  of  its  prominent  men  favored  expansion,  while  others  favored  the  resump- 
tion of  specie  payments.  This  question  was  carried  into  the  Convention  of  1874. 
The  Convention  of  1874  adopted  a  platform  affirming  the  resolution  of  the  Re- 
publican National  platform  of  1872  favoring  a  resumption  of  specie  payments. 
This  question  held  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  for  several  hours,  but  finally, 
by  a  unanimous  vote,  the  platform  was  adopted  by  the  Committee  and  ratified 
by  the  Convention.  The  Committee  on  Resolutions  was  composed  of  21  mem- 
bers with  Hon.  F.  W.  Palmer,  then  editor  of  the  Inter-Ocean,  as  Chairman. 

The  financial  issue  of  the  campaign  in  Illinois  was  clear  and  distinct.  The 
Republicans  favored  the  resumption  of  specie  payments,  and  a  general  system  of 
national  banking,  while  their  opponents  favored  winding  up  the  National  Banks 
and  issuing  an  unlimited  amount  of  legal  tenders. 

'While  the  Republican  party  lost  many  votes  at  the  election  and  suffered  a 
number  of  defeats  for  Congressmen  and  the  Legislature,  it  held  to  its  position 
of  sound  finances,  and  earnestly  opposed  the  financial  heresy  of  the  Green- 
backers,  that  National  currency  would  circulate  at  par  without  any  promise  or 
provision  for  its  redemption  in  coin. 

The  Greenback  party  organized  to  secure  an  expansion  of  the  currency 
swept  from  end  to  end  of  the  country,  here  and  there  electing  members  of  Con- 
gress and  State  Legislatures  at  the  November  election,  1874. 

The  Republicans  gathered  their  strength  for  the  political  contest  of  1876. 
The  Republican  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield.  Shelby  M.  Cullom  and 
Andrew  M.  Sherman  were  nominated  for  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor  re- 
spectively. George  H.  Harlow  was  renominated  as  Secretary  of  State,  Thomas 
B.  Needles  as  Auditor,  Edward  Rutz  as  Treasurer,  and  James  K.  Edsall  as  Attor- 
ney General. 

The  following  named  persons  were  chosen  as  Presidential  Electors  : 

John  I.  Rinaker,  George  Armour,  Louis  Schaffner,  Joseph  N.  Bailey,  Frank- 
lin Corwin,  Oscar  F.  Price,  David  E.  Beaty,  Michael  Donahue,  George  G. 

147 


Chaffee,  Syrus  Happy,  Joseph  J.  Castles,  Peter  Schuttler,  Boliver  G.  Gill,  Allen 

C.  Fuller,  John  B.  Hawley,  Jason  W.  Strevell,  Alexander  McLean,  Philip  N. 
Miniere,  Hugh  Crea,  James  M.  Truitt,  George  C.  Ross. 

The  delegates  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  consisted  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons : 

At  large:    Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  Joseph  W.  Robbins,  Green  B.  Raum,  George 

D.  Bangs.     District:     Sidney  Smith,   George   M.   Bogue,  John   McArthur,   S. 
K.  Dow,  Frank  M.  Palmer,  Charles  P.  Farwell,  William  Coffin,  E.  E.  Ayres, 
L.  Burchell,  Alexander  Walker,  A.  R.  Mack,  J.  W.  Hopkins,  J.  Everts,  G.  N. 
Chittenden,  J.  F.  Culver,  A.  Burk,  Thomas  A.  Boyd,  Enoch  Emery,  D.  Mack, 
D.  McGill,  J.  M.  Davis,  George  W.  Ware,  William  Prescott,  N.  W.  Branson, 
C.  R.  Cummings,  R.  B.  Latham,  D.  D.  Evans,  L.J.  Bond,  Benson  Wood, Thomas 
L.  Golden,  James  S.  Martin,  George  C.  McCord,  John  I.  Rinaker,  H.  L.  Baker, 
William  Adams,  Isaac  Clemens,  F.  D.  Ham,  William  H.  Robinson. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  was  held  at  Cincinnati,  June  14  and 
15,  1876.  It  was  attended  by  many  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  the  nation. 
Edward  McPherson,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  the  presiding  officer. 

The  most  prominent  candidate  for  nomination  was  James  G.  Elaine,  of 
Maine,  but  Governor  Morton  of  Indiana,  Benjamin  H.  Bristow  of  Kentucky, 
Roscoe  Conkling  of  New  York,  Governor  Hartranf  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Ruther- 
ford B.  Hayes  of  Ohio  had  many  friends. 

The  nominating  speeches  were  able  and  eloquent  and  elicited  great  applause. 
When  Illinois  was  called  for  nominations,  Robert  G.  Ingersoll  took  the  stand  and 
made  a  most  eloquent  and  powerful  speech  nominating  Mr.  Blaine.  This  speech 
is  historical  and  will  no  doubt  live  amongst  the  greatest  of  oratorical  gems.  Mr. 
Blaine  came  within  five  votes  of  a  nomination  on  the  third  ballot.  This  occurred 
late  in  the  afternoon  when  night  was  coming  on.  An  adjournment  was  forced ; 
during  the  night  the  opponents  of  Mr.  Blaine  came  together,  united  upon  Gov- 
ernor Hayes,  and  he  was  nominated  the  next  morning.  Roscoe  Conkling,  John 
M.  Harlan,  J.  Donald  Cameron  and  James  N.  Tyner  arranged  this  combination 
and  secured  the  defeat  of  Mr.  Blaine.  William  Wheeler  of  New  York  was  nom- 
inated for  Vice-President. 

General  Hayes  was  at  the  time  of  his  nomination  Governor  of  Ohio.  He  had 
been  a  distinguished  soldier,  and  was  a  popular  and  successful  man  before  the 
people  of  Ohio.  He  had  beaten  at  the  polls  for  Congress  and  Gov- 
ernor, George  H.  Pendleton,  William  Allen,  and  Allen  G.  Thurman,  the  three 
leading  Democrats  of  Ohio.  The  Republican  party  united  earnestly  in  the  sup- 
port of  Hayes  and  Wheeler. 

John  L.  Beveridge,  elected  as  Lieutenant-Governor  on  the  ticket  with 
Governor  Oglesby,  November,  1872,  and  inaugurated  as  Governor  January  13, 
1873,  upon  the  election  of  Governor  Oglesby  to  the  United  States  Senate,  is  a 
native  of  New  York.  He  was  born  in  Greenwich,  Washington  County,  July  6, 
1824,  and  was  brought  up  on  a  farm.  His  ancestors  were  Scotch  Presbyterians. 
He  came  to  Illinois  in  1842  with  his  father's  family.  He  attended  Granville 
Academy,  in  Putnam  County,  and  Rock  River  Seminary,  at  Mt.  Morris,  Ogle 
County.  He  removed  to  Tennessee,  engaged  in  teaching,  studied  law  and  prac- 
ticed that  profession  in  his  adopted  State.  In  1851  he  returned  to  Illinois,  having 
in  1848  married  Helen  M.  Judson,  an  Illinois  girl. 

He  lived  at  Sycamore  three  years,  but  in  1854  removed  to  Evanston,  and 
opened  a  law  office  in  Chicago  with  his  partner,  John  F.  Farnsworth.  When 
the  Civil  War  came  on  they  both  decided  to  enter  the  military  service.  John 
F.  Farnsworth  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  8th  Illinois  Cavalry  and  Captain 
John  L.  Beveridge  commanded  one  of  the  companies.  He  was  soon  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  major.  The  regiment  served  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  with 
great  distinction.  In  1863,  Major  Beveridge  was  commissioned  colonel  of  the 
1 7th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  had  an  extended  service  in  Missouri.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  February  6,  1865,  with  the  rank  of  brevet  brigadier-general.  In  1866 
he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Cook  County,  Illinois.  From  that  time  forward  his 
advancement  in  popularity  and  preferment  was  rapid.  In  1870  he  was  elected 
to  the  State  Senate.  He  resigned  that  position  for  Congressman-at-Large  as 
successor  of  General  Logan,  who  was  elected  to  the  United  State  Senate.  In 

148 


149 


1872  he  resigned  this  office  to  accept  the  office  of  Lieutenant-Governor.  It  is 
an  interesting  and  remarkable  fact  that  General  Beveridge  in  three  weeks  held 
the  several  positions  of  Congressman-at-Large,  Lieutenant-Governor  and  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

The  Democratic  party  held  their  National  Convention  at  St.  Louis,  June  27th, 
2Qth,  1876.  The  Convention  adopted  an  elaborate  platform  demanding  re- 
form. The  vital  issues  presented  were  a  demand  for  the  repeal  of  the  Resump- 
tion Act,  and  a  tariff  for  revenue  only. 

Samuel  J.  Tilden  of  New  York  and  Thomas  J.  Hendricks  of  Indiana  were 
nominated  for  President  and  Vice-President.  These  were  both  able  men,  lawyers 
of  national  reputation,  experienced  in  public  affairs,  adroit  in  political  manage- 
ment. Mr.  Tilden  was  a  millionaire,  and  both  were  popular  with  their  party. 

Peter  Cooper  of  New  York,  and  Samuel  F.  Cary  of  Ohio,  were  nominated  for 
President  and  Vice-President  by  the  Greenback  party,  and  Green  Clay  Smith  of 
Kentucky  was  nominated  for  President  by  the  Prohibition  party.  The  American 
National  Convention  nominated  James  B.  Walker  of  Illinois  and  Donald  Kirk- 
patrick  of  New  York  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

General  Hampton  of  South  Carolina  in  the  Democratic  National  Convention 
promised  the  solid  vote  of  the  South  for  the  Democratic  nominees. 

The  important  issues  of  the  campaign  were,  purity  of  elections,  the  Repub- 
licans demanding  a  "free  ballot  and  a  fair  count" ;  the  financial  question,  the 
Republicans  advocating  the  resumption  of  specie  payments ;  and  the  tariff,  the 
Republicans  standing  firmly  in  favor  of  a  protective  tariff,  and  the  Democrats 
favoring  a  tariff  for  revenue  only. 

It  soon  developed  that  the  Democracy  of  the  South  proposed  to  carry  the 
election  of  their  States  by  intimidation.  The  Ku-Klux-Klan  had  introduced  this 
system  through  a  mysterious  and  disguised  organization  which  performed  its 
work  at  night.  The  laws  of  Congress  had  favored  the  disbandment  of  that  asso- 
ciation. 


150 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1876.     SHELBY  M.    CULLOM    ELECTED    GOVERNOR.      THE 
ELECTORAL  COMMISSION.    PRESIDENT  HAYES'  ADMINISTRATION. 

In  1874  the  Democracy  of  Alabama  had  carried  that  State  by  open  violence 
and  fraud.  The  same  policy  was  inaugurated  in  Mississippi  in  1875. 

Volunteer  military  companies  were  organized  and  armed ;  they  operated  in 
twenty-six  counties  where  Republican  majorities  existed,  they  broke  up  Re- 
publican meetings  and  assassinated  many  people  by  shooting,  hanging  and 
drowning;  they  overcame  a  Republican  majority  of  35,000,  and  carried  the  State. 
In  these  States  the  Democratic  party  having  by  intimidation,  murder  and  fraud 
placed  in  the  ballot  boxes  a  majority  of  votes  for  their  candidates,  secured  their 
election  and  seized  those  State  governments.  The  success  of  these  political  enter- 
prises were  so  great  that  Southern  Democratic  leaders  decided  to  apply  the 
"Mississippi  Plan"  to  the  whole  South. 

Every  necessary  step  in  the  way  of  armed  political  organization  was  adopted. 
A  reign  of  terror  was  inaugurated,  particularly  in  Louisiana,  Mississippi,  Ala- 
bama, South  Carolina  and  Florida.  Murder  ran  riot.  The  history  of  the  political 
campaign  and  election  in  those  States  in  1876,  is  a  history  of  intimidation,  fraud 
and  murder.  With  a  peaceful  and  fair  election  all  of  those  States  were  Republican. 
In  Illinois  the  entire  Republican  State  ticket  was  elected. 

Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Governor-elect,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  was  born  No- 
vember 22,  1829,  at  Monticello,  Wayne  County,  Kentucky. 

In  1831  his  father,  Richard  N.  Cullom,  removed  with  his  family  from  Ken- 
lucky  to  Tazewell  County,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  Mr.  Cullom 
became  prominent  in  politics  and  was  elected  four  terms  to  the  Legislature, 
serving  in  the  loth,  I2th,  I3th  and  i8th  General  Assemblies.  Young  Cullom 
was  raised  on  a  farm.  He  attended  the  local  schools  and  upon  proper  prepara- 
tion entered  Rock  River  Seminary,  at  Mount  Morris,  where  he  remained  two 
Stewart  &  Edwards,  in  Springfield,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1855.  His 
first  official  position  was  city  attorney. 

In  1856  he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature.  He  identified  himself 
with  the  Republican  party  and  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1860,  and 
was  chosen  Speaker  of  the  House.  In  1862  President  Lincoln  created  a  claim's 
commission,  to  which  were  appointed  George  S.  Boutwell  of  Massachusetts, 
Charles  A.  Dana  of  New  York  and  Shelby  M.  Cullom  of  Illinois.  In  1864  Mr. 
Cullom  was  nominated  and  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Springfield  district,  de- 
feating his  old  law  preceptor,  John  T.  Stewart.  He  was  re-elected  in  1866  and 
in  1868,  and  participated  in  the  enactment  of  the  important  measures  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  including  the  I4th  and  I5th  Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 
In  1872  he  was  again  returned  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  again  made  Speaker, 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1874.  With  this  long  and  varied  experi- 
ence in  both  State  and  National  affairs,  Shelby  M.  Cullom  was  nominated  and 
elected  Governor  of  Illinois.  Few  men  have  ever  been  better  prepared  to  un- 
dertake the  performance  of  the  duties  devolving  on  the  Governor  of  a  great  State 
than  Governor  Cullom.  He  proved  himself  to  be  a  capable  executive  officer. 
His  career  as  a  public  officer  has  covered  a  greater  period  of  time  than  any  other 
of  its  citizens  who  ever  held  important  public  offices.  He  was  six  years  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  Legislature  and  twice  Speaker.  Six  years  in  the  lower  house 
of  Congress,  six  years  as  Governor  and  eighteen  years  a  United  States  Senator — 
making  thirty-six  years  of  almost  constant  public  employment,  and  this  does  not 
include  his  service  as  city  attorney,  nor  service  on  the  claims'  commission. 

151 


This  public  service  of  Senator  Cullom's  covers  the  most  important  era  in 
modern  times.  He  was  an  active  participant  in  connection  with  the  legislation 
of  this  country  during  the  Civil  War  and  since  the  war,  and  covers  also  the  Span- 
ish War  and  the  legislation  incident  to  that  important  event.  He  has  been  on 
the  side  of  the  great  progressive  'movement  in  law  and  in  politics,  inaugurated 
and  carried  forward  by  the  Republican  party,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  as  a 
constructive  legislator,  framing  laws  to  meet  the  necessities  of  this  great  and 
growing  country. 

The  election  for  President  turned  upon  the  result  in  Louisiana,  South  Caro- 
lina and  Florida.  Both  parties  claimed  a  victory.  Basing  his  decision  on  the 
telegrams  of  the  Governors  of  those  States,  as  to  the  result  of  the  election,  Zach- 
ary  Chandler,  Chairman  of  the  National  Republican  Committee,  sent  out  a  mes- 
sage that  "Hayes  and  Wheeler  have  received  185  votes  and  are  elected."  The 
returning  boards  of  those  States  decided  that  Haves  and  W'heeler  had  received 
majorities. 

The  Presidential  succession  after  the  election  became  a  grave  national  issue. 
Distinguished  men  of  both  political  parties  visited  the  States  in  dispute  and  in- 
vestigated the  conduct  of  the  campaign  and  election.  The  atrocious  and  bloody 
deeds  of  the  Democratic  organizations  were  fully  brought  to  light.  The  con- 
tention and  agitation  aroused  at  this  time  was  so  great  that  civil  war  seemed 
imminent. 

Congress,  whose  duty  it  was  to  count  the  vote,  took  the  subject  up,  and 
passed  a  law  organizing  an  "Electoral  Commission",  consisting  of  fifteen  mem- 
bers, five  Senators,  five  members  of  the  House,  and  five  Judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  The  Electoral  Commission  was  composed  of  the  following  named: 
Judges  Clifford,  Field,  Miller,  Strong,  and  Bradley ;  Senators  Edmunds,  Mor- 
ton, Frelinghuysen,  Bayard  and  Thurman ;  Members  of  the  House  Abbott,  Hun- 
ton,  Payne,  Garfield  and  Hoar.  Senator  Thurman  retired  and  was  succeeded  by 
Senator  Kernan. 

This  august  body  met,  deliberated,  passed  <upon  all  the  questions  presented 
and  decided  that  Hayes  and  Wheeler  were  elected  President  and  Vice-President. 
During  the  progress  of  this  controversy,  President  Grant  was  visited  by  a  com- 
mittee of  prominent  Democrats  to  discuss  the  question. 

The  President  assured  the  committee  that  he  could  not  and  would  not  take 
part  in  deciding  the  question  of  the  succession,  but  he  declared  most  emphatically 
that  he  proposed  that  his  successor  should  be  peacefully  inaugurated  and  put  in 
possession  of  the  presidential  office. 

This  interview  dispelled  the  idea  that  Mr.  Tilden  could  by  some  strategem 
seize  the  Presidency.  The  Democracy  submitted  to  the  result  of  the  decision 
of  the  Electoral  Commission  ;  the  joint  session  of  the  two  houses  counted  the 
votes;  Hayes  and  Wheeler  received  185  votes  and  were  declared  elected.  The 
public  inauguration  occurred  on  Monday,  March  5,  1877 ;  although  Mr.  Hayes 
had  previously  taken  the  oath  of  office  privately. 

President  Grant  retired  from  office  with  the  affection  and  confidence  of  the 
American  people. 

The  political  campaign  of  1876  will  ever  remain  memorable  in  the  political 
history  of  the  country.  It  was  the  final  struggle  of  the  Democratic  party  by  open 
violence  in  the  South  to  seize  the  National  Government. 

The  dispute  which  arose  as  to  the  result  of  the  election  in  three  of  the  States, 
and  which  involved  the  presidential  succession,  brought  clearly  to  light  the  fact 
that  there  was  no  provision  of  constitutional  or  statutory  law  to  meet  a  contest 
of  that  kind ;  and  the  importance  of  such  a  law  was  emphasized  by  the  excitement 
that  prevailed  throughout  the  country  over  the  question.  When  Congress  finally 
passed  a  law  creating  the  Electoral  Commission  and  that  commission  decided  in 
favor  of  Hayes  and  Wheeler,  the  great  mass  of  the  people  cheerfully  acquiesced 
in  the  decision.  But  many  prominent  leaders  of  the  Democratic  party  claimed 
that  Mr.  Tilden  had  been  cheated  out  of  the  Presidency,  and  this  question  was 
constantly  kept  before  the  public.  Finally  the  Legislature  of  Maryland  passed 
a  resolution  that  due  effect  had  not  been  given  to  the  Elector  vote  of  that  State, 
by  reason  of  fraudulent  returns  of  electoral  votes  from  the  States  of  Florida  and 
Louisiana. 

152 


153 


On  May  13,  18/8,  Clarksen  X.  Potter,  member  of  Congress  from  New 
York  introduced  into  the  House  of  Representatives  a  resolution  for  a  select 
committee  of  eleven  members  to  investigate  alleged  frauds  in  the  canvass  and 
votes  for  President  and  Vice-President  in  1876. 

In  the  Senate  the  political  division  was  39  Republicans  and  36  Democrats ; 
in  the  House  there  were  156  Democrats  and  137  Republicans.  Samuel  J.  Ran- 
dall of  Pennsylvania  was  Speaker.  The  Potter  resolution  was  adopted  and  a 
committee  of  investigation  appointed.  The  Democratic  platform  of  1876  de- 
nounced the  Republican  party  as  incompetent,  extravagant  and  corrupt.  It 
demanded  a  reform  in  every  branch  of  the  Government,  and  the  repeal  of  every 
important  act  of  legislation.  They  held  themselves  out  as  par  excellence  the  party 
of  wisdom  and  integrity. 

In  demanding  and  entering  upon  this  great  inquest,  in  respect  to  the  presi- 
ucntial  election,  the  alleged  sentiment  and  feelings  of  the  Democracy  were  voiced 
by  Mr.  Manton  Marble  in  a  lengthy  document  arraigning  the  Republicans ;  he 
declared,  in  a  spirit  of  injured  innocence  "that  the  absolute  trust  of  Mr.  Tilden  and 
his  adherents  in  the  presidential  contest  had  been  in  moral  forces."  The  resolu- 
tions had  specifically  named  Hon.  John  Sherman,  then  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
as  having  advised  and  encouraged  officers  of  the  Returning  Board  of  Louisiana 
to  falsely  and  fraudulently  exclude  certain  votes  and  thereby  change  the  result  of 
the  election  for  President  in  that  State. 

Mr.  Sherman  addressed  a  letter  to  the  committee,  May  20,  1878,  broadly 
denying  the  charge,  and  offering  to  prove  that  the  election  in  the  parishes  named 
were  controlled  by  force,  violence,  and  intimidation  by  Democrats,  so  revolting 
as  to  excite  the  common  indignation  of  all  who  became  acquainted  with  it. 

The  country  waited  with  such  patience  as  it  could  summon,  for  the  ex- 
traordinary disclosures  of  fraud  which  were  promised,  but  proof  of  the  frauds 
was  not  forthcoming.  At  its  session  of  1876-7,  the  Senate  had  made  an  investiga- 
tion into  the  Oregon  electoral  case  and  had  secured  by  subpoenas  to  the  tele- 
graph companies  some  30,000  telegraphic  dispatches  bearing  on  the  election. 

Many  of  the  messages  were  in  cipher  and  although  made  public,  had  not 
been  translated.  All  but  about  700  of  these  dispatches  had  been  returned  to  the 
telegraph  companies.  These  still  remained  in  the  custody  of  an  employe  of  the 
Senate  committee.  The  task  of  solving  the  mysteries  held  by  these  cipher  dis- 
patches was  undertaken  by  two  gentlemen  acting  separate  and  apart,  and  each 
upon  lines  of  his  own  invention.  In  due  time  the  cipher  codes  were  discovered 
by  both  parties  and  the  whole  secret  was  unraveled. 

The  fact  was  disclosed  that  a  concerted  effort  had  been  made  in  South  Caro- 
lina, Florida  and  Oregon  to  secure  by  purchase  one  or  more  electoral  votes  for 
Samuel  J.  Tilden.  An  interesting  feature  of  the  disclosure  was  that  Mr.  Manton 
Marble,  so  devoted  to  "moral  forces"  in  politics,  had  actively  engaged  in  the  work 
of  securing  the  Presidency  for  Mr.  Tilden  by  bribery. 

J.  H.  N.  Patrick  was  sent  to  Oregon  to  manage  the  business  theie.  He  sent 
the  following  dispatch  : 

"Portland,  November  28,  1876. 
To  W.  T.  Pelton, 

No.  15  Grammercy  Park,  New  York: 

By  vizier  association  innocuous  to  negligence  cunning  minutely  previously 
readmit  doltish  to  purchase  afar  act  with  cunning  afar  sacristy  unweighed  afar 
pointer  tigress  cattle  superanuated  syllabus  dilatoriness  misapprehension  contra- 
band Kountz  bisulcuous  top  usher  spiniferous  answer. 

.     "J.  H.  N.  PATRICK." 
"I  fully  endorse  this.    James  K.  Kelley." 

When  translated  this  dispatch  read : 

"Certificate  will  be  issued  to  one  Democrat.  Must  purchase  a  Republican 
Elector  to  recognize  and  act  with  Democrats  and  secure  the  vote  and  prevent 
trouble.  Deposit  $10,000  to  my  credit  with  Kountz  Brothers,  Wall  Street. 
Answer." 

The  following  dispatch  was  found : 

154 


"New  York,  Dec.  6,  1876. 
"To  James  K.  Kelly : 

"The  eight  deposited  as  directed  this  morning.  Let  no  technicality  prevent 
winning.  Use  your  discretion." 

(No  Signature.) 

William  T.  Pelton,  a  nephew  of  Mr.  Tilden,  sent  and  received  these  telegrams 
of  corruption;  15  Grammercy  Park  being  Mr.  Tilden's  residence.  Manton 
Marble,  C.  W.  Woolley  and  John  F.  Coyle  went  to  Florida  in  Mr.  Tilden's 
interest. 

Mr.  Marble  to  Mr.  Pelton  in  cypher : 

"Have  just  received  a  proposition  to  hand  over  at  any  time  required  Tilden 
decision  of  Board  and  Certificate  of  Governor  for  $200,000." 

Mr.  Pelton  telegraphed : 

"Proposition  too  high."  Marble  and  Woolley  then  telegraphed  that  an 
"elector  could  be  had  for  $50,000."  Mr.  Pelton  returned  answer  in  cipher  that 
"They  could  not  draw  until  the  vote  was  received." 

Smith  M.  Weed  went  to  South  Carolina  for  the  same  purpose. 

He  telegraphed  in  cipher  to  Henry  Havemeyer  that  the  "Board  demand 
$75,000  for  giving  us  two  or  three  electors."  "Something  beyond  will  be  needful 
for  the  interceder,  perhaps  $10,000."  The  same  day  he  telegraphed  to  Mr.  Have- 
meyer, "It  looks  now  as  though  the  thing  would  work  at  $75,000  for  all  seven 
votes." 

On  the  i8th  Mr.  Weed  telegraphed :  "Majority  of  Board  have  been  secured. 
Cost  is  $80,000 — one  parcel  to  be  sent  of  $65,000 ;  one  of  $10,000 ;  one  of  $5,000 ; 
all  to  be  in  $500  or  $1,000  bills,  notes  to  be  accepted  as  parties  accept  and  given  up 
upon  votes  of  South  Carolina  being  given  to  Tilden's  friends.  Do  this  at  once 
and  have  cash  ready  to  reach  Baltimore  Sunday  night." 

Mr.  Weed  went  at  once  to  Baltimore,  where  he  "met  Mr.  Pelton.  They  both 
went  to  New  York  to  secure  the  money. 

On  November  22d  the  Canvassing  Board  declared  and  certified  the  election  of 
the  Republican  electors,  and  thus  put  an  end  to  the  attempt  of  bribery  by  Mr. 
Weed. 

In  Oregon  the  Republican  electors  filled  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
ineligibility  of  Mr.  Watts,  the  postmaster,  and  the  vote  of  Oregon  was  cast  for 
Hayes  and  Wheeler.  This  Potter  investigation  which  was  begun  by  the  Demo- 
crats with  a  ponderous  claim  of  honesty  ended  in  the  production  of  indubitable 
proof  of  a  bold  effort  to  secure  the  Presidency  for  Samuel  J.  Tilden  by  bribery. 

President  Hayes  was  sincerely  desirous  of  contributing  to  the  restoration 
cf  a  fraternal  spirit  of  harmony  between  the  people  of  the  Southern  and  Northern 
States.  As  an  evidence  of  this  feeling  he  appointed  David  M.  Key  of  Tennessee 
(a  Democrat  and  an  ex-Confederate  soldier)  Postmaster-General. 

The  President  recognized  the  Democratic  Governors  in  the  States  of  South 
Carolina,  Florida  and  Louisiana,  where  conflicts  existed  as  to  whether  the  Re- 
publican or  Democratic  candidates  for  Governor  and  other  State  officers  had 
been  elected  in  November,  1876. 

In  those  States  the  Democrats  set  up  conflicting  State  governments,  claim- 
ing that  their  candidates  had  been  elected.  Civil  war  between  the  conflicting 
parties  was  imminent.  President  Grant  had  at  the  request  of  the  Republican 
State  authorities  stationed  troops  at  various  points  in  those  States  to  maintain  the 
peace.  President  Hayes  withdrew  the  troops.  The  Republicans  of  Louisiana 
were  the  last  to  yield ;  that  State  was  the  last  of  the  Southern  States  with  a  Re- 
publican majority,  where  a  free  ballot  and  a  fair  count  could  be  had,  to  succumb 
to  the  determined  efforts  of  the  Democratic  party  for  a  "solid  South." 

President  Hayes  was  sound  upon  all  financial  questions.  On  February  28, 
1878,  he  vetoed  the  bill  for  the  free  coinage  of  silver;  he  presented  clearly  the 
unwisdom  of  the  act  of  making  the  silver  dollar  a  legal  tender  for  the  payment 
of  debts,  when  the  commercial  value  of  the  metal  was  less  than  its  coinage  value. 

In  accordance  with  the  Democratic  platform,  the  Democrats  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  passed  a  bill  repealing  the  resumption  act.  This  bill  found 
no  favor  with  the  majority  in  the  Senate ;  the  bill  would  have  been  vetoed  by  the 
President  if  it  had  been  sent  to  him. 

155 


The  Democrats  having  the  control  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  decided 
to  repeal  those  sections  of  the  Revised  Statutes  which  authorized  the  appoint- 
ment of,  or  the  performance  of  any  duty  by,  any  chief  or  other  supervisor  of 
elections,  or  any  special  deputy  marshal  of  elections,  or  for  any  services  per- 
formed as  such.  An  amendment  to  this  effect  was  offered  to  a  bill  making  ap- 
propriations for  the  legislative  execution  and  judicial  departments  of  the  Govern- 
ment. 

This  amendment  elicited  an  earnest  and  lengthy  debate  which  was  continued 
to  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  the  appropriation  bill  having  failed  of  passage. 

Immediately  upon  the  adjournment  of  Congress,  March  4,  1879,  the  Presi- 
dent called  an  extra  session  to  meet  March  18.  Congress  met  on  that  day  and  for 
the  first  time  since  December,  1860,  the  Democracy  found  themselves  in  a  ma- 
jority of  both  houses  of  Congress. 

In  the  Senate  there  were  42  Democrats  and  33  Republicans  ;  in  the  House 
there  were  149  Democrats  and  130  Republicans.  This  political  condition 
strengthened  the  Democrats  in  their  purpose  to  repeal  all  laws  securing  Federal 
supervision  at  elections  for  President,  Vice-President  and  Congressmen. 

To  the  bill  making  appropriations  for  the  support  of  the  army,  riders  were 
added  by  the  Democrats  repealing  the  obnoxious  laws. 

An  exciting  partisan  debate  ensued.  General  Garfield  delivered  an  able  and 
impassioned  address  on  March  29th.  He  said : 

"The  last  act  of  Democratic  domination  in  this  capital  eighteen  years  ago 
was  striking  and  dramatic,  perhaps  heroic.  Then  the  Democratic  party  said  to 
the  Republicans,  If  you  elect  the  man  of  your  choice  as  President  of  the 
United  States  we  will  shoot  your  government  to  death ;  and  the  people  of  this 
country  refusing  to  be  coerced  by  threats  of  violence  voted  as  they  pleased,  and 
lawfully  elected  Abraham  Lincoln  President  of  the  United  States.  Then  your 
leaders,  though  holding  a  majority  in  the  other  branch  of  Congress,  were  heroic 
enough  to  withdraw  from  their  seats  and  fling  down  the  gauge  of  mortal  battle. 
We  called  it  rebellion ;  but  we  recognized  it  as1  courageous  and  manly  to  avow 
your  purpose,  take  all  the  risks  and  fight  it  out  on  the  open  field.  Notwith- 
standing your  utmost  efforts  to  destroy  it,  the  Government  was  saved. 

"To-day,  after  eighteen  years  of  defeat,  the  book  of  your  domination  is  again 
opened,  and  your  first  act  awakens  every  unhappy  memory  and  threatens  to 
destroy  the  confidence  which  your  recent  profession  of  patriotism  inspired. 
*  *  *  You  turned  down  a  leaf  of  the  history  that  recorded  your  last  act  of 
power  in  1861,  and  you  have  now  signalized  your  return  to  power  by  beginning 
a  second  chapter  at  the  same  page ;  not  this  time  by  a  heroic  act  that  declares 
war  on  the  battle-field,  but  you  say  if  all  the  legislative  powers  of  the  Govern- 
ment do  not  consent  to  let  you  tear  certain  laws  out  of  the  statute  book  you  will 
not  shoot  our  government  to  death  as  you  tried  to  do  in  the  first  chapter ;  but  you 
declare  if  we  do  not  consent  against  our  will,  if  you  cannot  coerce  an  independent 
branch  of  this  Government  against  its  will,  to  allow  you  to  tear  from  the  statute 
book  some  leaves  put  there  by  the  will  of  the  people,  you  will  starve  the  gov- 
ernment to  death." 

After  a  month's  consideration,  the  bill  with  the  objectionable  amendment 
having  passed  both  houses  of  Congress,  it  was  vetoed  by  the  President. 

Other  appropriation  bills  to  which  political  riders  were  added  suffered  the 
same  fate.  The  Democrats,  finding  that  the  President  was  not  to  be  coerced  into 
signing  a  bill  which  he  regarded  as  unwise  and  vicious,  shrunk  from  carrying 
out  the  threat  of  Mr.  Tucker  of  Virginia  that  "the  army  dies  on  the  3oth  day  of 
June  unless  we  resuscitate  it  by  legislation,"  and  brought  forward  an  acceptable 
appropriation  bill  for  the  support  of  the  army  which  was  approved  by  the  Presi- 
dent June  6,  1879. 

The  action  President  Hayes  had  taken  in  recognizing  the  Democratic  Gov- 
ernments in  South  Carolina,  Florida  and  Louisiana  was  disapproved  by  many 
prominent  Republicans,  who  on  this  account  were  not  disposed  to  give  the  ad- 
ministration cordial  support,  but  the  control  of  Congress  by  the  Democrats  of 
the  South  brought  Republicans  together,  and  caused  a  great  political  reaction 
throughout  the  country  against  the  Democratic  party. 

156 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE  ILLINOIS  REPUBLICAN  CONVENTION  MAY  19,  1880. 

The  administration  of  President  Hayes  had  been  eminently  practical  and 
successful.  The  South  was  regaining  prosperity ;  time  was  cooling  the  passions 
of  the  war;  the  government  had  resumed  specie  payments  and  established  the 
credit  of  the  nation  on  a  permanent  foundation,  and  the  country  was  entering  upon 
an  era  of  grand  development  and  prosperity. 

President  Hayes  was  not  a  candidate  for  re-election.  Hon.  John  Sherman, 
Secretary  of  the  Treasury,  was  a  candidate  for  the  Republican  nomination  and 
had  the  friendship  of  the  administration. 

Mr.  Sherman  had  shown  great  ability  as  a  legislator  during  his  long  service 
in  the  Senate,  and  had  added  much  to  his  reputation  by  the  able  manner  in  which 
he  administered  the  financial  affairs  of  the  government. 

The  opinion  was  universal  that  Mr.  Sherman  was  eminently  qualified  for  the 
Presidential  office,  but  he  did  not  attract  men  to  him.  William  Windom  of 
Minnesota,  George  F.  Edmunds  of  Vermont,  and  E.  B.  Washburne  of  Illinois,  all 
of  splendid  ability  and  experience  were  candidates  for  the  nomination ;  James  G. 
Elaine  of  Maine,  was  also  a  candidate ;  he  had  a  large  and  enthusiastic  following. 
Mr.  Elaine  had  the  gift  of  making  friends  and  of  keeping  them ;  he  had  a  wonder- 
ful memory  for  faces  and  names ;  having  made  the  acquaintance  of  a  person  he 
never  forgot  him.  Thoroughly  conversant  with  the  politics  and  politicians  of 
every  state,  Mr.  Elaine  entered  the  canvass  of  1880  with  ardor;  he  was  confident 
and  his  friends  were  confident  of  his  nomination. 

In  the  fall  of  1879,  General  Grant  returned  from  his  trip  around  the  world. 
He  had  received  the  highest  honors  that  could  be  bestowed  on  any  private  citizen 
by  the  government  of  every  country  he  visited.  Wherever  he  went  he  exhibited 
such  composure,  self-possession,  good  sense  and  the  true  American  spirit,  that 
he  was  more  respected  and  beloved  by  the  people  on  his  return  than  at  any  time 
during  his  official  career. 

There  was  a  very  general  demand  for  his  re-election  to  the  Presidency.  The 
question  was  taken  up  in  many  states ;  he  had  the  earnest  friendship  of  a  large 
proportion  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  party  throughout  the  country.  But  while 
this  was  so,  other  candidates  had  their  friends  and  supporters,  and  the  question  of 
a  "third  term"  was  brought  forward  as  an  insuperable  objection.  This  question 
was  earnestly  pressed,  it  being  contended  as  a  part  of  the  unwritten  law  of  the 
country  that  no  man  shall  be  elected  president  a  third  term.  All  of  the  candi- 
dates were  supported  by  men  of  power  and  influence.  General  Grant  had  not  by 
word  or  act  declared  himself  as  a  candidate.  He  simply  remained  silent  upon  the 
subject  and  left  the  decision  to  the  people.  General  Logan  of  Illinois,  Senator 
Conkling  of  New  York,  and  Senator  Cameron  of  Pennsylvania  were  recognized 
as  Republican  leaders  in  their  states.  They  all  favored  the  election  of  General 
Grant  and  worked  to  that  end. 

The  friends  of  Mr.  Elaine,  acting  with  his  sanction,  decided  to  make  a  con- 
test in  the  home  state  of  General  Grant  for  delegates.  An  active  campaign  was 
set  on  foot  throughout  the  State  of  Illinois  under  the  management  of  Hon. 
Charles  B.  Farwell.  Mr.  Farwell  was  an  experienced  political  manager ;  he  had 
been  chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee  and  had  a  large  acquaintance 
throughout  the  State,  but  he  was  particularly  strong  in  Cook  County. 

Mr.  Farwell  and  General  Logan  both  lived  in  Chicago.    They  had  long  been 

157 


fast  friends  personally  and  politically,  but  this  year  their  path  divided.  The  con- 
test in  Cook  County  was  vigorous  and  exciting.  The  call  of  the  State  Central 
Committee  divided  the  92  delegates,  to  which  the  county  was  entitled,  between 
the  seven  senatorial  districts  according  to  the  number  of  their  Republican  votes. 
At  the  primary  election  for  delegates  to  the  County  Convention,  three  of  the 
Senatorial  districts  were  carried  by  Geneal  Grant  and  four  were  carried  by  his 
opponents.  The  Chairman  of  the  County  Convention,  Horace  M.  Singer,  was 
a  Grant  man.  When  the  County  Convention  met  at  Farwell  Hall,  Mr.  Singer,  as 
was  his  duty,  called  the  Convention  to  order,  and  attempted  to  nominate  for  the 
action  of  the  Convention  Mr.  Struckmann  (a  Washburne  delegate)  for  temporary 
chairman. 

As  had  been  previously  arranged  by  the  Blaine  and  Washburne  delegates, 
this  action  was  interrupted  and  prevented.  Some  delegate  selected  for  the  pur- 
pose mounted  a  chair,  nominated  Elliott  Anthony  as  chairman  of  the  convention 
and  put  the  motion  and  declared  it  carried. 

Mr.  Anthony  mounted  the  platform,  from  which  Mr.  Singer  was  temporarily 
forced.  The  convention  was  in  a  tumultuous  uproar.  Mr.  Singer,  returning  to 
the  platform,  undertook  to  call  the  convention  to  order ;  no  heed  was  paid  to  him. 
The  uproar  continued  and  increased.  No  business  could  be  transacted  because 
of  the  confusion,  whereupon  Mr.  Singer  declared  the  convention  adjourned  to 
meet  at  the  club  room  of  the  Palmer  House. 

A  large  number  of  the  delegates  recognized  the  adjournment,  proceeded 
immediately  to  the  Palmer  House,  and  assembled  in  the  club  room,  where  they 
were  called  to  order  by  Mr.  Singer,  organized  a  convention  and  proceeded  to 
business. 

The  Blaine  and  Washburne  delegates  remained  at  Farwell  Hall.  They  or- 
ganized a  convention  and  proceeded  to  business.  As  a  result  of  this  split  in  the 
convention,  two  sets  of  delegates  of  92  members  each  were  chosen  to  the  State 
Convention.  One  set  under  the  leadership  oi  Mr.  Farwell  and  the  other  set 
under  the  leadership  of  General  Logan.  The  two  delegations  contained  many 
of  the  most  able  and  distinguished  men  of  Chicago. 

The  State  Conyention  met  in  the  hall  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of 
the  new  Capitol,  May  I9th,  1880;  the  building  was  approaching  completion  ;  this 
meeting  was  the  first  held  in  the  building.  It  was  called  to  order  to  A.  M.  Jones, 
chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee,  Daniel  Shepard  acting  as  secretary. 

Green  B.  Raum,  of  Pope  County,  holding  a  proxy  from  Capt.  J.  W.  King, 
was  selected  by  agreement  as  temporary  chairman.  In  his  address  upon  calling 
the  convention  to  order,  he  counseled  moderation,  assuring  the  contesting  dele- 
gations that  they  could  depend  upon  fair  treatment  by  the  convention ;  he  urged 
harmony,  and  predicted  a  great  Republican  triumph.  The  contesting  delega- 
tions were  not  admitted  to  seats  during  the  temporary  organization.  A  few 
members  of  each  of  the  Chicago  delegations,  however,  held  proxies  of  delegations 
from  other  counties,  and  thus  participated  in  the  proceedings ;  from  the  begin- 
ning General  Logan  was  one  of  these. 

It  soon  became  apparent  by  votes  of  the  convention  that  a  majority  outside 
of  Cook  County  were  favorable  to  General  Grant.  The  usual  committees  were 
appointed. 

Every  step  taken  in  the  convention  was  fiercely  contested.  At  first  the  in- 
terest centered  in  the'  Cook  County  contest ;  the  great  issue,  however,  was  the 
selection  of  delegates  to  the  National  Convention ;  this  question  really  over- 
shadowed the  nomination  for  Governor  and  other  State  officers.  The  sittings 
of  the  convention  extended  through  three  days  and  two  nights  and  were  almost 
continuous.  The  agitation  and  excitement  at  times  was  so  great  that  the  dissolu- 
tion of  the  convention  seemed  imminent. 

A  large  audience  is  ever  ready  to  observe  an  amusing  side  of  an  incident  ; 
this  convention  was  not  lacking  in  this  quality.  General  Logan  was  a  citizen  of 
Cook,  but  held  a  proxy  of  a  delegate  from  another  county.  The  General  arose 
and  addressed  the  chair.  The  presiding  officer,  with  perfect  deliberation,  recog- 
nized him  as  "the  gentleman  from  Jackson",  this  being  the  county  from  which  he 
held  a  proxy.  A  ripple  of  mirth  passed  over  the  convention ;  it  relaxed  its  rigor- 
ous expression  for  a  time. 

158 


The  phrase  "the  gentleman  from  Jackson"  was  frequently  on  the  lips  of 
both  friends  and  opponents,  so  that  it  became  fixed  in  the  minds  of  delegates  and 
others  who  attended  the  convention. 

Before  the  committee  on  contested  seats  made  its  report  the  chair  prepared 
an  "order  of  business"  to  cover  the  debate  and  final  vote  upon  the  report.  This 
resolution  was  offered  by  General  Logan ;  its  terms  were  so  fair  for  both  sides 
that  it  was  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote.  The  object  the  chair  had  in  preparing 
the  order  was  to  bring  the  report  of  the  committee  to  a  vote  on  the  merits  with- 
out the  possible  interposition  of  dilatory  motions.  This  result  was  secured.  The 
report  of  the  committee  provided  for  seating  delegates  from  each  Senatorial  dis- 
trict according  to  its  vote  at  the  primary  election,  thus  giving  each  Senatorial 
district  the  right  of  choosing  its  own  delegates. 

The  claims  of  the  Palmer  House  delegates  were  presented  by  Robert  T.  Lin- 
coln, chairman  of  delegation ;  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  secretary ;  Richard  S.  Tuthill, 
John  H.  Clouch,  A.  M.  Wright,  C.  H.  Wellett  and  Charles  L.  Easton,  executive 
committee;  and  Emery  A.  Storrs  and  Leonard  Swett,  special  committee. 

In  the  debate  before  the  convention,  Mr.  Storrs  and  Mr.  Swett,  represented 
the  Grant  delegates,  and  Elliott  Anthony  and  Kirk  Hawes,  the  Blaine  and  Wash- 
burne  delegates.  Abie  and  eloquent  speeches  were  made  by  all  those  gentlemen. 
They  were  all  lawyers  of  great  prominence  in  Chicago,  and  thus  espoused  the 
causes  they  represented  with  ardor  and  no  doubt  with  perfect  sincerity. 

The  convention  adopted  the  report  of  the  committee  and  seated  36  Grant 
delegates  and  56  Blaine  and  Washburne  delegates ;  there  were  some  other  con- 
tests, but  they  excited  much  less  attention  than  the  contest  from  Cook  County. 
This  decision  was  reached  late  on  the  second  night  of  the  convention.  None  of 
the  other  committees  had  yet  reported.  The  temporary  organization  had  con- 
tinued during  two  days  and  nights.  The  important  work  of  the  convention  was 
yet  to  be  done.  The  permanent  officers  of  the  convention  were  to  be  selected ; 
a  platform  adopted ;  Presidential  Electors  chosen ;  delegates  to  the  National 
Convention  elected ;  and  candidates  for  Governor  and  other  State  officers  nom- 
inated. 

General  S.  A.  Hurlbut,  a  delegate  from  Boone  County,  had  taken  an  active 
part  in  the  anti-Grant  movement.  He  was  a  man  of  marked  ability,  well  known 
throughout  the  State,  an  experienced  parliamentarian ;  his  splendid  military 
career  and  his  eloquence  as  a  public  speaker  gave  him  great  influence.  He,  how- 
ever, was  quick  of  temper,  keenly  sarcastic  of  his  opponents,  and  wanting  in 
that  spirit  of  conciliation  and  compromise  so  essential  to  the  success  of  political 
deliberations. 

General  Hurlbut  had  threatened  a  bolt  from  the  convention  if  the  demands  of 
the  anti-Grant  leaders  were  not  acceded  to ;  in  this  he  was  supported  by  other 
prominent  men.  On  the  morning  of  the  last  day,  as  the  chairman  was  about 
entering  the  hall,  he  met  General  Hurlbut,  who  was  waiting  to  see  him.  The 
General  stated  that  he  wished  to  be  recognized  as  soon  as  the  convention  was 
called  to  order,  for  the  purpose  of  offering  a  resolution  for  the  convention  to 
immediately  proceed  to  the  nomination  of  candidates  for  State  offices.  The 
chairman  expostulated  with  General  Hurlbut,  contending  that  the  first  business 
in  order  would  be  the  reports  of  the  committees,  the  permanent  organization  of 
the  convention,  the  adoption  of  a  platform,  and  the  selection  of  electors  and  dele- 
gates, etc.  The  General  declared  that  if  his  resolution  was  not  adopted  the  con- 
vention would  find  itself  with  a  large  proportion  of  the  delegates  absent  when 
it  came  to  make  nominations.  The  chairman  felt  that  a  crisis  was  about  to  be 
reached.  He  at  once  went  to  the  speaker's  room  and  sent  for  General  Logan 
and  for  Mr.  Bull,  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  informed  them  of  the  situation. 
Mr.  Bull  stated  that  the  reports  were  all  ready  to  be  presented  to  the  convention. 
The  chair  called  the  convention  to  order,  the  chaplain  delivered  a  prayer;  Mr. 
Bull  arose  and  was  recognized.  General  Hurlbut  was  instantly  on  his  feet  and 
demanded  recognition ;  he  waived  his  resolution  aloft ;  the  reports  of  the  com- 
mittees were  presented.  The  General  still  insisted  on  being  heard  and  shouted 
with  a  loud  voice,  "Will  the  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue  give  me  the 
floor?"  The  chair  declined  to  recognize  the  General.  The  reports  were  sub- 
mitted to  the  convention  and  adopted. 

159 


After  the  adoption  of  the  reports  from  the  committees,  the  convention  settled 
down  to  the  important  work  of  nominating  candidates  for  the  State  offices. 
The  threatened  bolt  did  not  occur ;  upon  the  contrary,  a  better  feeling  was  ex- 
hibited by  the  delegates,  and  a  spirited  contest  occurred  in  the  selection  of 
candidates. 

Governor  Cullom  was  a  candidate  for  renomination,  but  he  had  active  com- 
petition in  the  race,  General  John  I.  Rinaker,  of  Macoupin  County,  being  the 
most  popular  opponent.  During  the  final  ballot  the  excitement  ran  high,  and 
considerable  confusion  prevailed,  and  it  was  difficult  to  verify  the  vote.  When 
the  vote  was  counted,  it  was  found  that  Mr.  Cullom  had  received  a  majority,  and 
his  nomination  was  declared. 

John  M.  Hamilton  of  McLean  County  was  nominated  for  Lieutenant-Gov- 
ernor ;  Henry  C.  Dement  of  Lee  for  Secretary  of  State ;  Charles  P.  Swigert  for 
Auditor;  Edward  Rutz  of  St.  Clair  for  Treasurer;  and  James  McCartney  for 
Attorney-General. 

A  dramatic  scene  occurred  during  the  balloting  for  candidates  for  Auditor. 
Thomas  B.  Needles  of  Washington  County  was  a  candidate  for  renomination. 
When  the  convention  met  he  had  no  apparent  opposition.  Mr.  Needles"  was  a 
competent  and  popular  man,  and  had  given  entire  satisfaction  in  his  office,  and 
his  friends  supposed  he  would  easily  secure  a  renomination. 

A  number  of  delegates  finally  decided  to  present  the  name  of  an  ex-soldier 
for  that  position.  Charles  P.  Swigert  of  Kankakee  was  selected,  and  his  name 
was  presented  to  the  convention.  The  Chicago  delegates  espoused  his  cause,  and 
during  the  progress  of  the  vote  "Long"  John  Wentworth  and  others  seized  Mr. 
Swigert  and,  raising  him  above  their  heads,  declared  that  they  presented  to  the 
convention  a  one-armed  soldier  for  their  votes. 

The  empty  sleeve  aroused  sympathy  and  enthusiasm,  and  Mr.  Swigert  was 
nominated  by  a  tremendous  majority.  He  was  elected,  filled  the  office  with  ability 
and  was  re-elected  for  a  second  term.  The  nomiaations  being  made,  the  work 
of  the  convention  was  practically  ended.  The  excitement  was  gone.  Good  fel- 
lowship prevailed. 

Hon.  William  E.  Kieffner  of  St.  Clair  obtained  the  floor  and  addressed  the 
convention.  He  said:  "We  are  about  to  conclude  what  I  suppose  has  been  the 
most  exciting  and  most  protracted  convention  ever  had  by  the  Republican  party 
of  the  State.  During  all  this  time  the  duties  of  the  chair  have  been  most  arduous 
and  difficult,  and  I,  as  one  of  the  minority,  desire  to  bear  testimony  to  the  uniform 
courtesy  and  impartiality  and  efficiency  with  which  the  chair,  as  well  as  the  offi- 
cers of  the  convention  have  discharged  their  duties." 

Mr.  Keiffner  then  offered  the  following  resolution :  "Resolved,  That  the 
thanks  of  the  members  of  this  convention  are  due,  and  are  hereby  tendered  to 
the  Hon.  Green  B.  Raum,  the  President,  and  to  all  the  other  officers  of  this  con- 
vention, for  their  honesty  and  impartial  discharge  of  the  arduous  duties  devolved 
upon  them  during  the  three  days'  session  of  this  body,  and  that  this  resolution  be 
spread  upon  the  records  of  this  convention."  The  resolution  was  adopted  unan- 
imously by  a  rising  vote. 

The  convention  unanimously  and  with  great  enthusiasm  passed  a  resolution 
declaring  that  they  would  "Support  the  nominees  of  this  convention  for  State 
officers  and  the  nominees  of  the  Chicago  Convention  for  President  and  Vice- 
President." 

There  being  no  further  business  presented  to  the  convention,  it  adjourned 
without  day. 

It  is  probable  that  no  State  convention  ever  excited  greater  general  interest 
throughout  the  country  than  this  Illinois  Republican  Convention  of  1880.  The 
friends  of  General  Grant  had  made  him  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency ;  it  was 
supposed  that  his  home  State  would  be  conceded  to  him  without  a  struggle. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  convention,  credentials  were  prepared  for  the 
delegates  and  alternates  to  the  National  Convention ;  for  the  Presidential  Electors 
and  for  the  Members  of  the  State  Central  Committee,  in  the  form  of  a  certificate, 
of  which  the  following  is  a  copy  of  one  of  the  original  documents,  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  writer  and  which  is  given  as  the  final  work  of  this  historical  con- 
vention : 

160 


Illinois  State  Republican  Convention. 


SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  May  zist,  1880. 

This  is  to  certify  that 'at  the  Convention  of  Republicans  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  held 
on  the  nineteenth,  twentieth  and  twenty-first  days  of  this  month,  at  this  place,  pursuant  to 
the  call  of  the  National  Republican  Committee  and  of  the  State  Republican  Committee  of 
Illinois,  the  following  named  Delegates  and  Alternates  were  duly  elected  by  said  Conven- 
tion to  represent  the  Republicans  of  the  State  in  the  National  Republican  Convention  to  be 
held  at  Chicago,  on  the  zd  day  of  June,  1880,  in  pursuance  of  the  following  resolution: 

"Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Convention  appoint  a  Committee,  composed  of  one  member  from 
each  Congressional  District,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  report  to  this  Convention  lour  delegates  for  the  State 
at  Large  and  two  delegates  from  each  Congressional  District  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  ai  Chi- 
cago, with  the  requisite  number  of  Alternates." 


DELEGATES  AT   LARGE. 


JOHN    A.    LOGAN,    of    Chicago,    Cook 

County. 
EMORY  A.  STORKS,  of  Chicago,  Cook 

County. 


GREEN    B.    RAUM,   of   Golconda,    Pope 

County. 
DAVID    T.     LITTLER,    of    Springfield, 

Sangamon  County. 


ALTERNATES   AT    LARGE 
Chester,     Randolph 


WM.  McADAM,  of 
County. 

ROSS  GRAHAM,  of  Carmi,  White  Coun- 
ty- 


SOLOMON     DEGAN,    of    Ottawa,    La 

Salle  County. 
C.  C.  CAMPBELL,  of  Grant  Park,  Kan- 

kakee  County. 


DISTRICT    DELEGATES. 


st    District— John    Wentworth,    Chicago, 

Cook  County. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas,  Chica- 
go, Cook  County. 
2d  District — A.  M.  Wright,  Chicago,  Cook 

County. 
R.  S.  Tuthill,  Chicago,  Cook 

County. 
3d  District — John  L.  Beveridge,  Evanston, 

Cook  County. 
L.  J.  Kadish,    Chicago,    Cook 

County. 
4th  District — N.    C.   Thompson,  Rockford, 

Winnebago  County. 
N.      N.      Ravlin,      Kaneville, 

Kane  County. 
5tn  District — Jas.    B.    Brown,    Galena,    Jo 

Daviess  County. 
Miles  White,  Lena,  Stephen- 
son  County. 
6th  District — Henry  T.  Noble,  Dixon,  Lee 

County. 
Wm.  H.  Shepard,  Cambridge, 

Henry  County. 
;th  District— E.  F.  Bull,  Ottawa,  La  Salle 

County. 
E.   W.   Willard.   Wilmington, 

Will  County. 
8th  District — J.  B.  Wilson,  Wellington,  Ir- 

oquois   County. 
R.  J.  Hanna,  Kankakee,  Kan- 

kakee  County. 

gth  District — Joab  Mershon,  Vermont.  Ful- 
ton County. 
Richard  H.  Whiting,  Peoria, 

Peoria  County, 
roth  District — Hosea       Davis.       Littleton, 

Schuyler   County. 
F.      P.      Burgett,      Mercer 
County. 


nth  District— 


I2th  District — 
I3th  District- 
I4th  District- 
I5th  District- 

i6th  District- 
I7th  District- 

i8th  District- 
ipth   District — 


O.  B.  Hamilton,  Jerseyville, 
Jersey  County. 

Thos.  G.  Black,  Clayton, 
Adams  County. 

Geo.  M.  Brinkerhoff,  Spring- 
field, Sangamon  County. 

Chas.  M.  Eames,  Jackson- 
ville, Morgan  County. 

-John  McNulta,  Bfboming- 
ton,  McLean  County. 

Vespasian  Warner,  Clinton, 
Dewitt  County. 

-John  V.  Harris,  Champaign,, 
Champaign  County. 

James  W.  Haworth,  Deca- 
tur,  Macon  County. 

-Wm.  H.  Barlow.  Effingham, 
Effingham  County. 

Alvin  P.  Green,  Sullivan, 
Moultrie  County. 

-J.  M.  Truitt,  Hillsboro, 
Montgomery  County. 

Louis  Krueghoff. 

-Andrew  W.  Metcalf.  Ed- 
wardsville,  Madison  Coun- 
ty. 

Richard  Rowett,  Carlinville, 
Macoupin  County. 

-Chas.  O.  Fattier.  Cairo.  Al- 
exander County. 

John  M.  Davis,  Carbondale, 
Jackson  County. 

C.  W.  Pavey,  Mt.  Vernon, 
Jefferson  Countv. 

W.  H.  Williams,  Benton, 
Franklin  County. 


161 


ALTERNATES. 

ist  District — Chas.  H.  Crawford,  Chicago,  nth  District — 

Cook  County. 
S.    P.    Sedgwick,    Wheaton, 

DuPage  County. 
2d  District — John    Baumgarten,    Chicago,  i2th  District — 

Cook  County. 

Chas.  W.  Woodman,  Chica- 
go, Cook  County. 
3d  District — Homer     Wilmarth,     Chicago,  I3th  District — 

Cook  County. 
S.     M.     Millard,     Highland 

Park,  Lake  County. 
4th  District — A.  E.  Smith,  Rockford,  Win-  i4th  District — 

nebago  County. 
H.  K.  Wolcott,  Kane  County. 
5th  District — Wm.  H.  Holcomb,  Rochelle, 

Ogle  County.  I5th  District- 

Ira   Scoville,    Coleta,    White- 
side  County. 

6th  District — C.     N.     Whitney,     Kewanee,  i6th   District- 

Henry  County. 
Henry  J.  Swindler,  Magnolia, 

Putnam  County. 

7th  District — Geo.    M.    Hollenbach,    Mill-  i7th  District- 

brook.  Kendall  County. 
Francis  Bowen,  Sheridan.  La 

Salle  County. 
8th  District— H.  W.  Snow.    Sheldon,    Iro-  i8th  District- 

quois  County. 
Ira     C.     Hosier,     Kankakee, 

Kankakee  County. 

9th  District — Wm.  Jackson.  Stark  County.         .    igth  District — 
Martin      Kingman,       Peoria, 

Peoria  County. 

roth  District — J.  H.  Finley.  Warsaw,  Han- 
cock County. 
E.  Mitchell,  Warren  County. 

And  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  by  said  convention: 

"Resolved,  That  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  of  Illinois  is  the  choice  of  this  Convention  for  President  of  the  United 
States. 

"Resolved,  That  Gen.  U.  S.  Grant  is  the  choice  of  the  Republican  part}*  of  Illinois  for  the  Presidency, 
and  the  delegates  from  this  State  are  instructed  to  use  all  honorable  means  to  secure  his  nomination  by  the 
Ch'cago  Convention,  and  to  vote  as  a  unit  for  him,  and  the  said  delegates  shall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacan- 

GREE1SI    B.    RATJM.  President. 
J.   R.   MOSSER,  1 

JAMES  H.  PADDOCK,  [Secretaries. 
A.  D.  REED,  \ 

Headquarters  Illinois  Delegation  at  (Jrand  Pacific  Hotel.  Rooms  1.  3  and  .">. 


M.  D.  Massie,  New  Canton, 
Pike  County. 

Lyman  F.  vVheeler,  Greene 
County. 

Geo.  N.  Black,  Springfield, 
Sangamon  County. 

Edward  S.  Greenleaf,  Mor- 
gan, Morgan  County. 

Hugh  Fullerton,  Havana, 
Mason  County. 

R.  B.  Latham,  Lincoln,  Lo- 
gan County. 

Albert  Emerson,  Monticello, 
Piatt  County. 

Thomas  E.  Bundy,  Tuscola, 
Douglas  County. 

-J.  W.  Fisher,  Edgar  County. 

Daniel  L.  Gold,  Lawrence- 
ville,  Lawrence  County. 

-E.  M.  Ashcraft,  Vandalia, 
Fayette  County. 

R.  T.  Higgins,  Vandalia, 
Fayette  County. 

-Frederick  H.  Pieper,  Belle- 
ville, St.  Clair  County. 

Jonathan  Miles,  Miles  Sta- 
tion. Macoupin  County. 

-E.  O.  Freeman,  Cobden, 
Union  County. 

James  A.  Viall,  New  Bruns- 
wick. Johnson  County. 

Chas.  Churchill,  Albion,  Ed- 
wards County. 

Wm.  H.  Robinson,  Fairfield, 
Wayne  County. 


GEO.     SCHNEIDER. 
County. 


ELECTORS   AT    LARGE 
Chicago,      Cook 


ETHELBERT   CALLAHAN,    Robinson, 
Crawford  County. 


1.  Robert    T.     Lincoln,    Chicago,    Cook 

County. 

2.  John  M.  Smyth,  Chicago,  Cook  Coun- 

ty. 

3.  J.  A.  Kirk.  Chicago.  Cook  County. 

4.  C.  M.   Brazee,  Rockford,  Winnebago 

County. 

5.  R.    E.    Logan,     Morrison,     Whiteside 

County. 

6.  Col.   I.  H.   Elliott,  Princeton,  Bureau 

County. 

7.  James  Goodspeed,  Joljet.  Will  County. 

8.  A.  Sample.  Paxton,  Ford  County. 

9.  S.      D.      Puterbaugh.   Peoria.   Peoria 

County. 

10.     E.     C.     Humphrey,     Aledo,     Mercer 
County. 


DISTRICTS. 
II. 


Wm.    A.    Grimshaw,    Pittsfield,    Pike 
County. 

12.  J.  C.  McQuigg,  Pana,  Christian  Coun- 

ty. 

13.  Capt.  J.  H.  Rowell,  Bloomington,  Mc- 

Lean County. 

14.  W.    R.    Jewell.    Danville.    Vermillion 

County. 

15.  J.  M.  Sheets.  Paris,  Edgar  County. 

16.  J.     W.      Peterson.      Carlyle.      Clinton 

County. 

17.  W.  T.  Norton,  Alton,  Madison  Coun- 

ty. 

18.  Geo.  W.   Smith,   Carbondale,  Jackson 

County. 

19.  W.  H.  Johnson,  Carmi,  White  County. 


162 


REPUBLICAN  STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE  AT  LARGE. 


Robert  Bell.  Mt.  Carmel,  Wabash  County. 
John     W.     Bunn,     Springfield,    Sangamon 

County. 
W.  F.  Calhoun,  Clinton,  De  Witt  County. 


M.  B.  Thompson,  Champaign,  Champaign 
County. 

George  T.  Williams,  Chicago,  Cook  Coun- 
ty- 

H.  L.  Taylor,  Streator,  La  Salle  County. 


REPUBLICAN  STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE  BY  DISTRICTS. 


1.  John     H.     Clough,     Chicago,     Cook 

County. 

2.  George     B.     Swift,     Chicago,     Cook 

County. 

3.  H.  H.  Thomas,  Chicago,  Cook  Coun- 

ty. 

4.  M.    B.    Castle,    Sandwich,     De     Kalb 

County. 

5.  A.    M.   Jones,    Warren,    Jo     Daviess 

County. 

6.  J.   M.   Beardsley,   Rock  Island,   Rock- 

Island  County. 

7.  L.  B.  Ray,  Morris,  Grundy  County. 

8.  E.    A.    Wilcox,    Minonk,    Woodford 

County. 

g.  Frank  Hitchcock,  Peoria,  Peoria 
County. 

10.  H.  F.  McAllister,  Oquawka.  Hender- 
son County. 

DANIEL  SHEPARD,  Secretary. 


11.  E.     J.      Pearce,     Whitehall,      Greene 

County. 

12.  John  S.  Nicholson,  Beardstown,  Cass 

County. 

13.  Jonathan    Merriam,    Springfield,    San- 

gamon County. 

14.  James     H.     Clark,     Mattoon,     Coles 

County. 

15.  H.  Van  Seller,  Paris,  Edgar  County. 

16.  John     R.     Tanner,     Louisville,     Clay 

County. 

17.  W.  P.  Bradshaw,  Edwardsville,  Madi- 

son County. 

18.  Daniel   Hogan,    Mound   City,   Pulaski 

County. 

19.  Thos.     W.     Scott,     Fairfield,     Wayne 

County. 


A.  M.  JONES,  Chairman. 


A  primary  election  was  held  in  the  seven  Senatorial  districts  of  Cook  County 
for  delegates  to  the  county  convention.  The  popular  vote  of  the  county  at  this 
election  was  for  General  Grant.  In  fact  there  is  no  doubt  that  if  the  delegates 
in  each  county  to  the  State  Convention  had  been  chosen  by  popular  vote,  that 
the  convention  would  have  been  overwhelmingly  for  General  Grant's  nomina- 
tion ;  as  it  was,  General  Grant's  friends  had  a  strong  working  majority,  and 
sought  to  exercise  their  rights  as  a  majority  in  the  selection  and  instruction  of 
delegates  to  represent  the  Republican  party  of  the  State  in  the  National  Con- 
vention. 

As  is  shown  above,  the  convention  passed  a  resolution  instructing  the  dele- 
gates to  use  all  honorable  means  to  secure  the  nomination  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
and  vote  as  a  unit  in  his  support. 

This  resolution  was  in  the  precise  language  employed  by  the  convention  of 
1860  and  1864,  when  delegates  were  selected  and  instructed  to  vote  for  the 
nomination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  similar  resolutions  of  instructions  were 
adopted  by  the  convention  of  1868  and  1872  for  the  nomination  of  General  Grant. 
In  six  preceding  conventions  the  Republicans  of  Illinois  had  selected  their  dele- 
gates to  National  Conventions,  through  the  instrumentality  of  State  conventions, 
and  had  exercised  the  right  and  power  of  electing  delegates,  whose  opinions 
agreed  with  the  majority,  of  instructing  the  delegates,  and  by  resolutions  requir- 
ing them  to  vote  as  a  unit  in  support  of  the  candidate  who  was  the  choice  of  the 
Republicans  of  the  State.  This  had  been  the  practice  of  political  parties  in  the 
State  from  time  immemorial. 

The  Republican  majority  in  the  Illinois  State  Convention  of  1880,  in  select- 
ing delegates  to  the  National  Convention,  and  in  instructing  them,  were,  in  their 
opinion,  carrying  out  the  wishes  of  a  majority  of  the  Republicans  of  the  State 
by  exercising  the  traditional  powers  of  a  State  convention.  The  right  to  "in- 
.struct"  and  to  impose  the  "unit  rule"  was  as  old  as  Illinois  politics. 


163 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

THE  REPUBLICAN  NATIONAL  CONVENTION  AT  CHICAGO,  JUNE    2,  1880.      GAR- 
FIELD  AND  ARTHUR  NOMINATED. 

The  National  Republican  Convention  of  1880  met  at  12  o'clock  noon,  Wed- 
nesday, June  2d,  in  Exhibition  Hall,  Chicago,  and  was  called  to  order  by  Hon. 
J.  Donald  Cameron,  chairman  of  the  National  Committee.  Rev.  D.  Kittredge 
offered  prayer.  The  call  for  the  convention  was  read  by  Col.  Thos.  B.  Keogh, 
secretary  of  the  National  Committee.  Mr.  Cameron  delivered  an  address,  and 
nominated  Hon.  George  F.  Hoar  of  Massachusetts  as  temporary  chairman ;  the 
nomination  was  unanimously  agreed  to.  A  committee  consisting  of  Davis  of 
Texas,  Frye  of  Maine,  and  Raum  of  Illinois  conducted  him  to  his  seat. 

Mr.  Hoar  delivered  an  able  and  eloquent  address.  Other  temporary  officers 
were  selected,  whereupon  a  resolution  was  adopted  for  the  appointment  of  four 
committees,  "Permanent  organization",  "Rules  and  order  of  business",  "Creden- 
tials", and  "Resolutions",  to  consist  of  one  member  from  each  State  and  Terri- 
tory, to  be  named  by  the  chairman  upon  the  call  of  the  roll.  The  roll  being  called, 
the  committees  were  appointed.  The  members  from  Illinois  were :  Credentials, 
Green  B.  Raum ;  Resolutions,  Emery  A.  Storrs ;  Permanent  organization,  Rich- 
ard H.  Whiting;  Rules  and  Order  of  Business,  A.  W.  Metcalf. 

Upon  motion  of  General  Logan,  500  tickets  of  admission  were  to  be  given 
daily  to  the  Veteran  Soldiers'  Association.  On  motion  of  Mr.  Conkling,  the 
convention  at  3  105  p.  m.  adjourned  until  Thursday  morning. 

This  convention  was  composed  of  750  delegates.  All  the  States,  Territories 
and  the  District  of  Columbia  were  represented.  Each  State  sent  to  this  conven- 
tion men  of  ability  and  standing.  The  Southern  delegations  contained  many  men 
who  then  were  prominent  and  who  have  since  occupied  positions  of  importance. 

On  the  second  day  of  the  convention  the  Committee  on  Permanent  Organi- 
zation made  its  report,  recommending  that  the  temporary  offices  be  continued  as 
the  permanent  organization.  The  report  presented  a  list  of  vice-presidents  and 
assistant  secretaries  with  a  member  from  each  State  and  Territory.  Illinois  was 
represented  by  John  Wentworth  as  vice-president  and  George  W.  Brinkerhoff, 
assistant  secretary.  The  report  of  the  committee  was  adopted. 

The  Committee  on  Credentials  not  being  ready  to  report  at  I  o'clock  p.  m., 
the  convention  took  a  recess  until  5  :3O  p.  m.,  and,  having  met  at  that  hour,  after 
some  debate  at  7:30  p.  m.  adjourned  until  10  o'clock  the  following  day. 

Many  contests  for  seats  as  delegates  were  pending  before  the  Committee  on 
Credentials.  Contests  were  made  in  ten  Congressional  districts  of  Illinois.  In 
the  First  by  William  J.  Campbell  and  Elbridge  G.  Keith,  Alternates  Arthur  Dixon 
and  Louis  Hutt ;  Third,  Washington  Hesing,  Elliott  Anthony,  Alternates  George 
Struckman,  John  A.  Maison ;  Fourth,  C.  W.  Marsh,  Lot  B.  Smith,  Alternates 
D.  M.  Marsh,  A.  C.  Fassett ;  Fifth,  Robert  E.  Logan,  W.  H.  Holcombe,  Alternates 
J.  H.  Maiser,  J.  S.  Kosier ;  Sixth,  James  K.  Edsall,  John  P.  Hand,  Alternates  S.  J. 
Hume,  William  Jackson ;  Ninth,  John  A.  Gray,  W.  Selden  Gale,  Alternates  C. 
Ballance,  John  Lackey ;  Tenth,  Henry  Tubbs,  John  Fletcher,  Alternates  Wil- 
liam Venable,  J.  P.  Graham ;  Thirteenth,  F.  Low,  E.  D.  Blenn,  Alternates  D.  R. 
Smith,  W.  E.  Gapen ;  Seventeenth,  William  E.  Kueffner,  E.  Guelich,  Alternates 
H.  M.  Kimball,  C.  W.  Thomas. 

On  June  4th,  at  10  a  m.,  the  convention  met  and  was  opened  by  prayer.  Mr. 
Conkling  of  New  York  offered  the  following  resolution  : 

"Resolved,  as  the  sense  of  this  convention,  that  every  member  of  it  is  bound 
in  honor  to  support  its  nominee,  whoever  that  nominee  may  be ;  and  that  no  man 
should  hold  a  seat  here  who  is  not  ready  to  so  agree." 

164 


The  resolution  was  adopted.  General  Garfield,  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  "Rules  and  order  of  business",  by  direction  of  the  convention,  made  his  report, 
which  was  read  for  information.  A  minority  report  signed  by  eleven  members, 
including  Mr.  Metcalf  of  Illinois,  was  presented.  The  minority  made  objections 
to  changing  Rule  6  of  the  Convention  of  1876 ;  that  rule  was  as  follaws :  "Rule  6. 
In  the  record  of  the  vote  by  States,  the  vote  of  each  State,  Territory  and  the 
District  of  Columbia  shall  be  announced  by  the  chairman ;  and,  in  case  the  vote 
of  any  State,  Territory  or  District  of  Columbia  shall  be  divided,  the  chairman 
shall  announce  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  any  candidate,  or  for  or  against  any 
proposition." 

The  majority  report  contained  the  following  addition  to  that  rule :  "but,  if 
exception  is  taken  by  any  delegate  to  the  correctness  of  such  announcement  by 
the  chairman  of  his  delegation,  the  president  of  the  convention  shall  direct'  the 
roll  of  members  of  such  delegation  to  be  called,  and  the  result  shall  be  recorded 
in  accordance  with  the  votes  individually  given."  The  minority  objected  to  this 
change  in  the  rule. 

The  object  of  the  majority  was  to  relieve  delegates  from  the  operation  of 
"instructions"  and  the  "unit  rule".  The  minority  held  to  the  view  that  State  con- 
ventions possessed  power  and  authority  to  bind  the  consciences  of  their  dele- 
gates to  vote  in  the  nominating  convention  for  the  candidate  who  was  the  choice 
of  a  majority  of  the  State  convention.  Action  on  the  rules  was  postponed  until 
after  the  report  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials  was  made  and  disposed  of. 

Mr.  Conger  of  Michigan  presented  the  report  of  a  majority  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Credentials.  This  report  recommended  the  admission  of  the  contesting 
delegates  in  the  First,  Third,  Fourth,  Fifth,  Sixth,  Ninth,  Tenth,  Thirteenth  and 
Seventeenth  Districts  of  Illinois,  and  in  favor  of  A.  M.  Wright  and  R.  S.  Tuthill, 
the  sitting  delegates  from  the  Second  District  of  Illinois.  Contests  of  seats  of 
delegates  from  Kansas,  Pennsylvania,  West  Virginia  and  Utah  were  also  reported 
upon. 

The  action  of  the  committee  in  the  Illinois  cases  was  based  upon  the  claim 
that  these  contesting  delegates  were  elected  by  Congressional  District  Conven- 
tions held  at  Springfield  during-  the  State  Convention,  composed  of  the  delegates 
sent  to  the  State  Convention  from  their  Congressional  Districts.  General  Clay- 
ton of  Arkansas,  on  behalf  of  the  minority  of  the  committee,  made  a  report  in  re- 
gard to  all  the  contests. 

The  minority  report  was  signed  by  B.  F.  Tracy,  New  York ;  Powell  Clayton, 
Arkansas ;  Webster  Flanagan,  Texas ;  Green  B.  Raum,  Illinois ;  William  H. 
Hooker,  Maryland ;  Isaac  Heyman,  Alabama ;  George  T.  Clark,  Colorado ; 
Richard  P.  Stoll,  Kentucky ;  H.  E.  Havens,  Missouri ;  J.  M.  Thornburg,  Ten- 
nessee ;  John  Cessna,  Pennsylvania ;  Charles  C.  Tompkins,  Virginia ;  William 
N.  Taft,  South  Carolina ;  Joseph  E.  Lee,  Florida.  This  report  showed  that  the 
Republicans  of  Illinois  had  always  chosen  delegates  to  National  Conventions  by 
means  of  State  Conventions;  that  this  was  done  in  1856,  1860,  1864,  1868,  1872 
and  in  1876;  that  the  uniform  practice  of  the  State  Conventions  was  to  form 
a  committee  consisting  of  one  member  from  each  Congressional  District  charged 
with  the  duty  of  selecting  delegates  to  the  National  Conventions.  In  summing 
up  the  history  of  Republican  State  Conventions  in  Illinois  this  report  said: 
"Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  final  source  of  power,  so  far  as  political  precedents  and 
history  of  the  State  of  Illinois  are  concerned  in  selecting  delegates  to  National 
Conventions,  is  the  State  Convention  itself." 

The  Illinois  contest  was  recognized  as  involving  the  most  important  prelimi- 
nary question  before  the  convention ;  it  aroused  profound  interest  with  every  dele- 
gate and  with  the  immense  throng  of  citizens  attending  the  convention  as  specta- 
tors— it  excited  a  great  deal  of  bad  feeling  on  both  sides.  The  arguments  before 
the  committee  were  earnest  and  able  and  at  times  vehement  and  acrimonious. 
Some  of  the  ablest  men  in  the  State  appeared  before  the  committee  arguing  the 
questions  involved  on  the  one  side  or  the  other. 

The  morning  session  of  the  convention  continued  until  4:20  p.  m.,  when  a 
recess  was  taken  until  7  o'clock  p.  m. 

When  the  convention  was  called  to  order  at  7  o'clock  p.  m.,  the  contested 
cases  were  taken  up.  The  Illinois  case  was  reached  in  due  course.  Mr.  Quarles 

165 


of  Wisconsin  introduced  a  resolution  fixing  one  hour  as  the  time  for  discussion 
of  the  Illinois  contests  and  allowing"  the  contestants  to  select  someone  to  represent 
their  case.  Hon.  George  S.  Boutwell  of  Massachusetts  offered  the  following  as 
a  substitute : 

"Resolved,  That  all  the  cases  of  contested  seats  be  decided  by  adopting  the 
usage  of  each  State,  as  that  usage  has  existed  heretofore ;  and  that  in  each  State 
in  which  the  uniform  usage  has  been  to  elect  delegates  to  the  Republican  National 
Convention  by  a  State  Convention,  that  usage  shall  be  deemed  binding;  and 
the  same  shall  be  true  in  respect  to  delegates  sent  by  Congressional  District 
conventions  in  States  where  tnat  has  been  the  usage." 

Mr.  Conger  objected  to  the  substitute  as  not  being  germane  to  the  question 
before  the  convention.  Mr.  Boutwell  spoke  to  the  question  at  considerable 
length  and  with  great  earnestness.  Among  other  things  he  said:  "I  know  that 
this  is  an  important  day,  an  important  moment  in  our  proceedings.  I  call  the 
attention  of  the  committee,  both  majority  and  minority,  to  the  circumstance  that 
they  have  this  day  in  the  presence  of  this  convention,  by  their  common  judg- 
ment, and  finally  by  the  ratification  of  the  convention,  closed  this  question,  unless 
the  convention  will  follow  the  lead  of  the  committee.  What  have  they  said  ?  That 
in  Louisiana,  a  State  Convention,  without  reference  to  the  districts  might  elect 
delegates  to  this  convention,  and  my  friend  Gen.  Warmoth  and  his  delegation  sit 
here  by  the  judgment  of  the  gentleman  from  Michigan  (Mr.  Conger),  and  his 
associates,  and  by  the  judgment  of  this  convention,  without  a  district  in  the 
State  of  Louisiana  having  had  one  word  to  say  about  that  election.  We  have  a 
mighty  constituency  behind  us,  who  have  taken  no  oath  to  observe  the  obligation 
that  we  have  imposed  upon  ourselves. 

"Will  they  obey,  will  they  abide  by,  will  they  ratify  what  you  will  do,  if  they 
believe  that  a  State,  that  States,  that  constituencies,  that  Republicans,  by  the  mere 
power  of  numbers  in  this  convention  have  ratified  arid  determined  that  to  be  the 
law  of  the  convention  which  defies  argument,  despises  reason,  tramples  logic 
under  foot  and  leaves  no  exercise  for  the  conclusion  except  the  possession  of 
power  ?  When  this  committee  has  allowed  Louisiana  to  come  in  here  as  a  State, 
not  recognizing  the  existence  of  districts  as  constituent,  independent  powers  in 
the  organization  of  that  convention,  I  ask  what  they  have  to  say  to  Illinois,  to 
Kansas,  to  West  Virginia  and  to  the  other  States  where  the  district  system  does 
not  exist. 

"Now,  I  fear  that  New  England  delegates,  living  in  a  community  where  the 
district  system  has  always  existed,  may  suppose  that  because  their  plan  is  the 
approved  plan  with  them,  and  because  of  usage  and  by  habit,  and  upon  judg- 
ment they  believe  that  plan  to  be  the  better,  will  undertake  in  this  convention 
to  impose  that  plan  upon  States  and  communities  which  have  not  voluntarily 
adopted  it. 

"I  have  this  to  say,  that  the  State  of  Illinois  either  is  entitled  to  the  thirty- 
eight  representatives  who  sit  here  by  authority  of  the  State  Convention  which 
met  at  Springfield  on  the  I9th  of  May  last,  or  it  is  not  entitled  to  any  representa- 
tion whatever,  except  the  four  delegates  who  come  from  the  State  at  large.  If 
the  right  of  the  twenty  men  whose  seats  are  contested  is  vicious,  and  are  not 
to  be  supported  here,  then  send  home  every  delegate  from  the  State  of  Illinois 
except  the  four,  if  you  would  be  consistent.  But  if  you  intend  to  disown  and 
disavow  and  trample  under  foot  the  usage  of  a  State  like  Illinois,  like  Kansas  and 
like  Nebraska,  you  should  have  set  an  example  by  denying  to  Louisiana  the 
right  to  come  in  when  her  delegation  was  contested." 

General  Logan  addressed  the  convention  on  this  question.  He  said:  "Illi- 
nois asks  you  to  allow  her  to  be  represented  as  she  has  been  in  every  Republican 
convention  from  1856  down  to  the  present  hour.  Men  talk  about  district  repre- 
sentation. The  gentleman  from  Ohio  (Mr.  Bateman)  eloquently  spoke  of  his 
State.  But  his  State  has  a  mode  of  holding  conventions  differing  from  that  of 
our  State.  In  Ohio  delegates  are  elected  by  district  conventions,  and  State  dele- 
gates at  large  by  a  State  convention.  That  is  their  proceeding.  It  is  not  ours. 
The  State  of  Maine  elected  her  four  delegates-at-large  by  her  Legislature.  Is 
riot  that  true?  (A  delegate  from  Maine,  "Yes.")  Very  well;  that  is  different 

166 


from  ours.     We  do  not  seek  to  interfere  with  Maine,  and  Maine  should  not  put 
her  clutches  on  the  rights  of  Illinois. 

"Massachusetts  elects  her  delegates  by  district  conventions.  We  do  not  wish 
to  disturb  the  rules  in  Massachusetts.  Louisiana  elects  her  delegates  the  same 
as  we  do  in  Illinois,  by  a  State  convention.  You  have  not  interfered  with  Louis- 
iana; why  interfere  with  Illinois?  In  1856  the  first  Republican  convention  in 
this  State  sent  her  delegates  to  the  national  convention  by  a  committee  of  one 
from  each  Congressional  district,  reporting  to  that  convention  delegates,  three 
from  each  district  and  six  from  the  State  at  largre,  and  thev  were  affirmed  by 
that  convention,  on  the  report  of  that  committee.  The  committee  in  1860  did  the 
same.  In  1864  the  same.  In  1868  the  same.  In  1872  the  same.  In  1876  the 
same.  In  1880  the  same.  I  introduced  a  resolution  in  the  State  convention,  a 
convention  of  delegates  not  sent  to  district  conventions,  but  delegates  appointed 
by  the  several  counties  of  this  State  to  represent  the  State  in  the  State  conven- 
tion. For  what  purpose?  For  the  purpose  of  nominating  State  offices,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing  delegates  to  the  national  convention ;  for  the  purpose  of 
selecting  Electors  for  our  Presidential  election ;  for  the  purpose  of  electing  a 
State  Committee.  That  convention  was  a  State  convention,  not  a  district  con- 
vention. It  was  composed  of  delegates  from  counties.  They  met  together.  A 
committee  was  appointed  by  the  chairman,  on  a  resolution,  of  one  Republican 
from  each  Congressional  district  to  make  a  report  to  that  convention.  That 
committee  reported  two  delegates  from  each  Congressional  district,  and  four 
Delegates-at-large,  Electors  for  the  State,  and  they  were  voted  on  in  that  con- 
vention by  counties,  and  adopted  in  that  convention  as  all  delegates  ought  to 
be  in  a  State  convention. 

"All  this  noise ;  all  this  clamor  about  the  convention  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
is  the  thought  of  an  after  hour,  and  for  a  purpose.  Now  let  me  say  to  the 
Sherman  men  here,  to  the  Elaine  men,  to  the  Edmunds  men,  if  I  may  call  them 
such,  I  mean  the  men  who  represent  these  different  candidates,  gentlemen,  if  you 
can  beat  the  old  soldier  all  right.  For  him  I  claim  nothing  that  is  not  due  to 
each  and  every  citizen  of  this  grand  Republic ;  he  asks  nothing  that  he  will  not 
grant  to  others ;  we  demand  nothing  for  him  that  is  not  due  to  each  and  every 
other  man,  and  each  and  every  other  candidate.  We  that  support  him  do  it 
because  we  think  he  is  worthy,  and  you  do  the  same  for  the  candidates  you 
support.  Not  one  word  has  ever  been  lisped  by  the  Grant  men  against  any  of 
your  candidates.  You  have  never  heard  a  Grant  man  say  he  would  bolt  your 
nomination — not  one — and  you  never  will.  If,  as  I  said,  you  can  beat  him,  all 
right ;  he  will  stay  here  till  vou  do  it.  But  do  not  beat  the  old  soldier  bv  tricks ; 
do  not,  by  chicanery,  beat  the  old  soldier,  that  led  your  armies  and  saved  your 
country ;  do  not  by  such  means  beat  the  man  that  has  been  recognized  by  every 
civilized  nation  of  the  earth  as  the  grandest  citizen  the  world  knows  to-day. 

"I  ask  why  this  new  rule  shall  be  established  by  this  convention,  before  any 
State  has  ever  received  notice  that  it  shall  be  so  done?  If  you  pass  a  resolution 
by  this  National  Convention  that  the  States  shall  hereafter  hold  their  conven- 
tions by  districts,  Illinois  will  cheerfully  obey  it ;  but,  until  the  National  Con- 
vention shall  establish  that  rule  by  resolution  requiring  it  to  be  done,  no  State  is 
required  to  change  its  form  or  its  mode  of  procedure  in  their  State  conventions. 
So  it  is  with  reference  to  our  State ;  we  have  so  selected  our  delegates ;  and 
what  I  wanted  to  call  the  attention  of  delegates  to  is  this,  and  I  say  it  now  not 
in  the  manner  of  warning — I  never  make  threats — I  have  none  to  make ;  God 
forbid  that  I  should ;  but  I  do  say  this :  If  I  was  a  candidate  for  President  I 
would  not  want  a  convention  that  nominated  me  for  President  to  do  it  by  de- 
priving my  opponent  of  the  votes  from  his  State.  I  appeal  to  this  convention. 
I  have  no  desire  to  discuss  the  question,  only  to  have  this  convention  understand 
the  position  of  the  delegation  from  Illinois,  that  they  may  deal  with  it  fairly. 
This  is  all  we  ask.  I  do  think  that  the  chairman  of  the  committee  should  cer- 
tainly change  his  resolution.  He  certainly  should  give  an  opportunity  for  fair 
and  free  debate  on  this  question." 

Mr.  Butterworth  of  Ohio  offered  a  resolution  fixing  one  hour  for  each  side 
in  the  debate  in  the  Illinois  cases,  and  that  at  the  expiration  of  the  time  the 

167 


convention  should  proceed  immediately  to  vote  upon  the  question.    This  resolu- 
tion was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Conger,  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  Elliott  Anthony  of  Chicago 
spoke  for  the  contestants.  Green  B.  Raum  and  Emery  A.  Storrs  spoke  for  the 
sitting  delegates.  The  whole  burden  of  the  argument  m  favor  of  the  contestants 
was  tliat  they  were  chosen  by  Congressional  district  conventions,  organized  at 
Springfield,  of  delegates  of  the  State  convention  from  the  several  districts,  and 
that  the  contesting  delegates  held  certificates  of  election  from  the  officers  of 
those  Congressional  district  conventions.  There  was  no  claim  that  the  action 
of  the  alleged  Congressional  district  conventions  was  reported  to  the  convention 
and  approved  by  it.  The  broad  ground  was  taken  that  the  State  Convention 
had  never  claimed  the  right  nor  exercised  the  power  of  choosing  the  delegates  to 
represent  the  districts. 

Air.  Anthony  in  an  able  and  eloquent  address  presented  these  views  and 
concluded  by  saying:  "We  are  here  pleading  for  justice,  and  we  ask  no  more 
than  to  follow  the  precedents  of  the  party."  In  the  course  of  his  address  General 
Raum  said :  "The  sitting  delegates  from  the  State  of  Illinois  are  willing  to  rest 
their  rights  upon  the  law  of  this  case,  and  upon  the  precedents  which  have  been 
established  by  long  usage  of  the  party  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 

"It  has  been  well  said  by  various  gentlemen  who  have  addressed  this  con- 
vention that  there  is  not  to-day  and  never  has  been  a  uniform  rule  in  all  tlie 
States  in  respect  to  the  selection  of  delegates  to  the  National  Convention. 
Whenever  a  uniform  rule  is  adopted,  the  Republicans  of  Illinois  will  cheerfully 
acquiesce  in  that  rule ;  but  1  say  to  you,  Mr.  President,  as  is  said  in  this  minority 
report,  that  we  do  not  wish  to  be  subjected  to  an  ex  post  facto  rule — a  rule 
adopted  after  the  facts.  We  want  this  case  tried  by  the  law,  as  it  exists  to-day, 
that  law  having  been  established  by  the  usages  of  the  Republican  party  since 
1856. 

"There  is  an  unbroken  line  of  precedents  in  the  State  of  Illinois  to  the  effect 
that  the  State  conventions  from  time  immemorial  have  selected  the  delegates 
and  sent  them  to  the  Republican  National  Conventions  of  this  country.  The 
usage  of  both  of  the  parties  of  the  State  of  Illinois  has  been  the  same  for  the 
last  forty  years.  To  my  certain  knowledge  since  1852  no  convention.  Whig, 
Democratic  or  Republican,  sending  delegates  to  the  National  Conventions  in 
this  country,  have  acted  otherwise  than  through  a  State  Convention.  I  assert 
that  it  is  a  fact  that  cannot  be  controverted,  that  there  never  was  a  district  con- 
vention held  in  the  State  of  Illinois  to  select  a  delegate  to  a  National  Conven- 
tion." 

Upon  the  question  of  the  instruction  of  delegates  by  the  State  Conventions 
of  Illinois,  General  Raum  said : 

"In  1860  when  Lincoln  of  sainted  memory,  was  presented  by  the  Republi- 
cans of  Illinois  for  the  suffrages  of  the  people  of  this  country,  the  delegates  wrere 
selected  by  a  State  Convention  and  the  following  resolution  was  adopted :  Re- 
solved, That  Abraham  Lincoln  is  the  choice  of  the  Republican  party  of  Illinois 
for  the  Presidency,  and  the  delegates  from  this  State  are  instructed  to  use  all 
honorable  means  to  secure  his  nomination  by  the  Chicago  Convention,  and  vote 
as  a  unit  for  him.  And  the  said  delegates  shall  have  power  to  fill  all  vacancies." 
In  1864  the  delegates  were  selected  m  the  same  way  by  a  State  Convention,  and 
a  similar  resolution  was  passed,  instructing  the  delegates  to  that  convention  to 
vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  unit.  In  1868,  I  happened  to  be  a  delegate  to 
the  convention.  I  was  on  the  Committee  on  Resolutions  and  assisted  in  the 
preparation  of  the  letter  of  instruction  to  those  delegates.  Those  delegates  were 
selected  by  the  State  Convention.  They  took  their  instructions  from  the  State 
Convention,  and  went  to  the  National  Convention  and  assisted  in  the  nomination 
of  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  In  1872,  Ulysses  S.  Grant  was  again  presented  by  Illinois 
to  the  suffrages  of  the  people  of  this  country.  I  had  the  honor  of  penning  the 
letter  of  instructions  to  the  delegates,  to  use  all  honorable  means  and  vote  as  a 
unit  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  Mr.  President,  the  fact  that  the  Republicans  of 
Illinois  have  always  and  everywhere  claimed  the  right  to  instruct  their  delegates 
is  conclusive  evidence  that  they  also  claim  the  right  of  selecting  delegates  who 
would  obey  their  instructions. 

168 


"What  was  the  issue  in  the  Springfield  Convention?  When  we  went  down 
to  Springfield,  we  found  a  minority  in  that  convention  who  were  threatening  up 
and  down  the  streets  of  that  city,  and  through  the  corridors  of  the  hotels,  that 
unless  we  conducted  the  affairs  of  that  convention  according  to  their  will  and 
pleasure,  they  would  bolt  the  convention.  There  was  an  issue.  The  majority 
of  the  convention  was  in  favor  of  selecting  delegates  to  support  Ulysses  S.  Grant, 
and  the  minority  of  that  convention  told  us  in  the  convention  itself,  in  the  course 
of  debate,  that  they  would  not  obey  the  instructions  that  that  convention  might 
give  them  to  vote  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 

"We  have  been  told  by  the  honorable  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Cre- 
dentials, that  there  are  fifty  contests  here  in  this  National  Convention.  Why 
these  contests?  Why  is  it  that  from  one  end  of  this  country  to  the  other,  you 
find  that  there  are  contests  for  seats  in  this  National  Convention  ?  I  will  tell  you 
Mr.  President  why.  It  is  because  you  are  seeking  to  invade,  to  overturn  and 
destroy  the  ordinary  methods  of  the  Republican  party  in  these  states.  I  say  to 
you  that  these  are  revolutionary  measures.  This  convention  can  turn  those 
eighteen  delegates  out.  You  have  the  power  to  do  it,  but  I  say  to  you  if  this 
revolutionary  spirit  is  carried  forward  another  four  years,  the  hour  has  struck 
for  the  destruction  and  overthrow  of  the  Republican  party.  I  warn  you,  Mr. 
President,  and  1  warn  you,  gentlemen  of  the  Convention,  that  the  Republican 
party  cannot  stand  such  a  strain  another  four  years.  We  are  willing  to  learn 
from  New  England,  we  are  willing  to  learn  from  adjacent  states,  we  are  willing  to 
be  taught  our  A  B  C's  in  politics.  I  have  been  in  politics  these  thirty  years  and 
I  find  that  I  do  not  know  anything  about  it.  I  find  that  the  whole  thing  is  to  be 
learned  over  again.  I  find  that  if  a  State  Convention  meets,  and  nobody  objects, 
why  then  they  can  send  delegates  to  a  National  Convention.  But  if  somebody 
gets  into  one  corner  of  a  hotel  and  gathers  two  or  three  around  him,  and  files  a 
protest  and  comes  up  with  credentials  and  says :  'Here  is  a  district  convention,' 
then  your  State  Convention  is  of  no  validity." 

Mr.  Storrs  made  the  closing  speech.  It  was  after  midnight  when  he  began ; 
every  delegate  was  present ;  every  seat  in  the  galleries  was  filled.  Mr.  Storrs 
reputation  as  a  speaker  was  national.  On  this  occasion  he  was  at  his  best.  He 
earnestly  believed  in  the  rightfulness  of  the  cause  he  represented.  Mr.  Storrs 
began :  "A  proposition  is  made  for  the  first  time  in  the  political  history  of  a 
National  Convention  to  abolish  State  Conventions  in  Illinois.  It  will  not  work. 
We  have  gone  along  since  1856  under  our  system  of  State  Conventions  and  have 
rolled  up  magnificent  Republican  majorities.  I  hope  that  Maine,  I  hope  that 
Ohio,  looking  back  to  their  troublesome  history  as  Republican  States,  will  not 
undertake  to  force  upon  us  their  methods.  It  is  very  clear  that  they  had  better 
adopt  ours.  I  stand  here  tonight  with  the  only  evidence  of  title  as  a  delegate  to 
this  Convention,  that  a  delegate  from  the  State  of  Illinois  ever  presented.  It  is 
a  question  of  title.  I  hold  tonight  the  credentials  from  the  State  Convention,  and 
my  title  is  no  better  because  the  evidences  are  the  same  as  to  the  eighteen  dele- 
gates who  you  propose  to  exclude.  Since  1856  this  State  has  held  Republican 
State  Conventions  and  there  has  never  been  an  instance  in  its  history — not  one 
— in  which  a  delegate  was  appointed  to  a  National  Convention  where  the  author- 
ity to  make  the  appointment  did  not  proceed  from  the  Convention  at  large.  I  do 
not  care  how  vigorous,  declamatory,  noisy  or  vehement  the  assertion  to  the 
contrary  may  be.  That  is  the  history  of  the  State. 

"Let  me  call  your  attention  to  the  call  for  this  convention.  It  is  a  conven- 
tion of  what?  Of  the  Republicans  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  To  meet  how?  To 
meet  in  State  Convention.  For  what  purpose  ?  As  a  State  Convention — as  an 
entire,  complete,  indivisible  body  to  nominate  candidates  for  State  offices,  and 
to  name  forty-two  delegates  to  this  body.  That  is  the  call.  Recognizing  the  call, 
the  thousands  of  Republicans  of  this  State  sent  693  delegates,  not  to  a  congrega- 
tion of  Congressional  Conventions,  bt't  to  a  great  solid  body  called  a  State  Con- 
vention, in  which  either  the  majority  or  the  minority  must  rule. 

"Never  has  there  been  an  instance  in  the  entire  history  of  this  State  when 
such  a  thing  as  a  Congressional  District  Convention  was  held  within,  outside, 
on  the  verge  of,  near  by,  or  adjacent  to  a  State  Convention.  Never.  Now,  what 
is  the  offense  which  the  State  of  Illinois  on  this  occasion  has  committed?  It 

if. 9 


desired,  speaking  authoritatively  through  its  State  Convention,  to  give  expres- 
sion to  its  will.  Whatever  its  will,  we  knew  of  but  one  method  by  which  that 
will  could  be  ascertained.  It  was  by  an  appeal  to  the  convention  itself.  When 
the  convention,  representing  the  Republicans  of  the  State,  declared  by  its  ma- 
jority its  preference  for  a  particular  candidate,  that  was  the  will  of  the  State,  and 
if  it  had  the  power  thus  to  express  its  will,  it  had,  I  undertake  to  say,  power  to 
make  this  expression  effectual. 

"If  it  had  the  right  to  instruct,  and  no  one  denies  that  it  does  possess  that 
power,  with  the  right  to  instruct  it  had  the  right  to  make  its  instructions  so 
vigorous  that  they  would  be  obeyed.  If  it  couid  express  its  will,  it  had  a  right 
to  enforce  the  execution  of  that  will.  It  had  a  right  to  defend  itself  against 
treachery,  trickery,  fraud,  corruption,  violated  faith,  broken  pledges  and  disre- 
garded instructions.  It  did  protect  itself,  and  that  convention,  as  all  prior  con- 
ventions have  done,  selected  men  who  needed  not  to  be  instructed.  It  selected 
men  who  knew  no  law  but  the  will  of  the  majority  which  they  represented ;  who 
knew  no  'boss'  and  no  allegiance  to  anything  and  recognized  no  despotism  ex- 
cept the  stern,  inexorable  and  irreversible  despotism  of  duty. 

"Now  it  is  within  your  province  to  determine  for  us  how  we  shall  select  our 
delegates  to  a  State  Convention.  Will  you  please  be  good  enough,  and  fair 
enough,  and  just  enough  to  tell  us  what  the  law  shall  be  in  the  future?  Obedient 
citizens,  bending  before  and  recognizing  the  will  of  the  Republicans  of  the  nation 
as  they  have  expressed  it,  we  will  undertake  to  obey,  but  make  no  law  for  us  to- 
day, which  shall  be  operative  yesterday.  Impose  upon  us  no  change  in  the  policy 
of  our  party  which  shall  be  retroactive  in  its  effect.  So  long  as  we  transgress 
none  of  the  rules  of  our  political  organization,  so  long  as  we  are  faithful  to  its 
creed,  so  long  as  by  a  majority  running  up  tQ  50,000,  we  carry  your  banner  in 
victory  to  the  front,  always  in  front,  respect  our  precedents  and  consider  kindly 
our  peculiarities. 

"The  Republicans  of  the  State  of  Illinois  are  not  the  men  to  indulge  in 
threats.  We  do  not  undertake  to  terrorize  others,  and  we  decline  to  be  terrorized 
ourselves.  Wre  support  the  ticket ;  we  are  for  the  candidate  first,  last  and  all  the 
time,  whomsoever  he  may  be.  We  never  saw  a  foe  yet  in  the  political  field  in 
whose  presence  our  standard  was  ever  voluntarily  lowered  even  an  inch.  It  has 
gone  down  sometimes  in  defeat.  It  has  never  been  drawn  down.  It  has  never 
known  a  surrender. 

"I  appeal  to  considerations  away  beyond  the  mere  personal  preferences 
which  we  feel  tonight.  I  appeal  to  those  considerations  infinitely  grander,  vastly 
nobler,  than  those  personal  preferences  that  inspire  the  galleries,  and,  I  am 
afraid,  the  body  of  this  Convention.  I  appeal  to  the  great  cause  which  absorbs 
within  itself  and  is  grander  than  all  the  greatness  of  our  individual  leaders.  I 
appeal  for  that  harmony  in  the  future  which  we  must  have.  I  appeal  to  that 
just  judgment  of  the  party  which  I  do  not  believe  will  ever  knowingly,  or 
willingly,  or  deliberately  inflict  a  wrong.  I  conjure  you  to  stay  your  hand  over 
what  the  Republican  party  in  this  State  will  regard  as  an  outrage  on  its  dignity, 
and  on  the  freedom  of  its  action.  And  now,  looking  to  this  future,  into  which 
we  are  so  rapidly  walking — looking  to  this  great  contest  upon  which  we  are  so 
soon  entering,  do  not,  I  beg  you,  by  one  single  word  that  you  may  utter,  or  one 
vote  you  may  cast,  impair  the  energy  of  that  great  rank  and  file  which  con- 
stitute the  50,000  Republican  majority  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  I  beg  you  to  deal 
justly  with  us  all,  and  whatever  individual  preferences  this  great  convention  may 
express,  will  be  responded  to,  not  half-heartedly,  not  desparingly,  not  doubtingly, 
but  with  whole  soul  and  in  dead  earnest. 

"Nominate  James  G.  Elaine  if  you  will,  and  when  the  gentlemen  who  are 
cheering  in  the  galleries  tonight  are  reposing  under  the  soft  summer  sky,  tired 
of  politics  and  disgusted  with  its  fatigues,  you  will  find  the  followers  of  the  grand, 
old,  silent  soldier  awake  by  their  camp  fires,  and  carrying  the  banner  of  the  slug- 
gard forward  to  triumphant  victory." 

Loud  and  long-continued  applause  followed  this  portion  of  the  address.  In- 
somuch that  it  interfered  with  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Storrs'  speech,  Mr.  Raum 
arose  and  said :  "This  Convention  can  be  brought  to  profound  order  by  every- 

170 


body  uniting  in  three  cheers  for  the  nominee  of  this  Convention."  The  cheers 
were  enthusiastically  given. 

Mr.  Storrs  proceeded :  "Give  the  grand  old  state  that  never  knew  a  draft 
and  never  rilled  up  a  regiment  with  paper  soldiers — give  the  grand  old  state,  the 
home  of  Lincoln  and  Douglas  and  Grant,  a  fair  chance. 

"Citizens  of  one  country,  members  of  one  party,  let  us  remember  that  while 
we  accept  no  indignities  from  our  enemies,  we  hope,  and  trust  and  pray  our 
friends  will  put  none  on  us.  Here  in  the  midnight,  with  the  storm  without,  and 
these  assembled  Republicans  within,  we  are  first  to  be  just,  first  to  be  fair,  and  vic- 
tory is  ours  as  sure  as  the  morning  comes."  This  address  elicited  loud  and  long- 
continued  applause. 

Mr.  Conger  of  Michigan  asked  unanimous  consent  that  Col.  Robert  G. 
Ingersoll  should  be  permitted  to  address  the  convention  on  behalf  of  the  con- 
testants. Mr.  Ingersoll  not  being  a  delegate,  under  the  rules  prepared  by  the 
majority,  was  not  entitled  to  speak ;  unanimous  consent  was  not  given. 

At  one  o'clock  Mr.  Butterworth  moved  to  adjourn  until  10  o'clock  in  the 
morning.  The  convention  was  in  no  mood  for  delay  and  refused  to  adjourn  by  a 
vote  of  653  to  103.  The  convention  proceeded  to  vote  upon  the  Illinois  contested 
cases.  General  Clayton  of  Arkansas  moved  to  substitute  the  minority  report 
which  favored  the  sitting  members,  the  districts  to  be  voted  upon  separately ;  this 
motion  was  lost  by  a  vote  of  353  yeas,  387  nays.  Of  those  voting  nay,  22  were 
from  New  York  and  24  from  Pennsylvania,  making  46  votes  of  delegates  who  had 
been  instructed  to  cast  their  ballot  for  General  Grant.  These  votes  were  decisive. 
Had  they  been  cast  in  the  interest  of  General  Grant's  nomination  the  result 
would  have  been  391  yeas,  338  nays,  and  the  contesting  delegates  from  Illinois 
would  have  been  refused  admission.  But  the  friends  of  Mr.  Elaine,  Mr.  Sherman, 
Mr.  Edmunds,  Mr.  Washburne  and  Mr.  Windom  united  almost  to  a  man  in 
applying  the  plan  of  Congressional  District  Conventions  for  the  selection  of 
delegates  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  when  no  such  plan  had  ever  been  the  practice 
with  any  party  in  the  State.  To  say  that  this  action  excited  a  great  deal  of 
opposition  and  indignation  is  stating  the  case  mildly.  The  friends  of  General 
Grant  in  every  state  felt,  and  in  their  hearts  believed,  that  the  action  of  the  Na- 
tional Convention  was  a  usurpation  of  power. 

In  the  New  York  delegation  the  bitterness  of  feeling  was  intensified  by  the 
fact  that  some  of  the  sitting  delegates  who  voted  with  the  majority  to  turn  the 
Illinois  Grant  delegates  out,  had  been  delegates  to  the  New  York  Republican 
State  Convention  and  had  publicly  pledged  themselves  to  abide  by  the  instruc- 
tions of  the  convention,  directing  the  delegates  to  support  General  Grant.  Had 
these  delegates  declined  to  do  this  their  names  would  have  been  stricken  from 
the  list  of  names  presented  to  the  convention  and  other  persons  selected  who 
were  known  to  favor  General  Grant's  nomination.  General  Steward  L.  Wood- 
ford  made  a  movement  in  the  convention  to  this  effect,  but  was  deterred  from 
pressing  it  to  a  vote  by  the  declaration  of  parties  in  open  convention  that  they 
would  consider  themselves  in  honor  bound  to  obey  the  instructions  of  the  State 
Convention. 

After  voting  upon  four  districts,  the  call  for  the  division  of  the  question  was 
withdrawn  and  the  majority  report  was  adopted,  whereby  the  18  contesting  dele- 
gates were  to  be  admitted  to  seats  in  the  convention.  At  2  o'clock  and  20  minutes 
a.  m.  the  Convention  adjourned  to  n  o'clock  Saturday  morning. 

The  Convention  met  Saturday,  June  5,  at  n  o'clock.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Paxton 
offered  prayer.  He  delivered  a  solemn  and  eloquent  appeal  to  the  throne  of 
grace.  He  prayed:  "Forbid,  O  God,  that  the  cry  of  passion  should  be  louder 
here  than  the  calm  voice  of  duty.  Forbid,  O  God,  that  prejudice  should  warp 
judgment  and  compromise  principle.  Forbid  that  personal  preference  should 
impair  or  imperil  the  peace,  harmony,  the  enthusiasm,  the  unity  of  purpose,  and 
the  fidelity  to  trust  of  this  convention.  Teach  these  men  that  they  be  brethren, 
and  teach  them  all  that  the  cause  they  represent,  the  principles  they  advocate,  the 
interests  at  stake,  the  ends  to  be  secured  are  vastly  greater  and  more  important 
than  the  success  of  any  man  in  the  race  for  the  nomination." 

The  contests  in  the  Second  and  Third  Districts  of  Kansas  were  taken  up. 
Four  persons  claimed  seats  as  having  been  chosen  by  Congressional  District 

171 


Conventions.  Notwithstanding  the  decision  of  the  Convention  in  the  Illinois 
eases,  Hon.  P.  B.  Plumb,  representing  the  sitting  delegates,  felt  that  the  principle 
involved  was  too  important  to  be  surrendered  without  further  struggle.  He  felt 
that  the  customs  of  the  Republican  party  in  the  various  states,  should  be  re- 
spected, and  that  any  fixed  rule  to  govern  all  the  states  should  operate  in  the 
future  and  not  have  retroactive  effect.  He  said:  "i  simply  say  that  whatever 
rule  may  be  for  the  future,  however  the  judgment  of  the  Republicans  of  the 
United  States  may  be  as  to  what  shall  prevail  hereafter,  a  rule  should  not  now 
be  made  which  should  operate  in  an  ex  post  facto  manner;  that  we  should  have 
the  benefit  in  a  Republican  Convention  of  our  own  precedents,  and  what  we 
believe  to  be  in  our  own  State  Conventions  the  fair  intent  and  meaning  of  the  call 
of  the  National  Committee.  I  may  say  further,  that  the  cases  cited  by  the  gentle- 
man from  Ohio  yesterday  as  to  the  action  of  his  state,  are  not  at  all  parallel,  and 
I  am  as  proud  of  the  independence  of  the  Republican  votes  of  that  state  as  he  is. 
I  was  one  of  them  myself  once.  I  know  about  as  much,  I  think,  as  any  one  need 
to  know  about  the  practice  in  that  state.  I  know  that  it  differs  entirely,  and  al- 
ways has  differed  from  the  practice  that  has  obtained  in  Kansas.  In  Ohio,  the 
districts  elect  their  delegates  themselves,  independent  of  the  State  Convention 
and  independent  of  the  machinery  of  that  convention.  The  districts  elect  dele- 
gates to  perform  two  things,  i.  e. :  To  go  to  the  State  Convention  and  assist  in 
choosing  four  delegates-at-large,  and  to  choose,  acting  in  their  separate  capacity 
as  district  delegates,  acting  directly  for  the  district,  the  two  persons  to  represent 
that  Congressional  district  in  the  National  Convention. 

"I  beg  this  Convention  to  note  that  there  is  no  parallel  whatever  between 
these  two  cases  as  matter  of  fact,  because  in  the  case  in  Ohio,  as  in  Massachusetts 
and  these  other  states  where  they  have  this*  town  meeting  idea  in  regard  to 
things,  which  they  now  seek  to  apply  to  communities  where  this  practice  does 
not  apply — I  say  their  proceeding  is  different  from  ours.  We  have  not  elected 
— never  have  elected  men  whose  functions  were  solely  and  only,  or  even  partially, 
to  be  members  of  a  District  Convention  for  the  election  of  two  delegates  to  repre- 
sent that  district  in  National  Convention.  In  Ohio,  under  the  practice  also,  when 
these  district  delegates  are  nominated  their  names  are  certified  to  the  State  Con- 
vention, which,  as  a  matter  purely  of  form  and  convenience,  certifies  or  ratifies 
the  action  of  the  district,  and  the  persons  so  named  are  put  upon  the  rolls  of  the 
delegates  from  the  State  of  Ohio.  We  contend  simply  for  a  rule  of  action  we 
believe  to  be  right."  By  a  vote  of  the  Convention  the  contesting  delegates  from 
Kansas  were  given  seats.  The  contests  from  West  Virginia  and  Utah  were  de- 
cided in  the  same  way.  The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Credentials  was  then 
adopted. 

The  next  business  in  order  was  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Rules.  Mr.  Sharp  of  New  York  offered  a  substitute  which  fixed  the 
time  to  be  occupied  in  the  nomination  of  candidates  and  provided  for  an  im- 
mediate ballot  for  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President. 

General  Garfield,  chairman  of  the  committee,  opposed  the  substitute  and 
insisted  upon  the  adoption  of  a  full  set  of  rules.  He  addressed  the  Convention  at 
some  length  and  in  the  course  of  this  speech  said :  "It  is  the  business  of  this  con- 
vention to  prescribe  a  rule  which  all  shall  obey — chairman  and  delegates  equally. 
No  man  is  greater  than  the  law,  and  no  man  should  be  greater  than  a  just  rule. 
Settle  the  rule.  Settle  it  in  any  way  you  please.  Make  it  the  unit  rule,  and  I  am 
bound  by  it.  Make  it  the  individual  rule — that  each  individual  shall  have  the 
right  to  vote,  and  I  am  bound  by  it,  for  two  reasons :  First,  because  you  make 
it  the  rule,  and,  greater  still,  because  I  believe  it  to  be  everlastingly  right."  It  is 
obvious  that  General  Garfield  recognized  the  fact  that  the  question  of  "Instruc- 
tions" by  State  Conventions  and  the  "Unit  Rule"  were  involved  in  this  con- 
troversy. The  substitute  of  Mr.  Sharp  was  voted  down.  The  further  considera- 
tion of  the  report  was  resumed. 

The  tenth  rule  reported  by  the  committee  read  as  follows :  "Rule  10.  A 
Republican  National  Committee  shall  be  appointed  to  consist  of  one  member 
from  each  State,  Territory  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  represented  in  this 
Convention.  The  roll  shall  be  called  and  the  delegates  from  each  State,  Territory 

172 


and  the  District  of  Columbia  shall  name,  through  their  chairman  a  person  to  act 
as  a  member  of  such  committee." 

Two  amendments  were  offered  to  this  rule,  one  by  Mr.  Boutwell  of  Massa- 
chusetts, and  one  by  Mr.  Butterworth  of  Ohio,  which  were  adopted  and  were  as 
follows :  "Said  committee  shall  within  the  next  twelve  months  prescribe  a 
method  or  methods  for  the  election  of  delegates  to  the  National  Convention  to  be 
held  in  1884,  announce  the  same  to  the  country,  and  issue  a  call  for  that  conven- 
tion in  conformity  therewith.  Provided  that  nothing  in  the  method  or  rule  so 
prescribed  shall  be  so  constructed  as  to  prevent  the  several  districts  of  the  United 
States  from  selecting  their  own  delegates  to  the  National  Convention."  This 
rule  in  regard  to  "District  Representation"  was  the  first  of  the  kind  ever  adopted 
by  a  National  Republican  Convention.  It  in  direct  terms  operated  upon  the 
future,  and  established  the- present  system  of  selecting  district  delegates  by  Con- 
gressional District  Conventions,  instead  of  by  State  Conventions. 

The  Convention  refused  to  adopt  the  minority  report,  objecting  to  the 
amendment  of  Rule  6  of  1876,  which  was  reported  as  Rule  8.  The  amendment 
read  as  follows :  "But  if  exception  is  taken  by  any  delegate  .to  the  correctness  of 
such  announcement  by  the  chairman  of  his  delegation,  the  president  of  the  Con- 
vention shall  direct  the  roll  of  members  of  such  delegation  to  be  called,  and  the 
result  shall  be  recorded  in  accordance  with  the  votes  individually  given."  The 
rules  reported  and  thus  amended  were  adopted  by  the  Convention. 

Three  great  states,  Illinois,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York,  had,  through  their 
State  Conventions,  instructed  their  delegates  to  support  General  Grant  as  a 
candidate  for  President,  and  vote  as  a  unit ;  the  18  delegates  admitted  on  contests 
in  Illinois,  were  opposed  to  General  Grant ;  24  of  the  Pennsylvania  and  22  of  the 
New  York  delegates,  although  instructed,  were  not  favorable  to  General  Grant's 
nomination ;  three  delegates  from  Alabama  and  two  delegates  from  Kansas,  who 
were  admitted  on  contests,  were  opposed  to  General  Grant.  So  there  were  23 
anti-Grant  delegates  admitted  on  contests  and  46  delegates  instructed  for  Gen- 
eral Grant  relieved  from  their  instructions,  making  a  total  of  69  delegates  from 
those  five  states  which  the  friends  of  General  Grant  felt  he  was  unjustly  deprived 
of. 

Mr.  Pierreport  of  New  York  presented  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Resolutions.  The  platform  was  an  admirable  presentation  of  the  claims  of  the 
Republican  party  upon  the  confidence  and  support  of  the  American  people,  and 
of  the  principles  and  policies  which  were  to  govern  the  party  in  the  future.  The 
platform  was  adopted  by  a  unanimous  vote.  At  5  125  p.  m.  the  Convention  toolc 
a  recess  until  7  o'clock  p.  m. 

The  Convention  met  Saturday  evening,  June  5th,  at  7  o'clock  p.  m.  The 
first  business  was  the  appointment  of  a  Republican  National  Committee  to  con- 
sist of  one  member  from  each  State,  Territory  and  District  of  Columbia.  General 
John  A.  Logan  was  selected  to  represent  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  roll  of  states 
was  then  called  in  alphabetical  order  for  the  nomination  of  candidates. 

On  the. call  of  the  State  of  Michigan,  Mr.  Joy  in  an  able  speech  nominated 
James  G.  Blaine  of  Maine.  The  nomination  brought  long-continued  applause. 
The  nomination  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Pixley  of  California,  and  Mr.  Fry  of  Maine. 

On  the  call  of  the  State  of  Minnesota,  Mr.  Drake  nominated  William  Win- 
clom  as  a  candidate  for  President. 

On  the  call  of  the  State  of  New  York,  Mr.  Conkling,  in  a  most  able  and  elo- 
quent address,  nominated  Ulysses  S.  Grant.  Mr.  Bradley  of  Kentucky  seconded 
the  nomination. 

On  the  call  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  Mr.  Garfield  eloquently  and  ably  presented 
the  claims  of  John  Sherman  and  nominated  him  as  a  candidate  for  President. 

On  the  call  of  the  State  of  Vermont,  Mr.  Billings  nominated  George  F. 
Edmunds  as  a  candidate  for  President. 

On  the  call  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  Mr.  Cassody  nominated  Elihu  B. 
Washburne  as  a  candidate  before  the  Convention. 

At  1 1  '.46  p.  m.  the  Convention  adjourned  until  Monday,  June  7,  at  10  o'clock 
a.  m. 

Fifth  day.  Monday,  June  7th,  10  a.  m.,  the  President  called  the  Convention 
to  order.  The  business  in  order  was  balloting  for  candidates.  The  President 

173 


directed  the  reading  of  rules  7  and  8,  which  related  to  the  manner  of  proceeding. 

The  roll  of  the  States  was  called  and  a  vote  taken,  which  resulted : 

Total  number  of  votes  cast  755.  Necessary  to  a  choice,  378.  Ulysses  S. 
Grant  received  304,  James  G.  Blaine  284,  John  Sherman  93,  George  F.  Edmunds 
34.  Elihu  B.  Washburne  30,  and  William  Windom  10.  Upon  this  ballot  the  vote 
of  Illinois  was  Grant  24,  Blaine  10,  Washburne  8;  New  York  was  Grant  57, 
Blaine  17,  Sherman  2 ;  Pennsylvania  was  Grant  32,  Blaine  23,  Sherman  3. 

Thus  63  delegates  disregarded  the  instructions  of  their  State  Conventions, 
and  instead  of  casting  their  votes  as  a  unit  for  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  voted  for  other 
candidates ;  these  63  votes,  added  to  the  304  cast  for  General  Grant,  would  have 
given  him  367  votes,  lacking  but  1 1  of  a  nomination.  It  cannot  be  doubted  that 
with  such  a  vote  on  the  first  ballot,  General  Grant  would  have  been  finally  nom- 
inated. 

After  the  :8th  ballot  at  3  135  p.  m.  the  Convention  took  a  recess  until  7  p.  m. 

The  President  called  the  Convention  to  order  at  7  o'clock,  p.  m.  The  Con- 
vention continued  to  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  President.  Ten  ballots  were  taken 
during  the  evening.  The  28th  ballot  stood  as  follows :  Grant  307,  Blaine  279, 
Sherman  91,  Edmunds  31,  Windom  10,  Washburne  35,  Garfield  2.  Necessary 
to  a  choice,  378. 

At  9:50  p.  m.  the  Convention  adjourned  until  Tuesday  morning  at  10  o'clock. 

Sixth  day.  Tuesday,  June  8,  1880,  at  10  a.  m.  the  Convention  met  and  was 
called  to  order  by  the  President.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Dr.  H.  W.  Thomas. 
The  29th  ballot  was  taken,  the  only  material  change  was  a  gain  by  Mr.  Sherman 
of  25  votes,  19  of  which  were  Massachusetts  delegates,  changing  from  Edmunds 
to  Sherman. 

On  the  3Oth  ballot,  Mr.  Sherman  received  120  votes,  this  being  his  highest 
number.  On  the  34th  ballot  General  Grant  received  312.  It  was  clear  that  there 
would  be  no  break  in  the  Grant  forces,  and  that  continued  balloting  would 
steadily  augment  his  strength.  The  hour  had  come  for  a  change.  The  Wis- 
consin delegation  led  the  way.  They  cast  16  of  the  20  delegates  for  Garfield; 
that  gave  him  17  votes.  Blaine  275,  Sherman  107,  Edmunds  n,  Windom  4, 
Washburne  30.  On  the  35th  ballot,  of  her  30  votes,  Indiana  cast  27  for  Garfield, 
giving  him  50  votes,  while  Grant  had  313. 

The  roll  of  the  States  was  again  called  and  a  vote  taken.  Votes  cast,  755 ; 
necessary  to  a  choice,  378.  James  A.  Garfield  received  399,  Ulysses  S.  Grant  306, 
James  G.  Blaine  42,  Elihu  B.  Washburne  5,  John  Sherman  3. 

When  the  result  of  the  vote  was  announced,  Mr.  Conkling  delivered  a  short 
address  and  moved  that  James  A.  Garfield  be  unanimously  presented  as  the 
nominee  of  the  Convention.  This  motion  was  seconded  by  General  Logan, 
General  Beaver,  Mr.  Hale,  Mr.  Pleasants  of  Virginia,  Mr.  Campbell  of  Wes.t 
Virginia,  Mr.  Hicks  of  Florida,  Mr.  Norton  of  Texas,  Colonel  Houck  of  Ten- 
nessee, and  General  Harrison.  The  nomination  was  made  unanimous.  At  2  :25 
p.  m.  the  Convention  took  a  recess  until  5  p.  m. 

The  Convention  was  called  to  order  at  5  o'clock  p.  m.  Nominations  for 
Vice-President  were  in  order,  and  the  roll  of  States  was  called  for  that  purpose. 

Mr.  Pixley  of  California  nominated  Elihu  B.  Washburne  of  Illinois. 

Mr.  Robinson  of  Connecticut  nominated  Marshall  Jewell  of  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Hicks  of  Florida  nominated  Thomas  Settle  of  North  Carolina. 

Mr.  Conger  of  Michigan,  by  request  of  the  Michigan  Convention,  presented 
the  name  of  Thomas  W.  Ferry  of  Michigan,  and  also  a  letter  from  Mr.  Ferry 
declining  to  stand  as  a  candidate. 

Colonel  Houck  of  Tennessee  nominated  Horace  Maynard  of  Tennessee. 

General  Woodford  of  New  York  nominated  Chester  A.  Arthur  of  New 
York.  This  nomination  was  seconded  by  General  Kilpatrick  of  New  Jersey, 
Mr.  Storrs  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Lynch  of  Mississippi,  and  Mr.  Filley  of  Missouri.  Mr. 
Harris  of  North  Carolina  withdrew  the  name  of  Mr.  Settle  and  then  seconded 
the  nomination  of  General  Arthur. 

Mr.  Chambers  of  Texas  nominated  Edmund  J.  Davis  of  Texas. 

During  the  roll  call  there  were  many  friendly  remarks  made  in  regard  to  the 
selection  of  a  candidate  for  Vice-President,  the  interest  centering  on  the  candi- 
dacy of  General  Arthur.  There  were  757  votes  cast ;  necessary  to  a  choice,  376. 

174 


The  votes  were  divided  as  follows:  Arthur  468,  Washburne  193,  Jewell  44,  May- 
nard  30,  Bruce  8,  Alcorn  4,  Davis  2,  Settle  i,  Woodford  i. 

Upon  the  motion  of  Mr.  McBeth  of  Missouri,  seconded  by  Mr.  Raymond  of 
California,  the  nomination  of  General  Arthur  was  made  unanimous.  And  so  the 
Convention  unanimously  nominated  as  candidates,  James  A.  Garfield  for  Presi- 
dent, and  Chester  A.  Arthur  for  Vice-President. 

After  adopting  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  the  officers  of  the  Convention  and 
the  citizens  of  Chicago,  and  also  a  resolution  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee 
to  formally  notify  the  candidates  of  their  nomination,  the  Convention  at  7  o'clock 
and  25  minutes  p.  m.  adjourned  sine  die. 

General  Garfield  and  General  Arthur,  both  being  delegates  to  the  Con- 
vention, were  in  the  city.  At  1 1  p.  m.  the  Committee  on  Notification,  consisting 
of  one  member  from  each  State,  Territory  and  the  District  of  Columbia,  assem- 
bled in  the  club  room  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  the  President  of  the  Conven- 
tion, Hon.  Geo.  F.  Hoar,  chairman.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  conduct  the 
nominees  to  the  room.  Upon  their  appearance  Mr.  Hoar  delivered  addresses  to 
each  of  the  candidates  informing  them  officially  of  their  nomination  and  received 
from  them  their  formal  acceptance  of  the  nomination  conferred  upon  them. 


175 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

DEMOCRATIC  AND  GREENBACK  CONVENTIONS  OF  1880.  THE  CAMPAIGN.  ELEC- 
TION OF  GARFIELD  AND  ARTHUR.  ASSASSINATION  OF  PRESIDENT  GAR- 
FIELD.  GENERAL  ARTHUR  BECOMES  PRESIDENT. 

The  Democratic  National  Convention  met  June  22d,  at  Cincinnati,  and  nom- 
inated Winfield  S.  Hancock  of  Pennsylvania  for  President  and  William  H.  Eng- 
lish of  Indiana  for  Vice-President.  The  platform  was  more  brief  than  their  great 
"Reform  platform"  of  1876.  The  principal  declarations  of  the  Convention  were: 

1.  We  pledge  ourselves  anew  to  the  Constitutional  doctrines  and  traditions 
of  the  Democratic  party. 

2.  Opposition  to  centralization. 

3.  Home  rule,  honest  money  and  a  tariff  for  revenue  only. 

4.  The  right  of  a  free  ballot. 

5.  The  existing  administration  is  the  representative  of  conspiracy  only. 

6.  The  fraud  of  1876-7  to  be  punished  ia  1880. 

The  Greenback  National  Convention  met  in  Chicago,  June  nth,  and  nomi- 
nated James  B.  Weaver  of  Iowa  and  B.  J.  Chalmers  of  Texas  as  candidates  for 
President  and  Vice-President. 

The  Prohibition  Convention  met  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  June  I7th,  and  nomi- 
nated Neal  Dow  of  Maine  for  President. 

Both  of  these  last  named  parties  promulgated  lengthy  platforms  presenting 
their  issues  to  the  country.  As  a  national  issue  the  prohibition  question  attracted 
no  attention.  The  Greenback  agitation  taking  its  rise  in  the  west  lost  its  force 
there,  but  had  gradually  worked  eastward  and  was  now  making  its  final  struggle 
in  the  state  of  Maine. 

The  Democrats  of  Illinois  nominated  Lyman  Trumbull  for  Governor,  with 
a  full  State  ticket. 

Judge  Trumbull  was  a  man  of  splendid  ability ;  he  had  a  national  reputa- 
tion as  a  lawyer ;  he  served  on  the  State  supreme  bench  ;  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate  in  1854  as  an  anti-Nebraska  Democrat ;  identified  himself 
with  the  Republican  party ;  was  one  of  its  trusted  leaders  in  the  Senate  :  was 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  and  aided  in  framing  the  recon- 
struction laws  during  and  after  the  war;  was  tw7ice  re-elected,  in  1861  and  1867. 
Judge  Trumbull  was  in  the  Senate  during  the  impeachment  trial  of  President 
Johnson,  and  was  one  of  the  seven  Republican  Senators  who  voted  against  im- 
peachment. His  action  in  this  case  was  not  approved  by  his  Republican  col- 
leagues of  the  House,  and  was  severely  commented  upon  in  the  public  press. 
The  impeachment  of  the  President  divided  the  country  on  party  lines ;  the 
mass  of  Republicans  believed  the  President  guilty  and  that  he  should  be  removed 
from  office,  while  the  Democrats  were  united  in  opposition. 

These  seven  Republican  Senators  differed  with  their  party  friends  upon  this 
great  and  important  question,  and  the  result  was  that  they  lost  the  prestige  in 
the  party  and  were  all  retired  from  the  Senate. 

When  the  time  came  to  elect  a  successor  to  Judge  Trumbull  in  1873,  Gov- 
ernor Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  chosen,  and  Judge  Trumbull  was  permanently 
retired  to  private  life.  After  the  impeachment  trial  was  over,  the  Illinois  Re- 
publican State  Convention  met  at  Peoria  and  nominated  General  Palmer  for 
Governor. 

The  Committee  on  Resolutions  reported  to  the  convention  a  strong  party 
platform,  but  did  not  allude  to  Judge  Trumbull's  action  on  the  impeachment 
question.  That  matter  was  seriously  discussed  by  the  committee,  but  they  de- 

176 


<cided  that  Judge  Trumbull  had  acted  in  a  judicial  capacity,  under  the  sanction 
of  an  oath,  and  that  it  was  not  proper  in  a  party  platform  to  call  in  question  the 
motives  which  moved  him  to  pursue  the  course  he  did.  After  he  failed  of  re- 
-election  to  the  Senate,  the  judge  fell  away  from  the  party,  and,  as  has  been  seen, 
in  1880  was  nominated  for  Governor.  He  received  the  hearty  support  of  the 
Democratic  party. 

The  nomination  of  Garfield  and  Arthur  was  well  received  throughout  the 
•country.  The  friends  of  General  Grant  everywhere  gave  the  ticket  earnest  and 
.sincere  support.  The  Republican  National  Committee  called  a  meeting  of  promi- 
nent republicans  for  August  5th,  1880,  in  New  York  City.  General  Garfield 
visited  New  York  at  the  same  time  and  was  a  guest  at  the  Fifth  Avenue  Hotel 
where  the  conference  met.  It  was  a  large  gathering  of  the  most  influential  Re- 
publicans of  the  country ;  but  Roscoe  Conkling  did  not  attend.  Mr.  Elaine,  Mr. 
.Sherman,  General  Logan  and  a  host  of  other  notable  characters  were  present, 
l)ut  the  great  New  Yorker  was  absent.  He  left  no  word  and  his  immediate 
friends  made  no  explanation.  It  was  well  known  that  an  enmity  of  fourteen 
years'  standing  existed  between  him  and  Mr.  Elaine,  an  enmity  which  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Conkling  was  irreconcilable. 

The  best  solution  of  Mr.  Conkling's  absence  was  that  he  was  determined 
that  there  should  not  be  an  open  breach  between  himself  and  Mr.  Elaine  at  that 
meeting,  in  his  home  city,  and  to  avoid  such  a  chance,  he  decided  to  remain 
.away.  The  rupture  between  these  two  men  exerted  a  powerful  influence  upon 
the  public  career  of  both,  and  also  upon  the  politics  of  the  country.  It  occurred 
on  April  I3th,  1866,  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  which  both  were  mem- 
bers. A  few  days  previous  Mr.  Conkling  moved  to  strike  out  of  the  Army 
Appropriation  Bill  the  section  which  made  appropriation  for  the  support  of  the 
.office  of  Provost  Marshal  General,  then  occupied  by  General  James  B.  Fry  of 
Illinois. 

Mr.  Conkling  in  commenting  upon  the  law  said  "it  created  an  unnecessary 
office,  for  an  undeserving  public  servant ;  it  fastens  an  incubus  upon  the  country, 
^  hateful  instrument  of  war,  which  deserves  no  place  in  a  free  government  in  a 
time  of  peace."  General  Grant  had  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  office  was  then 
unnecessary. 

On  the  day  mentioned  Mr.  Elaine  read  a  letter  addressed  to  him  from 
General  Fry  in  which  grave  charges  were  made  against  Mr.  Conkling,  namely, 
that  he  had  received  a  fee  from  the  government  improperly,  if  not  illegally,'  in 
the  case  against  Mr.  Haddock,  and  that  he  did  not  act  in  good  faith  in  discharg- 
ing his  duties  as  an  attorney  for  the  government  in  tne  prosecution  of  cases. 

As  might  have  been  expected,  the  reading  of  this  private  letter  in  Congress 
precipitated  a  most  bitter  and  accrimonious  debate.  A  committee  of  investiga- 
tion was  ordered.  Mr.  Schellabarger  of  Ohio  was  Chairman  and  Mr.  Windom  was 
on  the  committee.  The  report  of  the  committee  completely  exonerated  Mr. 
Conkling.  The  resolution  presented  by  the  committee  declared  that  the  charges 
in  the  letter  "are  wholly  without  foundation  truth,  and  for  their  publication  there 
were  in  the  judgment  of  the  House  no  facts  connected  with  said  prosecution  fur- 
nishing either  a  palliative  or  an  excuse."  Mr.  Conkling  could  never  forgive  Mr. 
Blaine  for  this  attack,  and  no  doubt  did  not  wish  to  trust  himself  at  the  meeting 
of  August  5th,  where  he  would  necessarily  meet  Mr.  Blaine. 

The  plan  of  campaign  was  discussed  at  this  meeting.  Mr.  Blaine  insisted 
that  the  first  and  most  important  thing  to  do  was  to  redeem  the  state  of  Maine 
.at  the  election  for  Governor.  In  arranging  the  work  of  the  campaign  that  end 
was  kept  in  view.  As  chairman  of  the  Republican  committee  of  Maine,  Mr. 
Blaine  filled  the  state  with  speakers.  For  six  weeks  the  old  state  resounded  with 
-oratory;  great  meetings  and  small  meetings  were  alike  addressed  by  the  best 
Republican  talent  of  the  country,  but  while  gains  were  made  by  the  Republicans 
the  Greenback-Democratic  coalition  carried  the  state.  The  old  cry,  "As  goes 
Maine,  so  goes  the  Union,"  was  now  the  watchword  of  the  Democracy. 

General  Garfield  remained  at  his  home  at  Mentor,  Ohio,  where  he  received 
numerous  delegations  from  various  parts  of  the  country.  Here  he  delivered  a 
series  of  speeches  to  these  visiting  crowds  which  in  point  of  political  doctrine, 
"historical  reference,  masterful  delivery,  faultless  diction  and  true  eloquence  have 

177 


never  been  surpassed.     But  the  campaign  in  the  west  had  lagged,  and  the  loss 
of  Maine  was  regarded  as  discouraging. 

For  the  purpose  of  giving  the  greatest  possible  'emphasis  to  the  oft-made 
declaration  that  the  friends  of  General  Grant  were  earnestly  supporting  the  Na- 
tional ticket,  and  to  arouse  the  interest  and  enthusiasm  of  Republicans  every- 
where it  was  arranged  that  General  Grant,  Simon  Cameron,  Roscoe  Conkling 
and  General  Logan  should  visit  Mentor,  pay  their  respects  to  General  Garfield 
and  attend  a  great  public  meeting  at  the  near-by  town  of  Warren.  These  men 
were  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  believed  that  its  success 
involved  the  prosperity  and  well-being  of  the  country,  and  were  wholly  indis- 
posed to  allow  the  issues  of  the  National  Convention  to  be  carried  into  the  cam- 
paign. The  visit  was  made.  An  agreeable  meeting  w7as  had  at  General  Garfield's 
home,  after  which  General  Grant,  Conkling  and  Logan  addressed  a  large  and  en- 
thusiastic meeting  at  Warren.  This  public  demonstration  aroused  enthusiasm 
throughout  the  country.  General  Grant's  speech,  terse,  clear  and  convincing,  was 
regarded  as  the  best  campaign  document  of  the  year.  Many  states  were  placarded 
with  this  speech.  Mr.  Conkling  had  already  made  an  able  opening  speech  in 
New  York  City ;  he  now  visited  Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and  other  cities  in  Ohio 
and  addressed  large  meetings  where  he  gave  his  entire  strength  and  influence  in 
support  of  the  National  ticket. 

In  Illinois  the  campaign  was  conducted  with  great  ability  by  a  committee  of 
which  A.  M.  Jones  was  chairman  and  Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary.  The  supporters 
of  General  Grant  were  determined  not  to  allow  the  division  of  opinion  in  support- 
ing him  for  the  Presidency,  which  had  so  agitated  the  State  and  National  Con- 
ventions, to  enter  into  the  state  election. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  the  Democratic  party  was  idle.  General  Han- 
cock was  a  popular  candidate;  he  enlisted  the  entire  support  of  the  Democratic 
party  and  received  the  cordial  support  of  all  Union  soldiers  who  had  adhered 
to  the  Democratic  organization.  The  tide  of  public  opinion  was  obviously  set- 
ting in  with  the  Republicans,  although  the  Democracy  carried  Maine  in  Septem- 
ber, it  was  by  164  majority  only,  a  great  gain  made  by  the  Republican  party 
since  the  preceding  election. 

About  two  weeks  before  the  November  election  the  Democratic  managers 
executed  one  of  the  most  outrageous  and  villianous  tricks  ever  perpetrated  in 
a  political  campaign.  The  "Morey  letter"  was  forged,  lithographed  and  sent 
broadcast  throughout  the  country.  It  purported  to  have  been  written  by  General 
Garfield.  This  letter  approved  of  Chinese  immigration  to  the  United  States  to 
compete  with  home  labor.  General  Garfield  branded  the  letter  as  a  forgery  and 
ample  proof  was  produced  to  show  that  his  opinions  and  public  utterances  were 
inconsistent  with  its  genuineness,  but  the  Democratic  managers  and  a  number  of 
their  most  distinguished  leaders  used  that  forged  letter  to  the  end  of  the  cam- 
paign. 

Garfield  and  Arthur  were  elected  by  a  splendid  majority.  They  received 
214  electoral  votes,  while  Hancock  and  English  received  155  votes.  The  popular 
vote  stood:  Garfield,  4,454,416;  Hancock,  4,444,952;  Weaver,  308,578;  scatter- 
ing, 10,305.  In  Congress  the  Senate  stood  37  Republicans,  37  Democrats,  i 
National.  The  House  stood  152  Republicans,  130  Democrats,  9  Nationals,  2 
Readjusters. 

The  election  in  Illinois  was  a  great  triumph  for  the  Republican  cause.  Gov- 
ernor Cullom  and  the  entire  state  ticket  were  elected.  The  legislature  was  strong- 
ly Republican.  The  senate  stood  32  Republicans,  18  Democrats,  I  Socialist.  The 
house  stood  83  Republicans,  70  Democrats.  Lieutenant  Governor  John  M.  Ham- 
ilton presided  over  the  senate  ;  James  H.  Paddock  was  elected  secretary.  General 
H.  H.  Thomas  of  Chicago  was  chosen  speaker  of  the  house  and  W.  B.  Tavlor 
of  Wenona,  clerk. 

The  vote  for  Governor  was  :  Cullom,  314,565  ;  Trumbull,  277,532  ;  Anson 
J.  Streeter  (Greenback),  28,898. 

Governor  Cullom  was  inaugurated  January  roth,  1881,  for  his  second  term. 
The  legislature  was  composed  largely  of  men  of  ability,  many  of  whom  have 
steadily  retained  the  confidence  of  the  people.  In  the  senate  were  George  E. 
Adams,  W.  J.  Campbell,  Leander  D.  Condee,  Charles  E.  Fuller,  H.  H.  Evans, 

178 


Conrad  Secrest,  George  Torrance,  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  George  Hunt,  Horace  S. 
Clark,  Thomas  B.  Needles,  John  R.  Tanner,  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall,  George  E. 
White  and  Christopher  Mamer.  All  men  who  have  exerted  great  influence  in  the 
affairs  of  the  state. 

In  the  house  were  Horace  H.  Thomas,  Lorin  C.  Collins,  Albert  G.  Good- 
speed,  Thomas  F.  Mitchell,  John  M.  Pearson,  Nathan  Crews,  Ezra  B.  Keen, 
Charles  T.  Strattan,  Isaac  M.  Kelly,  William  S.  Morris,  John  D.  Young  and 
many  other  prominent  Republicans.  Several  prominent  Democrats  who  had 
served  the  country  for  years  appear  in  this  legislature,  notably  William  A.  Rich- 
ardson, who  had  served  long  in  both  Houses  of  Congress,  Samuel  H.  Martin, 
Robert  A.  D.  Wilbanks,  Francis  M.  Youngblood  and  James  M.  Gregg,  all  men 
of  ability. 

in  the  Congressional  elections  the  Republican  party  carried  13  districts,  the 
Democrats  6.  The  Republicans  elected  to  the  47th  Congress  were  William  Al- 
drich,  George  R.  Davis,  Charles  B.  Farwell,  John  C.  Sherwin,  Robert  M.  A. 
Hawk,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  William  Cullen,  Lewis  E.  Payson,  John  H.  Lewis, 
l>enjamin  F.  Marsh,  Dietrich  C.  Smith,  Joseph  G.  Cannon  and  John  R.  Thomas. 
Major  Hawk  died  and  was  succeeded  by  Robert  R.  Hitt. 

The  Democratic  members  were  James  W.  Singleton,  William  M.  Springer, 
Samuel  W.  Moulton,  William  A.  J.  Sparks,  William  R.  Morrison  and  Richard  W. 
Townshend. 

The  Democratic  party  of  Virginia  was  seriously  divided  upon  the  question 
of  the  public  debt  of  the  state.  General  William  Mahone  led  the  Readjuster 
faction  of  the  party  in  1879.  In  1880  they  nominated  a  separate  electoral  ticket 
for  Hancock  and  English,  refusing  to  support  the  regular  ticket. 

The  State  of  Virginia  by  a  plurality  vote  was  carried  by  General  Hancock, 
but  the  Readjuster  and  Republican  vote  combined  constituted  a  large  majority 
of  the  electors  of  the  state.  These  voters  the  following  year  came  together,  nom- 
inated Cameron,  a  Readjuster,  for  Governor  and  Lewis,  a  Republican,  for  Lieu- 
tenant Governor  and  carried  the  state,  electing  the  state  ticket  and  five  Congress- 
men. This  movement  brought  General  Mahone  into  the  Republican  ranks  and 
contributed  to  a  more  friendly  relation  in  politics  between  the  North  and  South. 
Green  B.  Raum,  of  Illinois,  then  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue,  exerted 
great  influence  in  bringing  about  the  affiliation  of  the  Republican  and  Readjuster 
parties  of  Virginia.  He  visited  the  State  and  spoke  from  the  same  platform  with 
Colonel  Cameron,  the  fusion  candidate  for  Governor. 

The  inauguration  of  General  Garfield  as  President  on  March  4th,  1881,  was 
a  popular  and  interesting  event.  People  from  all  parts  of  the  country  flocked 
to  Washington.  The  President  appointed  the  following  Cabinet  officers :  Secre- 
tary of  State,  James  G.  Elaine ;  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  William  H.  Hunt ;  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury,  William  Windom ;  Secretary  of  War,  Robert  T.  Lincoln  ; 
Postmaster  General,  Thomas  L.  James  ;  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  Samuel  J.  Kirk- 
wood  ;  Attorney  General,  Wayne  McVeagh. 

General  Garfield's  administration  opened  auspiciously.  During  his  public 
career  the  President  had  made  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  had  established 
a  reputation  for  ability  equal  to  that  of  any  other  statesman  of  the  country.  His 
friendships. were  numerous,  warm  and  cordial.  Secretaries  Blaine  and  Windom 
were  men  of  the  broadest  experience,  with  hosts  of  friends,  and  ambitious  to  give 
the  country  a  great  and  successful  administration.  These  three  men  were  warm, 
personal  friends,  had  been  long-time  associates  in  public  life  and  each  possessed 
the  confidence  of  the  other. 

Every  member  of  the  Cabinet  was  well  qualified  to  perform  the  important 
duties  of  their  respective  departments.  Harmony  prevailed  in  the  excutive  ad- 
ministration. In  the-  47th  Congress  the  Senate  was  practically  divided  equally 
between  the  two  great  parties,  the  House  of  Representatives,  however,  contained 
a  large  Republican  majority,  and  this  gave  the  Administration  all  the  legislative 
support  required  for  successful  administration. 

It  seemed  improbable  that  any  act  would  be  done  to  precipitate  a  crisis  in 
the  Administration.  When  it  came  to  the  selection  of  persons  for  appointment 
to  the  important  offices  in  New  York  the  President  requested  a  conference  with 
Senator  Conkling  and  other  prominent  Republicans  of  the  State.  The  interview 

179 


occurred  at  the  Executive  Mansion  on  a  Sunday  evening.  The  list  of  appoint- 
ments then  to  be  made  were  agreed  upon  to  the  satisfaction  of  both  the  President 
and  the  Senator.  When  Mr.  Conkling  was  about  to  withdraw  he  turned  to  the 
President  and  inquired  if  he  wished  to  consider  the  appointment  of  the  Collector 
of  the  Port  of  New  York ;  the  President  replied  that  that  question  would  be  left 
for  a  future  interview.  The  next  day  the  appointments  agreed  upon  were  made, 
but  William  H.  Robertson  was  also  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port.  It  trans- 
pired that  the  President  received  numerous  telegrams  from  New  York  City 
after  the  interview  with  Mr.  Conkling,  urging  him  to  appoint  Mr.  Robertson  ;  and 
yielding  to  these  demands  he  sent  Robertson's  name  to  the  Senate.  Senator 
Conkling  and  Senator  Platt  were  surprised  and  indignant.  Senator  Conkling 
felt  that  after  his  conversation  with  the  President  he  should  have  been  consulted 
before  the  appointment  of  Collector  of  the  Port  was  made.  He  had  serious 
objections  to  Mr.  Robertson.  The  Senator  held  that  Robertson  had  been  guilty 
of  a  great  breach  of  faith  as  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  1880.  Mr. 
Robertson  and  several  other  persons  who  were  personal  and  political  friends  of 
Mr.  Elaine  were  selected  as  delegates  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  of 
1880  by  the  Republican  State  Convention  of  New  York.  That  convention  passed 
a  resolution  instructing  their  delegates  to  support  General  Grant  as  a  candidate 
for  President  and  to  vote  as  a  unit.  It  had  long  been  the  practice  of  New  York 
Republicans  to  instruct  their  delegates  to  National  Conventions.  Such  repre- 
sentations were  made  on  the  floor  of  the  convention  by  some  of  Mr.  Elaine's 
friends  that  the  convention  became  satisfied  that  all  of  the  delegates  would  hold 
themselves  bound  by  the  instructions. 

The  State  Convention  contained  a  large  majority  in  favor  of  General  Grant ; 
if  it  had  been  announced  by  these  friends  of  Mr.  Elaine  that  they  would  not  abide 
by  the  instructions,  other  delegates  would  have  been  selected  in  their  place,  but 
Mr.  Robertson  and  others  accepted  their  credentials  as  delegates  encumbered 
with  the  instructions  of  the  State  Convention  without  protest  or  objection. 

When  the  National  Convention  met,  Mr.  Robertson  and  the  other  friends  of 
Mr.  Elaine  in  the  New  York  delegation  at  once  affiliated  with  the  opponents  of 
General  Grant,  and  upon  all  important  preliminary  questions  voted  with  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Elaine.  When  it  came  to  balloting  for  candidates  for  President 
these  men,  led  by  Mr.  Robertson,  bolted  the  instructions  of  their  State  Conven- 
tion and  cast  their  ballots  first  for  Mr.  Elaine,  and  afterwards  for  General  Garfield. 
Senator  Conkling  believed  that  these  bolting  delegates  were  in  honor  bound 
to  observe  and  carry  out  the  instructions  of  their  State  Convention ;  he  regarded 
their  failure  to  do  so  as  an  act  of  political  treachery,  and  on  that  account  he  ob- 
jected to  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Robertson  as  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York. 

It  is  now  understood  that  Mr.  Elaine  did  not  urge  the  appointment  of  Rob- 
ertson at  the  time  it  was  done ;  although  Senator  Conkling  and  his  friends 
all  believed  that  Mr.  Elaine  had  influenced  the  President  to  make  the  appoint- 
ment ;  but  after  the  appointment  was  made,  and  the  struggle  with  New  York 
Senators  was  precipitated,  Mr.  Elaine  exerted  all  his  powrer  to  sustain  the  Admin- 
istration. 

Senators  Conkling  and  Platt  resigned  their  seats  in  the  Senate.  When  the 
legislature  of  New  York  entered  upon  the  task  of  electing  their  successors  they 
were  candidates  for  re-election.  A  great  struggle  ensued.  The  Administration 
members  of  the  Legislature  refused  to  enter  a  caucus  and  thus  bind  themselves 
to  submit  to  the  action  of  the  majority.  Mr.  Conkling  and  Mr.  Platt  were  de- 
feated and  retired  to  private  life.  The  political  struggle  created  a  serious  seism 
in  the  Republican  party  of  New  York.  The  wounds  of  such  a  conflict  are  slow 
to  heal.  President  Garfield  did  not  live  to  witness  the  outcome  of  the  breach. 

On  Saturday  morning,  July  2,  1881,  just  as  he  and  Secretary  Elaine  entered 
the  Sixth  Street  Railroad  depot  in  Washington  City  to  take  a  train  for  Long 
Branch,  President  Garfield  received,  in  the  back,  a  mortal  wound  from  a  pistol  in 
the  hand  of  the  assassin  Guitteau.  The  President  fell  to  the  floor.  He  was  at 
once  carried  up  stairs  and  placed  upon  a  mattress  on  the  floor  in  one  of  the  large 
offices.  The  most  skilful  physicians  of  the  city  were  instantly  called  to  his  relief. 
It  was  obvious  that  the  wound  was  of  a  most  serious  nature ;  the  President  suf- 
fered intense  pain  as  from  ten  thousand  needles  pricking  his  feet,  but  he  endured 
the  pain  with  wonderful  composure,  and  spoke  freely  with  the  doctors  and 

180 


others  who  were  admitted  to  the  room.  He  was  conveyed  to  the  Executive  Man- 
sion and  everything  was  done  for  him  that  the  most  distinguished  physicians  and 
surgeons  could  devise,  but  no  medical  or  surgical  skill,  no  tender  nursing  of 
loved  ones  could  relieve  him  in  that  hour  of  trial.  He  died  at  10:35  P-  M.  Sep- 
tember 1 9th,  1881,  at  Elberon,  New  Jersey. 

Chester  A.  Arthur,  Vice-President,  was  in  New  York  at  the  time  of  the 
death  of  the  President ;  the  Cabinet  officers  stopping  at  Long  Branch  informed 
him  by  telegraph  of  the  sad  event  and  advised  him  to  take  the  oath  of  office.  This 
he  did  during  the  night  of  September  iQth ;  three  days  later  the  oath  of  office 
was  publicly  administered  in  the  marble  room  of  the  capitol  at  Washington. 
On  the  same  day  the  Cabinet,  through  Secretary  Elaine,  tendered  their  resigna- 
tions. The  President  requested  them  to  continue  in  the  discharge  of  their  duties, 
which  they  all  agreed  to  do  until  such  time  as  the  President  should  see  fit  to 
form  a  Cabinet  of  his  own  selection.  Certain  changes  were  soon  made.  Mr. 
Elaine  was  succeeded  by  Theodore  Frelinghuysen  as  Secretary  of  State ;  Mr. 
Windom  by  Charles  J.  Folger  as  Secretary  of  the  Treasury ;  Mr.  James  by  Tim- 
othy O'Howe  as  Postmaster  General ;  Mr.  Kirkwood  by  N.  M.  Teller  as  Secretary 
of  the  Interior,  and  McVeagh  by  Benjamin  Brewster  as  Attorney  General. 

The  country  was  in  a  prosperous  condition.  Agriculture,  manufacturing, 
mining  and  commerce  were  steadily  being  developed ;  foreign  trade  was  expand- 
ing. The  financial  condition  of  the  country  was  sound  and  the  revenues  of  the 
government  were  ample  to  pay  current  expenses  and  steadily  reduce  the  public 
debt.  In  fact,  the  revenues  had  so  grown  that  during  President  Arthur's  term 
nearly  $45,000,000  of  internal  revenue  taxes  were  repealed.  The  Administration 
was  successful  and  satisfactory  to  the  general  public.  President  Arthur  grew 
upon  the  people  in  popularity. 

In  1882  a  governor  was  to  be  elected  in  New  York.  The  Democratic  party 
nominated  Grover  Cleveland,  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  as  their  candidate  for  governor. 
The  Republican  party  held  their  convention  and  Charles  J.  Folger  was  nomi- 
nated for  governor  by  a  large  majority.  Judge  Folger  had  served  many  years, 
with  great  distinction,  on  the  bench  of  the  Court  of  Appeals  of  New  York,  and 
was  at  the  time  of  his  nomination  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  under  President 
Arthur.  His  connection  with  the  Arthur  administration  identified  him  wth  the 
"stalwart"  wing  of  the  Republican  party  of  New  York,  although  the  judge  had 
not  been  active  in  politics  for  many  years  because  of  his  position  on  the  bench. 
His  nomination  was  antagonized  by  the  wing  of  the  party  which  had  supported 
Mr.  Elaine  in  1880.  After  the  nomination  was  made  it  transpired  that  a  gen- 
tleman sat  with  the  State  Central  Committee  as  a  proxy  of  Hon.  William  H. 
Robertson  without  authority,  it  being  alleged  that  the  telegram  upon  which  he 
acted  was  not  sent  by  Mr.  Robertson.  It  was  not  pretended  that  the  action 
of  this  man  in  the  committee  had  any  influence  whatever  in  securing  the  nomi- 
nation of  Judge  Folger,  but  it  was  alleged  to  have  been  a  fraud  by  one  of  his 
supporters  and  should  be  atoned  for  by  the  withdrawal  of  Judge  Folger  and  the 
nomination  of  some  one  else. 

It  will  be  recalled  that  Mr.  Robertson,  who  made  this  complaint,  was  the 
same  person  who  was  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  1880  and  bolted  his 
instructions,  and  was  in  1881  appointed  Collector  of  the  Port  of  New  York  by 
President  Garfield.  Having  been  retired  by  President  Arthur,  he  was  now  get- 
ting his  revenge.  Judge  Folger  declined  to  withdraw.  He  made  the  race  for 
governor  as  the  regular  nominee  of  the  Republican  party  of  New  York  and 
was  defeated.  Grover  Cleveland  was  elected  by  Republican  voters  who  bolted 
the  Republican  nomination  and  gave  him  enough  support  to  raise  his  majority  to 
194,000.  The  men  who  supported  Mr.  Elaine  in  1880  at  Chicago  took  the  lead 
in  defeating  Judge  Folger  in  1882. 

The  election  of  Grover  Cleveland  by  so  great  a  majority  instantly  made 
him  a  Presidential  possibility  with  the  Democratic  party  in  1884.  It  will  be 
seen  later  on  that  he  was  nominated  and  elected,  and  his  election  was  brought 
about  by  a  few  Republicans  remaining  from  the  polls.  These  men  abstained  from 
voting  for  the  simple  reason  that  they  were  close  personal  friends  of  Roscoe 
Conkling.  They  were  in  strong  sympathy  with  him,  believing  that  he  had  been 
deeply  wronged  by  Mr.  Elaine,  and  therefore  they  withheld  their  votes  and  Mr. 
Elaine  was  defeated. 

181 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THE  CONVENTIONS  AND  CAMPAIGN  OF  1884.  CAUSES  WHICH  LED  TO  THE 
ELECTION  OF  A  DEMOCRATIC  PRESIDENT.  ILLINOIS  ELECTS  GOVERNOR 
OGLESBY  FOR  THE  THIRD  TIME.  GEN/  LOGAN  RE-ELECTED  SENATOR. 

The  law  of  cause  and  effect  works  with  perfect  sincerity.  A  just  action  bears 
good  fruit,  while  an  unjust  action  portends  evil.  It  is  now  perfectly  clear  that 
a  chain  of  political  misfortunes  followed  the  Republican  party  as  the  legitimate 
effect  of  the  action  of  the  majority  of  the  convention  of  1880.  The  act  of  setting 
aside  and  overthrowing  the  long-established  practice  of  "instructions"  and  the 
"unit  rule"  and  making  the  new  rule  operative  in  that  convention  was  obviously 
for  the  purpose  of  releasing  delegates  who  were  instructed  for  General  Grant. 
The  minority  submitted,  but  the  action  sowed  the  seeds  of  discord  It  divided  the 
party  in  New  York.  It  caused  the  appointment  of  William  H.  Robertson  as 
Collector.  It  caused  the  resignation  of  Conkling  and  Platt.  It  prevented  the 
Republicans  of  the  New  York  legislature  from  holding  a  caucus  to  nominate 
candidates  for  Senator.  It  caused  the  defeat  of  Conkling  and  Platt  for  the  Senate. 
It  divided  the  party  in  New  York,  causing  thousands  of  Republicans  to  vote  the 
Democratic  ticket  to  defeat  Folger  for  Governor  and  elect  Cleveland.  It  de- 
feated Mr.  Elaine  for  President  in  1884.  This  lesson  clearly  demonstrates  the  fact 
that  to  enable  great  political  bodies  to  exercise  a  healthful  control  upon  public 
opinion,  they  must  themselves  be  guided  by  the  highest  standards  of  justice  'and 
propriety. 

President  Arthur's  Administration  had  given  great  satisfaction  to  the  coun- 
try. Every  department  had  been  run  upon  business  principles.  The  President 
was  a  man  of  pleasing  address,  easy  to  be  approached,  with  an  extensive  acquaint- 
ance of  public  men ;  well  versed  in  methods  of  administration,  and  deeply  im- 
pressed with  the  principle  that  the  public  offices  should  be  run  in  such  a  manner 
as  to  make  the  business  affairs  of  the  government  acceptable  and  satisfactory  to 
the  people.  It  is  a  proper  record  to  make  that  President  Arthur's  administration 
was  popular  with  the  people.  President  Arthur  was  a  candidate  for  the  presi- 
dential nomination  and  was  earnestly  supported  by  a  large  following.  George 

F.  Edmunds,  John  A.  Logan  and  John  Sherman  were  also  candidates,  but  James 

G,  Elaine  was  supported  by  the  largest  number  of  delegates. 

The  convention  consisted  of  819  delegates.  On  the  first  ballot  the  vote  was: 
Elaine,  334^2  ;  Arthur,  278;  Edmunds,  93;  Logan,  63^/2  ;  Sherman,  30;  Hawley, 
13;  Robert  T.  Lincoln,  4;  General  Sherman,  2;  necessary  to  a  choice,  410.  On 
the  fourth  ballot  Mr.  Elaine  received  541  votes.  The  friends  of  General  Logan 
and  John  Sherman  had  gone  to  his  support.  With  great  unanimity  of  pur- 
pose, the  convention  nominated  John  A.  Logan  of  Illinois  for  Vice-President. 
This  ticket  was  enthusiastically  endorsed  by  Republicans  everywhere. 

The  Prohibition  party  held  a  convention  at  Pittsburg,  July  23.  1884,  an(' 
nominated  John  P.  St.  John  of  Kansas  and  William  Daniel  of  Maryland  as  can- 
didates for  President  and  Vice-President. 

The  Greenback  party,  at  a  convention  held  at  Indianapolis,  Inch,  May  28, 
1884,  nominated  Benjamin  F.  Butler  of  Massachusetts  and  A.  M.  West  of  Mis- 
sissippi as  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-President.  It  was  perfectly  well 
understood  by  every  intelligent  voter  that  neither  the  Prohibition  or  Greenback 
tickets  could  be  elected,  but  the  advocates  of  National  Prohibition,  and  the  advo- 
cates of  an  expansion  of  the  Greenback  currency,  were  anxious  to  agitate  for  these 
measures  and  have  their  friends  counted. 

The  country  recognized  that  the  contest  was  between  the  Republican  and 
Democratic  parties. 

182 


The  Democratic  Convention  was  held  at  Chicago,  July  8  to  11,  1884.  A 
number  of  men  prominent  in  public  affairs  and  well  and  favorably  known  by 
Democrats  throughout  the  country,  were  candidates  before  the  convention. 
These  men  had  been  Governors  of  States,  and  Senators,  and  members  of  Con- 
gress. They  had  been  before  the  public  and  had  been  leaders  of  the  Democracy 
for  thirty  years.  They  were  all  popular  men  with  their  party,  but  the  convention 
concluded  that  they  must  have  a  new  man ;  a  man  without  a  record ;  a  man  of 
ability,  of  course,  but  one  who  had  taken  no  part  in  the  political  conflicts  grow- 
ing out  of  the  slavery  question  and  the  war.  That  man  was  at  hand ;  he  was 
then  Governor  of  New  York.  He  had  beaten  Judge  Folger,  the  Republican 
candidate,  by  194,000  majority.  Mr.  Cleveland  was  nominated  as  a  candidate 
for  President  and  Thomas  J.  Hendricks  of  Indiana,  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President. 

It  was  a  somewhat  remarkable  fact  that  these  two  men  had  never  met; 
indeed,  Mr.  Cleveland's  acquaintance  with  public  men  was  exceedingly  limited. 
He  had  never  attended  a  National  Convention,  and  had  taken  but  little  part  in 
politics.  The  canvass  was  conducted  with  great  spirit  and  energy  on  both  sides. 
Blaine  and  Logan  each  made  a  tour  of  the  country,  addressing  large  audiences. 
Mr.  Hendricks  also  delivered  a  number  of  addresses,  but  Mr.  Cleveland  made 
no  active  personal  canvass.  It  was  apparent  from  the  start  that  New  York  was 
the  pivotal  state ;  an  independent  Republican  faction  led  by  Carl  Schurz,  and  re- 
enforced  by  George  William  Curtis  and  Henry  Ward  Beecher  drew  off  many 
Republican  votes. 

The  "Burchard"  incident  at  the  interview  of  a  number  of  ministers  of  the 
gospel  with  Mr.  Blaine  where,  in  characterizing  the  support  of  the  Democratic 
party,  Mr.  Burchard  coined  the  phrase  of  "Rum,  Romanism  and  Rebellion,"  un- 
doubtedly lost  many  Irish  votes  to  Mr.  Blaine,  but  the  real  cause  of  the  defeat 
of  Blaine  and  Logan  in  New  York  state  was  the  ill  will  existing  between  Mr. 
Biaine  and  Roscoe  Conkling.  This  was  of  long  standing,  and  culminated  during 
President  Garfield's  administration.  Many  friends  of  Mr.  Conkling  failed  to  vote 
and  as  a  result  the  state  of  New  York  cast  its  vote  for  Cleveland  and  Hen- 
dricks. 

There  were  four  candidates  for  Governor  nominated  in  Illinois,  in  1884, 
with  a  full  complement  for  State  officers  on  each  ticket.  The  Republicans  nom- 
inated Richard  J.  Oglesby,  for  Governor ;  John  C.  Smith,  Lieutenant-Governor ; 
Henry  Dement,  Secretary  of  State ;  Jason  Gross,  Treasurer ;  Charles  P.  Swi- 
gert,  Auditor,  and  George  Hunt,  Attorney  General. 

The  Democrats  nominated  Carter  H.  Harrison  for  Governor;  Henry  Seiter, 
Lieutenant-Governor ;  Michael  J.  Dougherty,  Secretary  of  State ;  Albert  Oren- 
dorff,  Treasurer ;  Walter  E.  Carlin,  Auditor,  and  Robert  B.  McKinley,  Attorney 
General. 

The  Greenback  party  nominated  Jesse  Harper  for  Governor,  and  the  Pro- 
hibitionists J.  B.  Hobbs  for  the  same  office. 

The  canvass  was  prosecuted  with  great  energy  on  all  sides.  The  fact  that 
General  John  A.  Logan  was  a  candidate  for  Vice-President  and  General  Oglesby 
was  a  candidate  for  Governor,  and  that  the  campaign  was  conducted  for  the  Re- 
publicans by  A.  M.  Jones,  chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee,  gave  as- 
surance that  the  Republicans  of  Illinois  would  earnestly  stand  by  their  colors. 

Carter  H.  Harrison  was  a  strong  and  popular  man,  particularly  in  Chicago ; 
he  brought  out  the  entire  strength  of  his  party.  The  Republicans  carried  the 
State  by  a  plurality,  the  vote  being  as  follows :  Oglesby,  334,  234 ;  Harrison, 
319,635;  Harper,  8,606;  Hobbs,  10,904. 

As  compared  with  the  vote  four  years  previous,  the  Democrats  had  made 
a  gain  of  42,314  votes,  while  the  Republicans'  gain  was  only  6,197  votes. 

The  popular  vote  was  :  Grover  Cleveland,  4,874,986 ;  James  G.  Blaine,  4,851,- 
981  ;  Benjamin  F.  Butler,  175,370;  John  P.  St.  John,  150,369.  The  electoral  vote 
was  for  Cleveland  219,  for  Blaine  182. 

President  Cleveland  was  duly  inaugurated  March  5th,  1885.  He  appointed 
the  following  Cabinet :  Secretary  of  State,  Thomas  F.  Bayard  of  Delaware  ;  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury,  Daniel  Manning  of  New  York  ;  Secretary  of  \Var,  William 
C.  Endicott  of  Massachusetts  ;  Attorney  General,  Augustus  H.  Garland  of  Arkan- 

183 


sas ;  Postmaster  General,  William  F.  Vilas  of  Wisconsin ;  Secretary  of  the  Navyr 
William  C.  Whitney  of  New  York;  Secretary  of  Interior,  Lucius  Q.  C.  Lamar 
of  Mississippi. 

In  Congress  the  parties  were  divided  as  follows :  (49th  Congress)  Senate  ^ 
41  Republicans,  34  Democrats;  House:  182  Democrats,  140  Republicans.  In  the 
5Oth  Congress  the  Republicans  still  had  a  majority  in  the  Senate  and  the  Dem- 
ocrats a  majority  in  the  House.  The  result  of  this  political  situation  was  thrt 
the  laws  placed  upon  the  statute  books  by  the  Republican  party  in  respect  to  the 
finances  and  revenues  of  the  government  remained  in  full  force.  In  each  Con- 
gress an  effort  was  made  by  Democratic  leaders  to  change  the  tariff  laws,  and 
break  down  the  protective  system,  under  the  leadership  in  turn  of  Hon.  William 
M.  Morrison  of  Illinois,  and  Hon.  Roger  Q.  Mills  of  Texas.  Each  brought  for- 
ward a  bill  to  reduce  the  tariff  rates  and  increase  the  free  list.  In  these  efforts  they 
were  strongly  aided  by  President  Cleveland,  who  sent  a  message  to  Congress 
making  a  strong  argument  in  favor  of  free  raw  material,  selecting  wool  as  the 
article  to  thoroughly  illustrate  his  views.  The  President  urged  placing  wool  on 
the  free  list  as  the  means  of  greatly  increasing  the  products  of  the  mills,  and 
materially  reducing  the  cost  of  clothing.  Under  the  leadership  of  Samuel  J. 
Randall  of  Pennsylvania,  there  were  a  number  of  Democratic  members  opposed 
to  reducing  the  tariff.  Upon  the  final  votes,  these  members  united  with  the  Re- 
publicans and  defeated  the  bills. 

During  this  entire  term  of  President  Cleveland  the  revenues  were  ample  to 
carry  on  the  government  and  leave  a  large  surplus  to  be  applied  to  the  reduction 
of  the  public  debt,  but  the  President  was  not  favorable  to  buying  bonds  in  the  open 
market  at  a  premium,  so  that  the  revenues  continued  to  pile  up  in  the  treasury 
until  business  men  and  bankers  alleged  that  the  business  interests  of  the  country 
were  suffering  for  want  of  sufficient  currency.  Still  Mr.  Cleveland  declined  to 
relieve  the  money  market  by  the  purchase  of  bonds.  Finally  the  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  decided  to  increase  the  deposits  of  the  government  in  the  National 
Banks.  The  usual  amount  of  government  deposits  in  the  Depository  Bank  was 
$15,000,000.  This  amount  was  swelled  to  about  $65,000,000,  and  the  banks  held 
this  money  for  many  months  without  interest.  At  last  Congress  took  up  the  sub- 
ject, and  such  action  was  taken  as  to  bring  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  to  continue  the  plan  adopted  by  their  Republican  predecessors  of 
reducing  the  public  debt  by  the  purchase  of  bonds,  whenever  there  was  surplus 
revenue  in  the  treasury.  This  administration  of  President  Cleveland  was  not 
notable  for  any  special  features  in  administration.  While  great  professions  were 
made  in  favor  of  the  civil  service  reform  system,  these  did  not  stand  in  the  way 
of  the  removal  of  thousands  of  Republicans  from  office  and  the  appointment  of 
Democrats  in  their  stead.  The  Democrats  had  been  out  of  power  for  24  years, 
and  it  was  quite  natural  that  they  should  expect  to  fill  the  offices.  The  Admin- 
istration made  haste  to  gratify  the  urgent  demands  upon  them.  Many  prominent 
men  who  had  opposed  he  prosecution  of  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  by  their  activ- 
ity had  made  themselves  obnoxious,  found  this  a  favorable  opportunity  for  their 
vindication ;  they  sought  important  positions  and  in  many  cases  were  appointed 
to  them.  The  worst  feature  in  the  appointments  made  by  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
that  many  persons  utterly  unworthy  of  trust  were  selected ;  notably  men  who 
had  been  indicted,  convicted  and  punished  for  frauds  at  elections.  It  is,  however, 
just  to  say  that  William  C.  Whitney,  Secretary  of  the  Navy,  deserves  great 
credit  for  the  able  manner  in  which  he  enlarged  and  .carried  forward  the  plans 
for  increasing  the  strength  of  the  navy  so  ably  inaugurated  by  William  E. 
Chandler,  Secretary  of  the  Navy  under  President  Arthur. 

But  one  of  the  most  cruel  acts  ever  performed  by  a  government  was  the 
unjust  measures  taken  by  Mr.  Cleveland's  administration  against  John  Roach, 
the  contractor,  for  the  construction  of  four  war  ships  under  contracts  made  with 
Secretary  Chandler.  Mr.  Roach  was  one  of  the  most  enterprising,  able  and  con- 
scientious ship-builders  in  the  world.  He  had  done  much  to  build  up  the  Amer- 
ican merchant  and  war  navy.  Mr.  Roach  was  a  staunch,  outspoken  Republican ; 
this  made  him  a  marked  man  with  the  Cleveland  administration.  Upon  the 
trial  trips  of  the  "Dolphin"  her  construction  was  condemned,  although  it  ap- 
peared that  every  beam,  plate  and  bolt  followed  the  naval  plans.  Payments  were 

184 


suspended  on  the  vessels,  Roach  was  unable  to  carry  the  load  of  completing 
the  remaining  three  ships  and  he  was  forced  into  bankruptcy.  Subsequent  events 
conclusively  showed  that  the  vessels  were  in  every  way  worthy  and  when  finally 
completed  under  the  management  of  the  government,  they  fulfilled  the  expec- 
tations of  the  department.  But  Roach  was  ruined  and  died  of  a  broken  heart. 
It  wa?  left  to  a  subsequent  Republican  Congress  to  make  some  reparation  for  this 
injustice  by  an  appropriation  to  pay  a  balance  due  on  the  vessels. 

Ac  the  election  of  1884  in  Illinois,  Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  governor, 
John  C.  Smith,  lieutenant  governor,  and  with  them  the  whole  Republican  state 
ticket,  but  the  legislature,  consisting  of  51  senators  and  153  representatives  was 
politically  a  tie,  the  Republicans  having  102  members  and  the  Democrats  102.  It 
was  the  duty  of  this  legislature  to  elect  a  Senator  to  succeed  General  John  A. 
Logan,  the  sitting  member,  whose  time  expired  March  4th,  1885.  The  news  that 
the  Democrats  had  elected  an  equal  number  of  the  legislature  with  the  Repub- 
licans excited  great  interest  throughout  the  state.  It  was  soon  noised  abroad  that 
an  error  had  been  made  in  the  count  of  the  votes  for  state  senator  in  the  Sixth 
Senatorial  District,  this  being  one  of  the  Cook  County  Districts. 

The  judges  of  election  after  the  ballots  were  counted  in  that  district  had 
anriouncec'  the  results  at  the  various  polls,  and  it  was  found  that  Henry  A.  Leman, 
a  Republican,  had  been  elected  by  a  majority  of  39x5  votes ;  this  result  was  an- 
nounced in  the  newspapers,  but  upon  a  recount  of  the  ballots  it  appeared  that 
the  name  of  Rudolph  Brand  was  printed  on  a  large  number  of  Republican  tickets 
instead  of  the  name  of  Mr.  Leman,  thus  giving  Brand  6,696  votes  and  Leman 
6,686  votes,  electing  Brand  the  Democratic  Senator  by  10  votes.  It  also  appeared 
that  the  tally  sheets  and  certificates  of  the  judges  of  election  sustained  this  state- 
ment of  the  vote.  The  judges  of  election  were  taken  by  surprise  by  such  infor- 
mation. An  examination  was  made  of  the  papers  and  a  searching  investigation 
of  the  facts.  It  was  found  that  the  tally  sheets  and  certificates  had  been  changed, 
and  that  counterfeit  Republican  ballots  with  Brand's  name  printed  upon  them 
had  been  subsituted  for  the  genuine  ballots  which  had  Leman's  name  upon  them. 
The  genuine  ballots  had  been  stolen  from  the  ballot  box  and  the  spurious  ballots 
inserted  in  their  stead. 

It  appeared  that  the  conspirators  who  perpetrated  the  fraud  caused  counter- 
feit ballots  to  be  printed,  that  they  secured  access  to  the  ballot  boxes  deposited 
in  the  county  clerk's  office  and  perpetrated  the  fraud  as  above  stated.  Evidence 
of  tht.se  facts  were  produced  to  Governor  Hamilton,  who  declined  to  have  a  cer- 
tificate of  election  issued  to  Brand,  but  caused  a  certificate  to  be  issued  to  Leman. 
The  Democratic  contention  was  that  on  the  face  of  the  returns  Brand  was  elected, 
and  if  Leman  had  any  rights,  it  was  the  right  of  contest  before  the  legislature.  If 
this  glaring  and  outrageous  fraud  had  received  such  a  recognition  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  would  have  had  a  majority  of  one  on  joint  ballot  and  Colonel  Wil- 
liam R.  Morrison,  a  Democrat,  would  have  been  elected  to  the  United  States 
Senate.  The  outcome  of  this  fraud  in  the  court  was  that  Joseph  C.  Mackin,  an  in- 
fluential Democratic  manager,  was  sent  to  the  penitentiary  for  four  years  upon 
a  charge  of  perjury. 

The  legislature  met  January  7th,  1885,  and  was  divided  as  follows :  Senate, 
Republicans  26,  Democrats  24,  Greenback  Democrat  i ;  House,  Republicans  76, 
Democrats  76,  Independent  i.  The  senate  was  presided  over  by  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor Smith.  William  J.  Campbell  was  elected  president  pro  tern,  and  L.  F. 
Watson  secretary.  In  the  house  Elijah  M.  Haynes,  Independent,  was  elected 
speaker,  and  R.  A.  D.  Wilbanks,  Democrat,  was  elected  clerk.  Caucuses  were 
held  by  members  of  the  respective  parties.  Col.  William  R.  Morrison  was  nomi- 
nated for  the  Senate  by  the  Democrats,  and  General  John  A.  Logan  was  nomi- 
nated by  the  Republicans. 

On  February  icth  the  House  of  Representatives  voted  for  a  Senator,  and 
on  the  I3th  the  Senate  performed  the  same  duty.  On  the  same  day  the  two 
houses  met  in  joint  assembly,  200  members  being  present.  A  vote  for  Senator 
v/as  taken  without  an  election.  These  joint  assemblies  continued  from  time  to 
time  from  February  i3th  to  May  igth,  1885,  118  ballots  being  taken  before  the 
final  result  was  reached.  The  Democrats  were  determined  to  defeat  General 
Logan  and  left  nothing  undone  to  accomplish  that  end. 

185 


Three  legislators  died  during  the  session,  Robert  C.  Logan,  a  Republican  oi 
the  house,  died  and  was  succeeded  by  a  Republican,  Dwight  R.  Spofford,  May 
21,  1885.  Francis  M.  Bridges,  a  Democratic  senator,. died  and  was  succeeded 
April  nth  by  Robert  H.  Davidson.  These  vacancies  did  not  influence  the  sen- 
atorial issue.  J.  Henry  Shaw,  a  Democrat  of  the  House,  representing  the  34th 
district,  composed  of  the  Counties  of  Mason,  Menard,  Cass  and  Schuyler,  died. 
The  election  for  his  successor  was  set  for  May  6th.  The  counties  were  all  Demo- 
cratic, having  given  a  Democratic  majority  of  2,050  at  the  previous  November 
election.  The  Democrats  nominated  Arthur  A.  Leeper  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The 
Republicans  made  no  nomination.  They  agreed  upon  William  H.  Weaver  as  their 
candidate  and  made  a  still  hunt  for  votes.  Mr.  Weaver's  candidacy  was  privately 
made  known  to  prominent  Republicans  in  every  county  who  were  charged  to 
convey  the  information  confidentially  to  their  Republican  acquaintances.  So  well 
was  the  secret  kept  that  Weaver's  candidacy  did  not  become  known  until  the  polls 
were  closed  and  the  judges  began  to  count  the  ballots.  Mr.  Weaver  was  elected 
by  336  majority.  The  Democrats  of  the  district  and  throughout  the  state  were 
indignant  at  the  result,  and  the  official  declaration  of  the  votes  was  needlessly  de- 
layed. Senator  Mason  and  Representative  Calhoun  visited  Cass  County ;  Rep- 
resentatives Fuller  and  Messeck  went  to  Mason  County  and  Representatives 
Chapman  and  Snycler  visited  Menard,  all  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  that  the 
election  of  Weaver  was  properly  declared.  At  the  end  of  a  week  the  returns  for 
the  election  were  made.  Mr.  Weaver  received  his  certificate  and  on  May  I5th 
presented  himself  to  the  house  for  admission  to  his  seat. 

The  Democrats  arranged  to  make  a  determined  effort  to  defeat  Logan 
before  Weaver  was  recognized  as  a  member ;  the  joint  session  was  prolonged 
and  a  recess  taken  to  the  next  legislative  clay,  and  Weaver  held  at  bay  in 
the  meantime.  Lambert  Tree  of  Chicago  was  now  the  Democratic  candidate,  Col. 
Mcirison  having  been  withdrawn.  The  opinion  among  Democrats  was  that  two 
or  three  Republicans  could  by  fair  means  or  foul  be  induced  to  bolt  the  Re- 
publican nominee  and  vote  for  Mr.  Tree.  In  the  event  that  plan  could  not  be 
can  ied  out,  they  were  willing  to  cast  their  votes  for  some  Republican  who  might 
have  friends  in  Logan's  ranks  who  would  abandon  him.  Charles  B.  Farwell  was 
selected  by  the  Democrats  as  that  man.  It  is  proper  to  state,  however,  that 
Mr.  Farwell  did  not  seek  to  become  the  Democratic  candidate.  After  a  great 
struggle  Weaver  was  sworn  in  and  took  his  seat.  May  iQth,  1885,  arrived  and 
the  Senatorial  question  was  obviously  on  the  eve  of  being  brought  to  a  close. 

The  two  houses  met  in  joint  session  and  the  iiSth  and  final  ballot  was 
taken.  Logan  received  103  votes,  no  Democrats  at  first  voting.  When  the  list 
of  members  not  voting  was  called,  21  senators  and  72  representatives,  in  all  93 
Democratic  members,  voted  for  Mr.  Farwell.  This  action  by  the  Democrats  did 
not  shake  the  fidelity  of  the  supporters  of  General  Logan.  Not  one  of  the  103 
offered  to  change  his  vote.  When  this  maneuver  was  started  Mr.  Barry,  a  Dem- 
ocrati.:  member  from  Calhoun,  rose  in  his  seat  and  at  the  top  of  his  voice  said, 
"I  change  from  Lambert  Tree  to  John  A.  Logan."  This  action  was  greeted  with 
loud  applause  by  the  Republicans,  but  Mr.  Barry  upon  the  urgent  solicitation 
of  his  party  friends  changed  his  vote  to  Lambert  Tree,  saying,  "I  want  to  be  in 
harirony  with  my  party,  but  I  want  to  see  everything  done  fairly  here.  I  give 
node 2  that  before  any  Republican  shall  take  the  election  away  from  John  A.  Lo- 
gan I  will  vote  for  Logan."  All  the  Democrats  of  the  house' changed  from  Tree 
to  Farwell  except  Barry,  Dill,  Linegan  and  Prickett.  When  the  Democrats  of 
the  senate  commenced  voting  for  Mr.  Farwell,  Mr.  Barry  again  arose  and  said, 
"I  change  to  General  Logan." 

Four  Democratic  senators,  Gore,  Merritt,  Rinehart  and  McNary,  declined 
to  change  from  Tree  to  Farwell.  This  movement  was  an  obvious  failure  and 
those  voting  for  Mr.  Farwell  changed  their  votes.  The  Democratic  vote  as  re- 
corded was  :Tree  96,  Black  2,  Morrison  i,  Hoxie  I,  Schofield  i  ;  total  101. 

The  vote  cast  for  General  Logan  was  as  follows:  Senate:  Adams,  Ains- 
worth,  Berggren,  Campbell,  Clough,  Cochran,  Crawford,  Curtis,  Evans,  Funk, 
Hogan,  Leman,  Mason,  Morris,  Ray,  Rogers,  Ruger,  Sellar,  Snyder,  Sumner, 
Thompson,  Torrance,  Tubbs,  Wheeler,  White  and  Whiting — 26.  House :  Allen 
cf  Johnson,  Allen  of  Vermillion,  Baird,  Barger,  Bassett,  Bogardus,  Boudinot, 


Boutelle,  Boyden,  Breckenridge,  Brown  of  Edwards,  Brown  of  Ogle,  Buchanan, 
Calhoun.  Campbell  of  Kankakee,  Castle,  Chapman,  Clay,  Cleaveland,  Collins, 
Cooley,  Fowler,  Fuller,  Gittings,  Goodnow,  Goodspeed,  Greenleaf,  Graham,  Ham- 
ilton, Hanna,  Harper,  Headen,  Hiatt,  Hood,  Humphrey,  Hunter,  Ingalls,  Ken- 
nedy, Kerr,  Kinsey,  Lawrence,  Logsdon,  Long,  MacMillian,  McCord,  Messick, 
Miller,  Morgan,  Nowers,  Oldenburg,  Orendorff,  H.  A.  Parker,  Francis  W.  Par- 
ker, Pike,  Pollock,  Powell,  Prunty,  Rogers  of  Jackson,  Rodgers  of  Warren, 
Ruby,  Scharlau,  Sheffield,  Sittig,  Snyder,  SpafTord,  Stassen,  Stewart,  Struckman, 
Sundelius,  Taylor  of  Cook,  Thomas,  Tontz,  Trexler,  Unland,  Weaver,  Whitte- 
more,  Yost — 77;  total,  103. 

The  taking  of  this  vote  occupied  a  great  amount  of  time ;  when  it  was  finally 
concluded  the  speaker  declared  that  "John  A.  Logan  has  received  a  majority. 
Therefore,  I  declare  him  duly  elected  United  States  Senator."  The  great  struggle 
of  over  four  months  was  ended.  Enthusiastic  applause  followed  in  which  Demo- 
crats joined.  A  committee  consisting  of  Messrs.  Merritt,  Fuller,  and  Chapman 
conducted  General  Logan  into  the  hall ;  he  was  presented  by  the  speaker  to  the 
joint  assembly  and  delivered  an  address  in  which  he  expressed  his  gratitude  to  the 
legislature  and  the  people  of  the  State  for  the  honor  conferred  upon  him.  Of 
Colons!  Morrison  and  Mr.  Tree  he  spoke  with  respect,  declaring,  'T  leave  here 
having  no  bitter  feeling  towards  anyone  who  may  have  opposed  me." 

The  re-election  of  General  Logan  was  received  throughout  the  country  with 
marks  of  great  satisfaction.  He  and  Mrs.  Logan  received  telegrams  of  congratu- 
lation from  prominent  people  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  A  reception  and 
banquet  was  tendered  him  at  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  which  was  followed  by 
the  Union  League  Club  banquet,  where  150  distinguished  persons  greeted  him 
with  speech  and  good  cheer.  General  Logan  by  invitation  visited  New  England, 
where  he  was  received  with  every  mark  of  respect  and  consideration.  He  was 
given  banquets  in  Boston  and  in  the  states  of  Alaine  and  Connecticut. 


187 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE  CAMPAIGN  OF  1888.    ELECTION  OF  HARRISON  AND  MORTON.    JOSEPH  W. 
FIFER  ELECTED  GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS.     HARRISON'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

The  Illinois  Republican  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield,  May  2d,  1888. 
Hon.  Lewis  E.  Payson,  member  of  Congress  from  Pontiac,  was  made  president. 
There  were  seven  candidates  for  governor.  On  the  first  ballot  the  vote  was  as 
follows:  Joseph  W.  Fifer  288,  John  McNulta  136,  Clark  E.  Carr  115,  James  A. 
Connelly  100,  John  I.  Rinaker  98,  John  C.  Smith  58,  Francis  M.  Wright  48.  On 
the  fifth  ballot  Fifer  received  606  votes  and  was  nominated. 

There  was  a  spirited  contest  for  lieutenant  governor  between  Lyman  B.  Ray, 
William  H.  Collins  and  James  S.  Cochran.  Mr.  Ray,  however,  carried  off  the 
honors. 

Four  popular  men  made  an  exciting  contest  for  secretary  of  state.  Senator 
Isaac  N.  Pearson,  General  Jasper  N.  Reece,  Speaker  W.  F.  Calhoun  and  Repre- 
sentative Thomas  C.  McMillan  about  equally  divided  the  convention.  Mr. 
Pearson  was  nominated  on  the  fifth  ballot. 

There  were  ten  candidates  for  auditor.  Three  of  these,  Pavey,  Berggren  and 
Lewis,  received  the  largest  support,  all  the  rest  having  retired  before  the  fifth 
ballot,  when  the  vote  stood:  Pavey  409,  Berggren  279,  Lewis  159.  On  the  sixth 
ballot  Charles  W.  Pavey  was  nominated. 

Colonel  George  W.  Hunt  was  re-nominated  for  attorney  general  with  but 
little  opposition,  and  Charles  Becker  was  nominated  by  acclamation  for  treasurer. 

This  was  a  strong  ticket,  popular  with  the  people  and  brought  out  the  entire 
Republican  vote.  General  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  formerly  of  Indiana,  now  a  citi- 
zen of  Chicago  and  Judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  was  a  candidate  for 
President.  Senator  Cullom  had  many  friends  who  were  in  favor  of  giving  him 
the  endorsement  of  the  convention  for  President,  but  the  convention  was  enthu- 
siastic for  Gresham,  and  passed  a  resolution  endorsing  his  candidacy.  The  dele- 
gates to  the  National  Convention  were  as  follows,  at  large :  Charles  B.  Farwell, 
George  R.  Davis,  Horace  S.  Clark  and  William  F.  Hadley.  ist  District,  William 
J.  Campbell,  Eugene  Cary ;  2d,  William  E.  Kent,  Henry  Scherer ;  3d,  John  A. 
Roche,  Leonard  Swett ;  4th,  William  Boldenweck,  Canute  R.  Matson ;  5th,  Isaac 
L.  Elwood,  Homer  Cook  ;  6th,  Charles  A.  Works,  William  Spensely  ;  7th,  Thomas 
E.  Milchrist,  Joseph  Little ;  8th,  Henry  Mayo,  L.  E.  Bennett ;  9th,  James  E. 
Morrow,  John  H.  Jones;  loth,  Julius  S.  Starr,  Clarence  E.  Snively;  nth,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Marsh,  John  M.  Turnbull ;  I2th,  William  L.  Disten,  Richard  W.  Mills; 
I3th,  John  A.  Ayers,  William  Brown;  I4th  James  Milliken,  B.  F.  Funk;  I5th, 
Frank  K.  Robinson,  Charles  P.  Hitch  ;  i6th,  Thomas  W.  Scott,  D.  B.  Green  ;  I7th, 
R.  T.  Higgins,  Benson  Wood;  i8th,  William  A.  Haskill,  Cicero  J.  Lindley;  iQth, 
Jasper  Partridge,  George  C.  Ross ;  2Oth,  William  R.  Brown,  Edward  E.  Mitchell. 

The  Presidential  electors  selected  by  the  convention  were :  Charles  H.  Deere, 
John  Crerar,  Michael  B.  Kearney,  John  R.  Wheeler,  Orrin  W.  Potter,  Harvey 
A.  Jones,  Duncan  Mackay,  Jr.,  James  Dinsmoor,  Isaac  C.  Norton,  Richard  J. 
Hanna,  E.  A.  Bancroft,  Robert  Moir,  James  M.  Truitt,  Thomas  Worthington,  Jr., 
Deitrich  C.  Smith,  Vespasian  Warner,  William  R.  Jewell,  Ethelbert  Callahan, 
Alexander  M.  McTaggart,  Emery  P.  Slate,  Allen  Blakeley,  Henry  Clay  Horner. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield  May  23d.  General 
Jesse  J.  Phillips  was  chosen  president.  John  M.  Palmer  was  nominated  for  gov- 
ernor ;  Andrew  J.  Bell,  lieutenant  governor ;  N.  Douglas  Ricks,  Secretary  of 
state ;  Andrew  Welch,  auditor ;  Charles  H.  Wacker,  treasurer,  and  Jacob  Creigh- 
ton,  attorney  general. 

188 


189 


The  Democratic  National  Convention  of  1888  met  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  5, 
and  was  called  to  order  by  Calvin  S.  Brice  of  Ohio,  Chairman ;  Simon  P.  Sheerin 
acting  as  secretary.  S.  M.  White  of  California  was  made  temporary  chairman 
and  Patrick  A.  Collins  of  Massachusetts  was  permanent  chairman. 

The  convention  was  composed  of  the  great  leaders  of  the  party  from  all 
parts  of  the  United  States.  But  one  name  was  on  the  lips  of  every  delegate  for 
nomination  for  the  Presidency,  and  that  was  Grover  Cleveland.  Mr.  Cleveland 
had  led  the  Democracy  to  victory  in  1884,  and  he  was  by  acclamation  made  their 
standard-bearer  for  1888.  Hon.  Allan  G.  Thurman  of  Ohio  Was  nominated  for 
Vice-President  by  acclamation.  Mr.  Thurman  undoubtedly  added  great 
strength  to  the  ticket.  A  man  of  recognized  ability  and  integrity,  he  had  the 
personal  friendship  and  respect  of  hosts  of  Republicans.  He  had  filled  many 
public  positions,  and  had  served  in  the  United  States  Senate  with  distinction 
as  the  colleague  of  Hon.  John  Sherman. 

The  platform  expressed  the  opinion  of  the  party  on  various  topics  and  made 
a  strong  demand  for  the  reform  of  the  tariff  and  for  the  reduction  of  the  surplus 
in  the  National  Treasury. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  met  in  Chicago  June  2Oth,  and  re- 
mained in  session  until  the  25th.  The  leading  candidate  for  the  nomination  for 
President  was  John  Sherman,  of  Ohio,  then  a  United  States  Senator.  Much  of  the 
time  of  the  convention  was  occupied  in  settling  contests  in  several  state  delega- 
tions. On  the  first  ballot  the  vote  stood :  John  Sherman  229,  Walter  Q.  Gresham 
109,  Benjamin  Harrison  85,  Chauncey  M.  Depew  99,  Russell  A.  Alger  84,  William 
B.  Allison  72,  and  153  scattering  votes. 

Mr.  Sherman's  highest  vote,  249,  was  cast  on  the  second  ballot.  On  the 
eighth  ballot  General  Harrison  received  544  votes,  which  gave  him  the  nomina- 
tion, which  was  made  unanimous.  Levi  P.  Morton  of  New  York  was  nominated 
for  Vice-President.  The  canvass  was  active  and  spirited.  General  Harrison  re- 
mained at  his  home  in  Indianapolis  during  the  canvass,  where  he  received  numer- 
ous delegations.  His  speeches  were  able  and  eloquent.  Mr.  Fifer  made  a  strong 
canvass  for  governor. 

The  vote  in  Illinois  was  as  follows :  For  President,  Benjamin  Harrison, 
370,473;  Grover  Cleveland,  348,378;  Clinton  B.  Fisk  (Prohib.),  21,695;  A.  J. 
Streator  (Labor),  7,090. 

This  political  contest  again  brought  into  the  field  four  tickets  for  State  offi- 
cers. The  candidates  for  Governor  were :  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  Republican ;  John 
M.  Palmer,  Democrat ;  Willis  N.  Jones,  Labor,  and  David  H.  Harts,  Prohibi- 
tion. The  Republican  party  carried  the  State  and  elected  their  whole  ticket, 
but  as  in  1884,  it  was  by  a  plurality.  The  vote  stood  as  follows :  Fifer,  367,860 ; 
Palmer,  355,313;  Harts,  18,915;  Jones,  6,364.  Total  opposition,  380,592. 

This  election  gave  the  opponents  of  the  Republican  party  a  majority  of 
12,632  votes.  The  Democratic  leader  in  this  great  struggle  was  John  M.  Palmer, 
the  president  of  the  first  Republican  State  Convention  of  Illinois.  As  has  been 
seen,  he  broke  with  his  party,  and  this  year  led  the  Democratic  hosts  against  the 
party  he  helped  to  organize. 

To  the  careful  observer  of  politics  and  the  drift  of  political  opinion,  the 
elections  in  Illinois  conclusively  show  that  there  was  an  impending  crisis  for 
the  Republican  party.  As  will  be  seen,  the  crisis  came  four  years  later  with  the 
election  of  John  P.  Altgeld  as  Governor. 

The  Prohibitionists  and  Labor  party  had  less  cause  of  complaint  against 
the  Republican  party  than  against  the  Democracy.  The  Republican  party  had 
always  followed  restrictive  measures  regarding  the  sale  of  intoxicants,  and  had 
legislated  favorably  for  securing  to  labor  steady  employment  and  good  wages, 
while  the  Democratic  party  have  done  neither  one  nor  the  other.  But  it  is  the 
natural  course  of  mankind  in  politics  for  minority  parties  to  do  all  they  can  to 
defeat  the  majority  party.  This  principle  of  action  often  brings  together  the 
most  discordant  elements,  which  unite  simply  for  the  purpose  of  overthrowing 
the  dominant  party. 

Joseph  W.  Fifer,  elected  Governor  of  Illinois  November,  1888,  inaugurated 
January  14,  1889,  is  a  native  of  Virginia.  He  was  born  in  the  fine  old  town 
of  Staunton,  Augusta  County,  October  28,  1840.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and 


a  stone  and  brick  mason.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  settled  in  McLean 
County,  bought  a  farm,  engaged  in  farming,  manufacturing  and  laying  brick. 
His  son  Joseph  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  learned  the  occupation  of  the  father. 

In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  33d  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  known 
as  the  Normal  Regiment,  commanded  successively  by  Colonels  Charles  T.  Havey, 
Charles  E.  Lippincott  and  Isaac  H.  Elliott.  This  regiment  performed  distin- 
guished services  and  "Private  Joe"  did  his  part  gallantly.  On  May  14,  1863, 
when  General  Grant  attacked  Jackson,  Miss.,  during  his  great  movement  against 
Yicksburg,  Joseph  W.  Fifer  received  a  gunshot  wound  through  the  body.  It  was 
considered  fatal,  but  he  rallied,  recovered  and  returned  to  the  regiment  and 
served  out  his  three  years'  term.  When  he  returned  home  he  had  a  much  broader 
view  of  life  and  decided  to  secure  the  best  education  available  to  him.  He  en- 
tered the  Wesleyan  University,  at  Bloomington,  and  graduated  with  honor  in 
1868.  He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1869.  He  devoted  himself 
closely  to  his  profession,  was  elected  corporation  counsel  for  the  city  of  Bloom- 
ington in  1871  and  in  1872  was  elected  State's  Attorney  for  McLean  County. 
He  held  this  office  for  eight  years  and  performed  the  duties  in  the  most  able 
and  creditable  manner.  He  was  recognized  by  the  profession  as  one  of  the  ablest 
State's  Attorneys  in  Illinois. 

In  1880  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  succeeding  John 
M.  Hamilton,  elected  Lieutenant-Governor.  Mr.  Fifer  served  four  years  in  the 
Senate  and  took  a  leading  part  in  debate  and  legislation.  His  able  career  in  the 
Senate  brought  him  prominently  and  favorably  before  the  people  of  the  State, 
and,  as  has  been  said,  was  nominated  and  elected  Governor. 

At  the  expiration  of  his  term  he  resumed  his  law  practice  at  Bloomington. 
In  1899  he  was  appointed  on  the  Inter-State  Commerce  Commission  by  Presi- 
dent McKinley. 

Benjamin  Harrison  and  Levi  P.  Morton  were  elected  President  and  Vice- 
President.  The  electoral  vote  stood:  Harrison  233,  Cleveland  168.  The  popular 
vote  was  for  Harrison  5,440,708,  Cleveland  5,536,242,  Fisk  246,876,  Streator 
146,836.  It  was  made  quite  manifest  by  this  election  that  the  Prohibition  agita- 
tion and  the  Union  Labor  movement  as  national  political  issues  were  too  narrow 
in  their  scope  to  attract  a  large  following  of  voters. 

The  Illinois  legislature  was  strongly  Republican.  The  senate  stood :  35 
Republicans,  17  Democrats  and  I  Union  Labor.  The  house  stood:  Republicans 
80,  Democrats  72,  Independent  i.  Colonel  Asa  C.  Mathews  was  elected  speaker 
and  John  A.  Reeve,  clerk.  Colonel  Mathews  resigned  his  seat  in  the  legislature 
to  accept  the  office  of  comptroller  of  the  United  States  treasury,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  James  H.  Miller,  who  died  and  was  succeeded  by  William  G.  Cochran 
of  Sullivan.  Lieutenant  Governor  Ray  presided  over  the  senate.  Theodore  S. 
Chapman  was  elected  president  pro  tern  and  Lorenzo  F.  Watson,  secretary. 

The  5ist  Congress,  elected  November,  1888,  was  strongly  Republican.  The 
Senate  stood:  47  Republicans,  37  Democrats.  House:  173  Republicans,  156  Dem- 
ocrats. 

President  Harrison  was  duly  inaugurated  March  4th,  1889,  in  the  presence 
of  an  immense  throng  who  visited  the  capital  to  take  part  in  the  ceremonies.  He 
appointed  the  following  Cabinet:  James  G.  Elaine,  Secretary  of  State;  William 
Windom,  Secretary  of  the  Treasury ;  Redfield  Proctor,  Secretary  of  War ;  B.  F. 
Tracy,  Secretary  of  the  Navy ;  John  Wanamaker,  Postmaster  General ;  John  W. 
Noble,  Secretary  of  the  Interior ;  William  H.  H.  Miller,  Attorney  General ;  J.  M. 
Rusk,  Secretary  of  Agriculture. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  there  was  a  spirited  contest  for  speaker. 
Thomas  B.  Reed  of  Maine,  Joseph  G.  Cannon  of  Illinois,  William  McKinley  of 
Ohio,  and  David  B.  Henderson  of  Iowa,  were  candidates.  Mr.  Reed  received  the 
caucus  nomination  and  was  elected.  In  forming  the  committees  of  the  House 
William  McKinley  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means 
and  Mr.  Cannon  was  placed  at  the  head  of  the  appropriation  committee.  These 
are  the  two  most  important  committees  of  Congress ;  the  one  formulates  the 
revenue  laws  and  the  other  supervises  the  national  expenditures. 

Much  important  legislation  was  brought  before  this  Congress.  The  increase 
of  the  strength  of  the  navy  was  a  favorite  idea  with  the  Administration  and  Con- 

191 


gress  responded  with  liberal  appropriations.  The  rivers  and  harbors  were  not 
neglected.  The  refunding  of  the  direct  tax  of  $20,000,000  levied  the  first  year  of 
the  civil  war,  and  which  in  the  North  had  been  paid  by 'the  states,  to  prevent  the 
complication  of  private  land  titles,  was  refunded.  A  new  pension  bill  known 
as  the  disability  bill  was  passed.  The  tariff  laws  were  amended,  and  the  protective 
system  extended. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives  the  Republicans  had  but  sixteen  majority 
excluding  the  speaker.  The  Democratic  minority  was  well  led  and  aggressive. 
It  soon  became  quite  clear  that  under  the  old  rules  of  the  House,  this  large  minor- 
ity could  by  dilatory  and  other  obstructive  measures  prevent  the  enactment  of  any 
law  to  which  they  were  earnestly  opposed.  To  do  business  the  Republicans  must 
have  not  only  a  majority  of  a  quorum  present,  but  they  must  maintain  a  quorum 
of  their  own  members,  otherwise  the  Democrats  by  refusing  to  vote  would  break 
a  quorum  and  thus  prevent  action.  When  the  House  found  itself  without  a 
quorum,  it  had  authority  under  the  rules  to  require  the  attendance  of  members 
until  a  quorum  was  secured ;  but  there  was  no  rule  requiring  members  to  vote 
when  present.  A  member  not  voting  was  constructively  absent,  and  enough 
members  refusing  to  vote  although  present  could  at  any  time  break  a  quorum 
and  suspend  business. 

Speaker  Reed  decided  to  break  down  this  old  system.  He  adopted  the 
practice,  when  a  quorum  was  broken  by  members  present  refusing  to  vote,  to 
count  enough  of  these  members  to  make  a  "quorum  and  have  the  clerk  enter 
their  names  on  the  journal  as  present  and  not  voting.  This  practice  was  resented 
by  the  Democrats  with  all  their  power.  They  were  simply  made  furious  by 
the  speaker  counting  them  as  present  when  they  refused  to  vote.  At  times  the 
Democratic  anger  was  so  great  that  it  seemed  they  would  remove  the  speaker 
from  his  desk  by  violence ;  but  Speaker  Reed  without  consulting  his  colleagues 
had  determined  his  course  and  he  sat  unperturbed  by  the  denunciation  and  abuse 
of  his  opponents.  The  speaker  forced  this  issue  on  the  House,  his  party  friends, 
although  taken  by  surprise  at  his  action,  rallied  to  his  support,  and  this  principle 
of  counting  a  quorum,  if  there  is  a -quorum  present,  was  incorporated  into  the 
rules,  and  has  become  established  as  correct  parliamentary  law.  This  rule  en- 
ables majorities  which  are  always  responsible  for  legislation,  to  legislate.  The 
adoption  of  this  rule  made  it  possible  for  the  5ist  Congress  to  do  business. 

The  most  important  legislation  taken  up  by  Congress  was  the  amendment 
of  the  tariff  laws.  It  is  undoubtedly  true  that  Mr.  McKinley  was  fortunate  in 
being  defeated  for  speaker.  Had  he  been  elected  speaker  he  would  simply  have 
"been  credited  with  the  government  of  the  House ;  as  it  was,  he  became  identified 
with  one  of  the  most  important  pieces  of  constructive  legislation  ever  enacted  by 
Congress  in  respect  to  the  tariff.  This  law  will  ever  be  known  as  the  "McKinley 
Bill."  The  preparation  of  this  measure  involved  an  immense  amount  of  labor,  and 
an  extensive  and  accurate  knowledge  of  the  various  productive  industries  of  the 
country,  and  the  possibilities  of  the  building  up  of  new  industries. 

The  McKinley  Bill  as  a  measure  for  the  protection  and  development  of  Amer- 
ican industries  in  every  field  of  endeavor,  was  undoubtedly  far  ahead  of  any  legis- 
lation which  had  preceded  it.  It  contained  an  important  provision  for  establish- 
ing reciprocal  advantages  of  trade,  by  treaty,  between  the  United  States  and  for- 
eign countries.  Mr.  Elaine,  Secretary  of  the  State,  as  was  President  Harrison, 
•was  fully  alive  to  the  importance  of  this  measure. 

Reciprocity  treaties  were  made  with  Brazil,  Dominican  Republic,  Spain  for 
Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  Guatemala,  Salvador,  the  German  Empire,  Great  Britain 
ior  certain  West  Indian  colonies  and  British  Guiana,  Nicaragua,  Honduras  and 
Austria-Hungary.  Under  these  trade  arrangements  a  free  or  favored  admission 
was  secured  in  every  case  for  an  important  list  of  American  products.  Special 
•care  was  taken  to  secure  markets  for  surplus  farm  products  in  order  to  relieve  that 
great  underlying  industry  of  the  depression  which  the  lack  of  an  adequate  foreign 
market  for  our  surplus  often  brings.  An  opening  was  also  made  for  manufac- 
tured products  which  was  calculated  to  greatly  augment  our  export  trade.  The 
treaties  in  all  cases  were  negotiated  upon  the  basis  that  certain  American  pro- 
ducts were  to  be  admitted  into  those  countries  free  or  upon  more  favorable  terms 
than  the  then  existing  laws  of  those  countries  provided,  in  consideration,  that  cer- 

192 


tain  products  of  their  countries  were  to  be  admitted  upon  terms  more  favorable 
than  our  tariff  laws  allowed.  The  McKinley  Bill  with  its  large  free  list,  and  its 
greatly  extended  system  of  protection,  with  the  Reciprocity  Treaties  added,  gave 
an  impetus  to  American  production  and  trade  both  domestic  and  foreign,  the  like 
of  which  had  never  been  seen  in  the  history  of  the  world. 

A  mistake  was  made,  however,  in  not  convening  Congress  in  extra  session 
immediately  after  the  inauguration  of  President  Harrison  so  as  to  give  Congress 
ample  time  to  pass  the  tariff  law  and  have  it  in  full  operation  before  the  succeed- 
ing Congressional  election.  Very  soon  after  the  McKinley  Bill  was  enacted  the 
Congressional  campaign  came  on  and  the  Democrats  attacked  the  measure  with 
great  energy  and  vehemence,  alleging  that  the  price  of  nearly  every  article  used 
by  the  common  people  was  advanced.  An  increased  duty  had  been  placed  on  tin  as 
a  means  of  encouraging  the  erection  of  factories  for  the  production  of  tin  plate. 
Changes  were  rung  all  over  the  country  upon  the  subject  of  the  advance  in  price 
of  tin ;  the  poor  man's  dinner-pail  was  made  a  great  national  issue.  The  election 
came  off  in  November,  1890,  and  there  was  a  great  political  landslide.  For  the 
Fifty-Second  Congress  the  Democrats  elected  235  members  of  the  House,  the 
Republicans  elected  88,  and  the  Farmers'  Alliance,  9.  Even  William  McKinley  of 
Ohio  was  defeated ;  but  the  Senate  stood  as  a  bulwark  against  hasty  and  unwise 
Democratic  legislation.  The  Republicans  numbered  47,  the  Democrate  37. 

Charles  F.  Crisp,  of  Georgia,  was  elected  Speaker,  and  James  Kerr, Clerk. 
William  M.  Springer,  of  Illinois,  a  strong  competitor  for  Speaker,  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means,  and  William  S.  Holman,  long 
known  as  the  watch-dog  of  the  Treasury,  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  appropriations.  Mr.  Springer  reported  a  tariff  bill  proposing  legislation 
on  the  lines  of  Democratic  opinion,  that  is,  a  tariff  for  revenue  only.  This  meas- 
ure was  debated  with  great  ability  by  gentlemen  of  both  parties.  Speaker  Crisp 
left  his  seat  and  delivered  a  lengthy  and  forcible  address  against  Republican  pro- 
tection and  reciprocity,  and  was  answered  by  a  most  able  and  incisive  speech  by 
Mr.  Reed.  The  bill  did  not  have  a  ghost  of  a  chance  in  the  Senate,  but  the  Demo- 
crats of  the  House  thought  it  to  be  their  duty  to  send  the  Senate  a  Democratic 
tariff  bill  and  leave  the  responsibility  of  its  defeat  with  the  Senate. 

When  Congress  met  December  6th,  1892,  President  Harrison  made  a  brief 
reference  in  his  annual  message  to  the  condition  of  the  country  at  that  time.  He 
said: 

"In  submitting  my  annual  message  to  Congress  I  have  great  satisfaction  in 
being  able  to  say  that  the  general  conditions  affecting  the  commercial  and  indus- 
trial interests  of  the  United  States  are  in  the  highest  degree  favorable.  A  com- 
parison of  the  existing  conditions  with  those  of  the  most  favored  period  in  the 
history  of  the  country  will,  I  believe,  show  that  so  high  a  degree  of  prosperity  and 
so  general  a  diffusion  of  the  comforts  of  life  were  never  before  enjoyed  by  our 
people. 

"The  total  wealth  of  the  country  in  1860  was  $16,159,616,068.  In  1890  it 
amounted  to  $62,610,000,000,  an  increase  of  287  per  cent. 

"The  total  mileage  of  railways  in  the  United  States  in  1860  was  30,626.  In 
1890  it  was  167,741,  an  increase  of  448  per  cent.;  and  it  is  estimated  that  there 
will  be  about  4,000  miles  of  track  added  by  the  close  of  the  year  1892. 

"The  official  returns  of  the  Eleventh  census  and  those  of  the  Tenth  census 
for  seventy-five  leading  cities  furnish  the  basis  for  the  following  comparisons : 

1880.  1890. 

Capital  invested  in  manufacturing.  ..  .$1,232,839,670         $2,900,735,884 

Number  of  employes 1,301,388  2,251,134 

Wages  earned 501,965,778  1,221,170,454 

Value  of  the  product 2,71 1,579,899          4,860,286,837 

I  am  informed  by  the  superintendent  of  the  Census  that  the  omission  of  cer- 
tain industries  in  1880  which  were  included  in  1890  accounts  in  part  for  the  re- 
markable increase  thus  shown,  but  after  making  full  allowance  for  differences  of 
method  and  deducting  the  returns  for  all  industries  not  included  in  the  census  of 
1880,  there  remain  in  the  reports  from  these  seventy-five  cities  an  increase  in  the 
capital  employed  of  $1,522,745,604,  in  the  value  of  the  product  of  $2,024,236,166, 
in  wages  earned  of  $677,943,929,  and  in  the  number  of  wage  earners  employed  of 

193 


856,029.  The  wage  earnings  not  only  show  an  increased  aggregate,  but  an  in- 
crease per  capita  from  $386  in  1880  to  $547  in  1890,  or  41.71  per  cent. 

"The  new  industrial  plants  established  since  October  6,  1890,  and  up  to  Oc- 
tober 22,  1892,  as  partially  reported  in  the  American  Economist,  number  345,  and 
the  extension  of  existing  plants  108;  the  new  capital  invested  amounts  to  $40,449,- 
050,  and  the  number  of  additional  employes  to  37,285.  The  Textile  World  for 
July  states  that  during  the  first  six  months  of  the  present  calendar  year  135  new 
factories  were  built,  of  which  40  are  cotton  mills,  48  knitting  mills,  26  woolen 
mills,  15  silk  mills,  4  plush  mills,  and  2  linen  mills.  Of  the  40  cotton  mills  21  have 
been  built  in  the  Southern  States.  Mr.  A.  B.  Shepperson,  of  the  New  York  Cot- 
ton Exchange,  estimates  the  number  of  working  spindles  in  the  United  States 
on  September  i,  1892,  at  15,200,000,  an  increase  of  660,000  over  the  year  1891. 
The  consumption  of  cotton  by  the  American  mills  in  1891  was  2,396,000  bales,  and 
in  1892,  2,584,000  bales,  an  increase  of  188,000  bales.  From  the  year  1869  to 
1892,  inclusive,  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  consumption  of  cotton  in  Europe 
of  92  per  cent.,  while  during  the  same  period  the  increased  consumption  in  the 
United  States  has  been  about  150  per  cent. 

"The  report  of  Ira  Ayer,  special  agent  of  the  Treasury  Department,  shows 
that  at  the  date  of  September  30,  1892,  there  were  32  companies  manufacturing 
tin  and  terne  plate  in  the  United  States,  and  14  companies  building  new  works 
for  such  manufacture.  The  estimated  investment  in  buildings  and  plants  at  the 
close  of  the  fiscal  year  June  30,  1893,, if  existing  conditions  were  to  be  continued, 
was  $5,000,000,  and  the  estimated  rate  of  production  200,000,000  pounds  per  an- 
num. The  actual  production  for  the  quarter  ending  September  30,  1892,  was 
10,952,725  pounds. 

"The  report  of  Labor  Commissioner  Peck,  of  New  York,  shows  that  during 
the  year  1891,  in  about  6,000  manufacturing  establishments  in  that  state  em- 
braced within  the  special  inquiry  made  by  him,  and  representing  67  different  in- 
dustries, there  was  a  net  increase  over  the  year  1890  of  $31,315,130.68  in  the  value 
of  the  product  and  of  $6,377,925.09  in  the  amount  of  wages  paid.  The  report 
of  the  commissioner  of  labor  for  the  State  of  Massachusetts  shows  that  3,745  in- 
dustries in  that  state  paid  $129,416,248  in  wages  during  the  year  1891,  against 
$126,030,303  in  1890,  an  increase  of  $3,335,945,  and  that  there  was  an  increase  of 
$9,932,490  in  the  amount  of  capital  and  of  7,346  in  the  number  of  persons  em- 
ployed in  the  same  period. 

"During  the  last  six  months  of  the  year  1891  and  the  first  six  months  of  1892 
the  total  production  of  pig  iron  was  9,710,819  tons,  as  against  9,202,703  tons  in  the 
year  1890,  which  was  the  largest  annual  production  ever  attained.  For  the  same 
twelve  months  of  1891-92  the  production  of  Bessemer  ingots  was  3,878,581  tons, 
an  increase  of  189,710  gross  tons  over  the  previously  unprecedented  yearly  pro- 
duction of  3,688,871  gross  tons  in  1890.  The  production  of  Bessemer  steel  rails 
for  the  first  six  months  of  1892  was  772,436  gross  tons,  as  against  702,080  gross 
tons  during  the  last  six  months  of  the  year  1891. 

"The  total  value  of  our  foreign  trade  (exports  and  imports  of  merchandise) 
during  the  last  fiscal  year  was  $1,857,680,610,  an  increase  of  $128,283,604  over  the 
previous  fiscal  year.  The  average  annual  value  of  our  imports  and  exports  of 
merchandise  for  the  ten  fiscal  years  prior  to  1891  was  $1,457,322,019.  It  will  be  ob- 
served that  our  foreign  trade  for  1892  exceeded  this  annual  average  value  by 
$400,358,591,  an  increase  of  27.47  per  cent.  The  significance  and  value  of  this 
increase  are  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  excess  in  the  trade  of  1892  over  1891  was 
wholly  in  the  value  of  exports,  for  there  was  a  decrease  in  the  value  of  imports 
of  $17,513,754. 

"The  value  of  our  exports  during  the  fiscal  year  1892  reached  the  highest 
figure  in  the  history  of  the  Government,  amounting  to  $1,030,278,148,  exceed- 
ing by  $145,797,338  the  exports  of  1891,  and  exceeding  the  value  of  the  imports 
by  $202,875,686.  A  comparison  of  the  value  of  our  exports  for  1892  with  the 
annual  average  for  the  ten  years  prior  to  1891  shows  an  excess  of  $265,142,651,  or 
of  34.65  per  cent.  The  value  of  our  imports  of  merchandise  for  1892,  which  was 
$829,402,462,  also  exceeded  the  annual  average  value  of  the  ten  years  prior  to 
1891  by  $135,215,940.  During  the  fiscal  year  1892  the  value  of  the  imports  free  of 
duty  amounted  to  $457,999,658,  the  largest  aggregate  in  the  history  of  our  com- 

194 


merce.  The  value  of  the  imports  of  merchandise  entered  free  of  duty  in  1892  was 
55-35  Per  cent,  of  the  total  value  of  imports,  as  compared  with  43.35  per  cent,  in 
1891  and  33.66  per  cent,  in  1890. 

"In  our  coastwise  trade  a  most  encouraging  development  is  in  progress, 
there  having  been  in  the  last  four  years,  an  increase  of  16  per  cent.  In  internal 
commerce  the  statistics  show  that  no  such  period  of  prosperity  has  ever  before 
existed.  The  freight  carried  in  the  coastwise  trade  of  the  Great  Lakes  in  1890 
aggregated  28,295,959  tons.  On  the  Mississippi,  Missouri  and  Ohio  rivers  and 
tributaries  in  the  same  year  the  traffic  aggregated  29,405,046  tons,  and  the  total 
vessel  tonnage  passing  through  the  Detroit  river  during  that  year  was  21,684,000 
tons.  The  vessel  tonnage  entered  and  cleared  in  the  foreign  trade  of  London 
during  1890  amounted  to  13,480,767  tons,  and  of  Liverpool  10,941,800  tons,  a 
total  for  these  two  great  shipping  ports  of  24,422,568  tons,  only  slightly  in  excess 
of  the  vessel  tonnage  passing  through  the  Detroit  river.  And  it  should  be  said 
that  the  season  for  the  Detroit  river  was  but  228  days,  while  of  course  in  London 
and  Liverpool  the  season  was  for  the  entire  year.  The  vessel  tonnage  passing 
through  the  St.  Marys  canal  for  the  fiscal  year  1892  amountted  to  9,828,874  tons, 
and  the  freight  tonnage  of  the  Detroit  river  is  estimated  for  that  year  at  25,000,- 
ooo  tons,  against  23,209,619  tons  in  1891.  The  aggregate  traffic  on  our  railroads 
for  the  year  1891  amounted  to  704,398,609  tons  of  freight,  compared  with  691,- 
344,437  tons  in  1890,  an  increase  of  13,054,172  tons. 

"Another  indication  of  the  general  prosperity  of  the  country  is  found  in  the 
fact  that  the  number  of  depositors  in  savings  banks  increased  from  693,870  in 
1860  to  4,258,893  in  1890,  an  increase  of  513  per  cent.,  and  the  amount  of  deposits 
from  $149,277,504  in  1860  to  $1,524,844,500  in  1890,  an  increase  of  921  per  cent. 
In  1891  the  amount  of  deposits  in  savings  banks  was  $1,623,079,749.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  90  per  cent,  of  these  deposits  represent  the  savings  of  wage  earners. 
The  bank  clearances  for  nine  months  ending  September  30,  1891,  amounted  to 
$41,049,390,908.  For  the  same  months  in  1892  they  amounted  to  $45,189,601,- 
947,  an  excess  for  nine  months  of  $4,140,211,139. 

"There  never  has  been  a  time  in  our  history  when  work  was  so  abundant  or 
when  wages  were  as  high,  whether  measured  by  the  currency  in  which  they  are 
paid  or  by  their  power  to  supply  the  necessaries  and  comforts  of  life.  It  is  true 
that  the  market  prices  of  cotton  and  wheat  have  been  low.  It  is  one  of  the  un- 
favorable incidents  of  agriculture  that  the  farmer  cannot  produce  upon  orders. 
He  must  sow  and  reap  in  ignorance  of  the  aggregate  production  of  the  year,  and 
is  peculiarly  subject  to  the  depreciation  which  follows  overproduction.  But  while 
the  fact  I  have  stated  is  true  as  to  the  crops  mentioned,  the  general  average  of 
prices  has  been  such  as  to  give  to  agriculture  a  fair  participation  in  the  general 
prosperity.  The  value  of  our  total  farm  products  has  increased  from  $1,363,- 
646,866  in  1860  to  $4,500,000,000  in  1891,  as  estimated  by  statisticians,  an  increase 
of  230  per  cent.  The  number  of  hogs  January  I,  1891,  was  50,625,106,  and  their 
value  $210,193,925  ;  on  January  i,  1892,  the  number  was  52,398,019,  and  the  value 
$241,031,415.  On  January  i,  1891,  the  number  of  cattle  was  36,875,648,  and  the 
value  $544,127,908;  on  January  i,  1892,  the  number  was  37,651,239,  and  the  value 


"If  any  are  discontented  with  their  state  here,  if  any  believe  that  wages  or 
prices,  the  returns  for  honest  toil,  are  adequate,  they  should  not  fail  to  remember 
that  there  is  no  other  country  in  the  world  where  the  ^conditions  that  seem  to 
them  hard  would  not  be  accepted  as  highly  prosperous.  The  English  agricul- 
turist would  be  glad  to  exchange  the  returns  of  his  labor  for  those  of  the  Amer- 
ican farmer,  and  the  Manchester  workman  their  wages  for  those  of  their  fellows 
at  Fall  River. 

"I  believe  that  the  protective  system,  which  has  now  for  something  more 
than  thirty  years  continuously  prevailed  in  our  legislation,  has  been  a  mighty 
instrument  for  the  development  of  our  national  wealth  and  a  most  powerful  agency 
in  protecting  the  homes  of  our  workingmen  from  the  invasion  of  want.  I  have 
felt  a  most  solicitous  interest  to  preserve  to  our  working  people  rates  of  wages 
that  would  not  only  give  daily  bread,  but  supply  a  comfortable  margin  for  those 
home  attractions  and  family  comforts  and  enjoyments  without  which  life  is  neither 
hopeful  nor  sweet.  They  are  American  citizens  —  a  part  of  the  great  people  for 

195 


whom  our  constitution  and  Government  were  framed  and  instituted — and  it  cart 
not  be  a  perversion  of  that  constitution  to  so  legislate  as  to  preserve  in  their 
homes  the  comfort,  independence,  loyalty,  and  sense  of  interest  in  the  Govern- 
ment which  are  essential  to  good  citizenship  in  peace,'  and  which  will  bring  this 
stalwart  throng,  as  in  1861,  to  the  defense  of  the  flag  when  it  is  assailed. 

"It  is  not  my  purpose  to  renew  here  the  argument  in  favor  of  a  protective 
tariff.  The  result  of  the  recent  election  must  be  accepted  as  having  introduced  a 
new  policy.  We  must  assume  that  the  present  tariff,  constructed  upon  the  lines 
of  protection,  is  to  be  repealed  and  that  there  is  to  be  substituted  for  it  a  tariff 
law  constructed  solely  with  reference  to  revenue ;  that  no  duty  is  to  be  higher  be- 
cause the  increase  will  keep  open  an  American  mill  or  keep  up  the  wages  of  an 
American  workman,  but  that  in  every  case  such  a  rate  of  duty  is  to  be  imposed 
as  will  bring  to  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States  the  largest  returns  of  revenue. 
The  contention  has  not  been  between  schedules,  but  between  principles,  and  it 
would  be  offensive  to  suggest  that  the  prevailing  party  will  not  carry  into  legis- 
lation the  principles  advocated  by  it  and  the  pledges  given  to  the  people.  The 
tariff  bills  passed  by  the  House  of  Representatives  at  the  last  session  were,  as  I 
suppose,  even  in  the  opinion  of  their  promoters,  inadequate,  and  justified  only  by 
the  fact  that  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  were  not  in  accord  and  that 
a  general  revision  could  not  therefore  be  undertaken. 

"I  recommend  that  the  whole  subject  of  tariff  revision  be  left  to  the  incoming 
Congress." 

This  message  was  delivered  to  Congress  within  a  month  after  the  election  of 
Mr.  Cleveland  to  his  second  term.  On  the  date  of  that  election  no  one  could  dis- 
cern a  dark  cloud  in  the  commercial  and  financial  sky  of  the  country  as  large  as 
a  man's  hand.  Every  dollar  of  money  in  the  country,  whether  it  was  gold,  silver, 
legal  tender  notes,  silver  certificates,  gold  certificates  or  treasury  notes,  all  cir- 
culated at  par  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other.  There  was  no  run  upon 
the  treasury  for  the  redemption  of  any  class  of  paper  circulation.  There  was  ab- 
solute confidence  in  the  credit  of  the  Nation ;  of  the  ability  of  the  Government  to> 
meet  its  obligations,  and  of  the  disposition  and  capacity  of  the  Republican  admin- 
istration to  maintain  the  credit  of  the  United  States.  The  revenues  of  the  Govern- 
ment during  Harrison's  administration  had  been  ample,  not  only  to  meet  the  pub- 
lic expenses,  but  to  steadily  reduce  the  public  debt.  If  an  error  of  administration 
was  committed  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  at  that  time,  it  was  in  reducing 
the  public  debt  too  rapidly,  that  is,  reducing  the  working  surplus  of  the  treasury 
too  low  for  the  convenient  management  of  the  public  business.  As  is  shown  by 
the  quotation  from  President  Harrison's  message,  productive  industries  of  every 
description,  including  many  new  enterprises,  were  being  operated  at  full  stroke, 
giving  adequate  employment  to  labor  at  remunerative  wages. 

The  McKinley  tariff  law  as  a  whole,  and  the  reciprocity  feature  in  partic- 
ular, including  the  treaties  made  under  it,  had  been  denounced  by  the  Demo- 
cratic platform  as  vicious,  and  a  pledge  was  made  by  the  Democracy  for  their  re- 
peal upon  gaining  power.  Business  men  everywhere  soon  began  to  reason  upon 
this  great  industrial  question,  in  view  of  Democratic  opinions  and  pledges,  and 
the  conclusion  soon  became  fixed,  that  a  great  change  in  the  tariff  laws  was  at 
hand  and  that  the  protective  system  which  had  been  the  basis  of  tariff  legislation, 
for  thirty-two  years  was  doomed. 

The  Revolution  in  the  Hawaiian  Islands  overthrew  the  monarchy  and  estab- 
lished a  stable  government.  During  the  last  year  of  President  Harrison's  admin- 
istration a  treaty  was  negotiated  with  the  Hawaiian  Republic  for  the  annexation 
of  these  islands  to  the  United  States.  This  treaty  was  signed  February  I3th,  1893, 
was  transmitted  to  the  Senate  February  I5th,  and  was  pending  before  that  body 
when  President  Harrison  retired  from  office.  The  administration  of  President 
Harrison  will  live  in  history  as  able  and  progressive.  General  Harrison  was  and 
is  one  of  the  ablest  of  American  citizens.  He  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  contributed  largely  to  the  making  of  its. 
grand  history. 


196 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

CAMPAIGN  OF  1892,    CLEVELAND'S  SECOND  ADMINISTRATION. 

The  Republican  National  Convention  of  1892  met  at  Minneapolis,  June  7th. 
J.  Sloat  Fassett  of  New  York  was  chosen  temporary  chairman  and  William 
McKinley  permanent  chairman.  President  Harrison  was  a  candidate  for  renom- 
ination.  Numerous  friends  of  Mr.  Elaine  were  desirous  that  he  should  be 
nominated.  He  had  declared  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Clarkson  of  Iowa  that  his  name 
would  not  go  before  the  convention.  It  was  believed,  however,  that  if  the  nomi- 
nation was  tendered  to  him  that  he  would  accept  it.  Mr.  Elaine  was  ambitious 
for  the  Presidency,  and  no  doubt  gave  heed  to  the  urgent  demands  of  friends, 
believing  that  he  might  be  nominated.  The  relations  between  the  President 
and  Mr.  Elaine  became  strained,  and  he  resigned  as  Secretary  of  State  before 
the  convention  met. 

President  Harrison  was  renominated  on  the  first  ballot ;  905  votes  were 
cast,  as  follows:  Harrison  535,  McKinley  182,  Elaine  181,  Lincoln  i. 

Whitelaw  Reid  of  New  York  was  nominated   for  Vice-President. 

The  platform  was  a  forcible  presentation  of  Republican  doctrine  and  achieve- 
ment. The  declaration  upon  the  tariff  was  clear  and  emphatic.  It  was :  "We 
reaffirm  the  American  doctrine  of  protection.  We  believe  that  all  articles  which 
cannot  be  produced  in  the  United  States  except  luxuries  should  be  admitted  free 
of  duty,  and  that  on  all  imports  coming  in  competition  with  the  products  of 
American  labor  there  should  be  levied  duties  equal  to  the  difference  between 
wages  abroad  and  at  home."  This  was  the  clearest  statement  ever  made  of  the 
reason  and  necessity  for  a  protective  tariff  and  has  been  the  guiding  principle  of 
Republican  tariff  legislation. 

The  Democratic  National  Convention  met  in  Chicago,  June  2ist.  W.  C. 
Owens  was  made  temporary  chairman  and  W.  L.  Wilson  of  West  Virginia  per- 
manent chairman.  There  were  a  number  of  candidates  for  the  nomination  of 
President.  Grover  Cleveland  was  the  popular  choice,  but  the  delegation  from 
his  State  were  unanimously  in  favor  of  David  B.  Hill.  Mr.  Cleveland  was 
nominated  on  the  first  ballot.  It  was  as  follows:  Cleveland  617,  Boies  103,  Hill 
114,  Gorman  36,  Carlisle  14,  Stevenson  16,  Morrison  3,  Campbell  2,  Russell  i, 
Whitney  i,  Pattison  i.  Adlai  E.  Stevenson  of  Illinois  was  nominated  for  Vice- 
President. 

The  platform  was  lengthy  and  touched  upon  every  political  issue.  Upon 
the  tariff  the  declaration  was  emphatic.  It  was :  "We  denounce  Republican  pro- 
tection as  a  fraud,  a  robbery  of  the  great  majority  of  the  American  people  for 
the  benefit  of  the  few.  We  declare  it  to  be  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  Dem- 
ocratic party  that  the  Federal  Government  has  no  constitutional  power  to  impose 
and  collect  tariff  duties  except  for  the  purpose  of  revenue  only.  We  denounce 
the  McKinley  tariff  law  *  *  as  the  culminating  atrocity  of  class  legislation. 
*  *  We  promise  its  repeal  as  one  of  the  beneficent  results  that  will  follow  the 
action  of  the  people  in  intrusting  power  to  the  Democratic  party." 

Other  party  organizations  named  candidates  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent, but  the  great  issue  for  the  people  to  decide  was  between  the  Republican 
and  Democratic  parties. 

Cleveland  and  Stevenson  were  elected  and  with  them  a  large  majority  in 
the  lower  house  of  Congress. 

Mr.  Cleveland  in  his  inaugural  address  indicated  clearly  that  in  his  opinion 
impending  dangers  were  brooding  over  the  country.  His  voice  was  full  of 
warning.  In  the  second  paragraph  he  said :  "I  deem  it  fitting  on  this  occasion, 
while  indicating  the  opinions  I  hold  concerning  public  questions  of  present  im- 

197 


portance  to  also  briefly  refer  to  the  existence  of  certain  conditions  and  tendencies 
among'  our  people  which  seem  to  menace  the  integrity  and  usefulness  of  the 
government.  It  behooves  us  to  constantly  watch  for  every  symptom  of  insidious 
infirmity  that  threatens  our  national  vigor."  Speaking  of  the  currency,  he  said : 
"In  dealing  with  our  present  embarrassing  situation  as  relates  to  this  subject, 
we  will  be  wise  if  we  temper  our  confidence  and  faith  in  our  national  strength 
and  resources  with  the  frank  concession  that  even  these  will  not  permit  us  to 
defy  with  impunity  the  inexorable  laws  of  finance  and  trade. 

"Closely  related  to  the  exaggerated  confidence  in  our  country's  greatness, 
which  tends  to  a  disregard  of  the  rules  of  national  safety,  another  danger  con- 
fronts us  not  less  serious.  I  refer  to  the  prevalence  of  a  popular  disposition  to 
expect  from  the  operation  of  the  government  especial  and  direct  individual 
advantages. 

"The  verdict  of  our  voters  which  condemned  the  injustice  of  maintaining' 
protection  for  protection's  sake,  enjoins  upon  the  people's  servants  the  duty  of 
exposing  and  destroying  the  brood  of  kindred  evils  which  are  the  unwholesome 
progeny  of  paternalism.  This  is  the  bane  of  republican  institutions  and  the 
constant  peril  of  our  government  by  the  people.  The  lessons  of  paternalism 
ought  to  be  unlearned  and  the  better  lesson  taught,  that  while  the  people  should 
patriotically  support  their  government,  its  functions  do  not  include  the  support 
of  the  people. 

"The  people  of  the  United  States  have  decreed  that  on  this  day  the  control 
of  the  government  in  its  legislative  and  executive  branches  shall  be  given  to  a 
political  party  pledged  in  the  most  positive  terms  to  the  accomplishment  of 
tariff  reform.  When  we  tear  aside  the  delusion  and  misconceptions  which 
have  blinded  our  countrymen  to  their  condition  under  vicious  tariff  laws,  we 
but  show  them  that  heretofore  they  have  been  led  away  from  the  path  of  con- 
tentment and  prosperity.  When  we  proclaim  that  the  necessity  for  revenue 
to  support  the  government  furnishes  the  only  justification  for  taxing  the  people, 
we  announce  a  truth  so  plain  that  its  denial  would  seem  to  indicate  the  extent  to 
which  judgment  may  be  influenced  by  familiarity  with  perversion  of  the  taxing 
power." 

Mr.  Cleveland  gave  the  country  notice  that  in  his  opinion  the  country  finan- 
cially was  in  an  embarrassing  situation.  And  he  also  gave  notice  that  the  people 
should  be  led  back  to  the  path  of  "contentment"  by  the  repeal  of  the  protective 
tariff. 

This  address  was  delivered  on  March  5,  1893.  On  June  30,  1893,  less  than 
four  months  after  his  inauguration,  President  Cleveland  issued  a  proclamation 
convening  Congress  in  extra  session  August  7,  1893.  In  the  preamble  to  said 
proclamation,  he  said :  "Whereas,  the  distrust  and  apprehension  concerning  the 
financial  situation  which  pervades  all  business  circles  have  already  caused  great 
loss  and  damage  to  our  people  and  threaten  to  cripple  our  merchants,  stop  the 
wheels  of  manufacture,  bring  distress  and  privation  to  our  farmers,  and  with- 
hold from  our  workingmen  the  wage  of  labor."  When  Congress  met  the  Presi- 
dent sent  in  a  special  message  on  August  8,  1893.  He  depicted  the  situation  of 
the  country  as  follows : 

"To  the  Congress  of  the  United  States : — The  existence  of  an  alarming  and 
extraordinary  business  situation,  involving  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  all  our 
people,  has  constrained  me  to  call  together  in  extra  session  the  people's  repre- 
sentatives in  Congress,  to  the  end  that  through  a  wise  and  patriotic  exercise  of 
the  legislative  duty,  with  which  they  solely  are  charged,  present  evils  may  be 
mitigated  and  dangers  threatening  the  future  may  be  averted. 

"Our  unfortunate  financial  plight  is  not  the  result  of  untoward  events,  nor 
of  conditions  related  to  our  natural  resources,  nor  is  it  traceable  to  any  of  the 
afflictions  which  frequently  check  natural  growth  and  prosperity.  With  plente- 
ous crops,  with  abundant  promise  of  remunerative  production  and  manufacture, 
with  unusual  invitation  to  safe  investment  and  with  satisfactory  assurance  to 
business  enterprise,  suddenly  financial  distrust  and  fear  have  sprung  up  on  every 
side.  Numerous  moneyed  institutions  have  suspended  because  abundant  assets 
were  not  immediately  available  to  meet  the  demands  of  frightened  depositors. 
Surviving  corporations  and  individuals  are  content  to  keep  in  hand  the  money 

198 


they  are  usually  anxious  to  loan,  and  those  engaged  in  legitimate  business  are 
surprised  to  find  that  the  security  they  offer  for  loans,  though  heretofore  satis- 
factory, are  no  longer  accepted.  Values  supposed  to  be  fixed  are  fast  becoming 
conjectural  and  loss  and  failure  have  invaded  every  branch  of  business." 

This  is  the  dismal  picture  President  Cleveland  drew  of  the  country  at  the 
end  of  five  months  after  his  inauguration.  Why  did  distrust  and  apprehension 
pervade  all  business  circles?  Why  had  loss  and  failure  invaded  every  branch 
of  business  ?  There  is  but  one  answer.  Business  men  throughout  the  whole 
United  States  took  alarm  at  the  certainty  that  the  Democratic  party  would  so 
change  the  tariff  law  as  to  destroy  the  protective  policy,  under  which  the  business 
of  the  country  had  been  conducted  for  thirty-two  years,  and  place  the  whole 
productive  industry  of  the  people  under  the  influence  of  a  tariff  law,  with  many 
important  products  on  the  free  list.  Business  men  everywhere  realized  that  a 
Democratic  tariff  meant  the  throwing  open  of  the  American  market  to  the  for- 
eigner ;  it  meant  a  great  struggle  for  control  of  the  markets  of  the  United  States 
with  all  foreign  manufacturers  and  producers  combined  against  the  manufac- 
turers and  producers  of  the  country.  They  knew  that  it  meant  a  glutted  market 
and  a  ruinous  competition.  Mr.  Cleveland's  inaugural  address  sounded  the 
alarm.  It  was  like  a  fire  bell  at  night.  The  country  realized  that  the  Democratic 
platform  was  to  be  taken  as  the  guide  of  congressional  legislation  on  the  tariff. 
The  platform  was  hunted  up  and  closely  scanned.  Section  3  was  the  center  of 
interest ;  it  contained  these  ominous  words :  "We  denounce  Republican  protec- 
tion as  a  fraud,  a  robbery  of  the  great  majority  of  the  American  people  for  the 
benefit  of  the  few.  We  declare  it  to  be  a  fundamental  principle  of  the  Democratic 
party  that  the  Federal  Government  has  no  constitutional  power  to  impose  tariff 
duties  except  for  the  purposes  of  revenue  only." 

"We  denounce  the  McKinley  tariff  law  enacted  by  the  fifty-first  Congress  as 
the  culminating  atrocity  of  class  legislation,  and  we  promise  its  repeal  as  one 
of  the  beneficial  results  that  will  follow  the  action  of  the  people  in  intrusting 
power  to  the  Democratic  party." 

President  Cleveland  convened  Congress  for  the  purpose  of  recommending 
the  repeal  of  the  act  of  July  14,  1890,  known  as  the  Sherman  Act,  which  pro- 
vided for  the  purchase  of  4,500,000  ounces  of  silver  monthly  to  be  paid  for  in 
Treasury  notes  redeemable  on  demand  in  gold  or  silver  coins  at  the  discretion 
of  the  secretary  of  the  treasury.  It  was  declared  in  the  act  to  be  "the  established 
policy  of  the  United  States  to  maintain  the  two  metals  on  a  parity  with  each 
other  upon  the  present  legal  ratio  or  such  ratio  as  may  be  provided  by  law." 

Mr.  Cleveland  declared  in  his  message 'that  the  grievous  misfortunes  which 
had  befallen  the  country  were  chargeable  to  this  law,  and  he  insisted  upon  its 
repeal.  The  President's  party  friends  in  Congress  were  not  in  sympathy  with 
the  proposition  of  repeal,  but  with  the  aid  of  Republican  votes  the  law  was 
repealed.  No  other  important  legislation  was  undertaken  by  the  special  session. 
The  repeal  of  the  silver  purchase  law  had  no  influence  whatever  upon  the  panic ; 
it  increased  in  severity  until  its  crushing  influences  reached  and  depressed  every 
business,  and  brought  ruin  and  bankruptcy  to  thousands. 

The  Democratic  platform,  upon  which  Mr.  Cleveland  stood  when  elected,  in 
criticising  Republican  policies,  declared  that  "We  denounce  a  policy  which  fos- 
ters no  industry  so  much  as  it  does  that  of  the  sheriff."  During  the  whole 
period  of  Republican  control  the  sheriff  had  never  been  so  active  as  during  the 
Cleveland  administration.  The  sarcasm  of  the  paragraph  must  have  excited 
in  1893  a  grim  humor  in  the  breasts  of  those  who  prepared  it. 

The  second  administration  of  President  Cleveland  with  its  Democratic  legis- 
lation will  forever  stand  as  an  example  of  Democratic  unwisdom  and  incapacity, 
and  a  warning  to  the  American  people  to  trust  them  no  more  in  control  of 
National  affairs.  While  every  year  under  the  Republican  management  the  Na- 
tional debt  had  been  steadily  reduced  until  almost  two  billions  of  the  principal 
had  been  paid,  during  Cleveland's  administration,  the  public  debt  was  increased 
$230,000,000,  when  the  country  was  at  peace.  With  full  knowledge  that  the 
revenues  were  insufficient  to  pay  current  expenses,  the  President  and  the  sec- 
retary of  the  treasury  never  suggested  to  Congress  measures  for  increasing  the 
public  receipts.  They  preferred  to  borrow  money  to  run  the  government  in- 

199 


stead  of  increasing  taxation.  The  result  was  that  the  National  finances  were 
controlled  by  the  money  lenders  who  reaped  a  rich  harvest  of  profit  in  nego- 
tiating government  loans. 

The  panic  of  1893  placed  the  country  in  the  grip  of  hard  times.  During  the 
four  years  there  were  60,000  failures  amounting  to  $900,000,000;  170  National 
banks  closed  their  doors  with  $70,000,000  liabilities;  177  railroads,  with  45,000 
rniles  of  track  and  three  billions  of  bonds  and  stocks,  failed  to  meet  their  interest, 
and  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  receivers  by  the  courts.  Many  manufacturing 
establishments  in  every  line  of  production  stopped  business,  and  all  others  re- 
duced their  output.  As  a  result,  fully  one-third  of  the  working  population  were 
thrown  out  of  employment.  The  farmer,  planter  and  herdsmen  did  not  escape ; 
the  prices  of  farm  products  fell  and  farm  mortgages  were  foreclosed  by  the 
thousand.  The  sheep  industry  was  practically  destroyed  by  free  trade  in  wool. 
Texas  wool  declined  from  19  to  9  cents  per  pound,  bankrupting  the  owners  of 
sheep.  Foreign  and  domestic  trade  suffered  alike. 

There  was  a  universal  decline  in  values ;  in  real  estate,  personal  property, 
stocks  and  bonds.  This  great  depreciation  in  the  value  of  property  during  the 
Cleveland  administration  as  compared  with  values  in  1892  may  be  safely  placed 
at  twenty-five  per  cent.  This  conservative  estimate  would  place  the  cost  of 
Democratic  ascendency  at  sixteen  billion  dollars  in  the  depreciation  of  values 
alone.  The  suffering  of  the  unemployed  and  the  shame  and  degradation  of 
enforced  mendicancy  can  never  be  truly  estimated. 

Did  Grover  Cleveland  and  the  Democratic  party  have  a  grudge  against  the 
country  and  wish  to  inflict  a  severe  punishment  upon  it?  Not  so — He  and  they 
were  perfectly  sincere  in  the  belief  that  legislation  on  strictly  Democratic  lines, 
on  the  tariff  and  on  all  other  questions,  meant  for  the  people,  as  Mr.  Cleveland 
stated  in  his  message,  a  return  to  "the  paths  of  contentment  and  prosperity." 
They  were  not  vicious,  but  visionary;  they  were  Democrats,  and  adhered  tena- 
ciously to  the  old  time  strict  construction  theories,  which  denied  to  Congress 
the  power  to  enact  a  protective  tariff ;  to  charter  a  National  bank ;  to  improve 
rivers  and  harbors,  or  to  expend  money  on  internal  improvement.  They  denied 
in  toto  the  power  of  Congress  to  so  fix  the  duties  on  imports  that  home  manu- 
facturers would  be  encouraged  and  the  home  market  secured  to  our  own  people 
for  the  products  of  agriculture,  manufacture  and  mining. 

The  regular  session  of  Congress  met  in  December,  1893,  when  the  country 
was  in  the  throes  of  the  panic.  Instead  of  Congress  being  looked  to  as  a  source 
from  which  relief  might  be  expected,  the  assembling  of  that  body  intensified  the 
distrust  and  alarm.  Speaker  Crisp  placed  Mr.  Wilson  of  West  Virginia  at  the 
head  of  the  committee  on  ways  and  means.  Mr.  Wilson  is  a  scholarly  man,  a 
fine  speaker  and  well  versed  in  Democratic  constitutional  theories.  His  com- 
mittee took  up  the  tariff  question  and  in  good  time  prepared  and  passed  a  bill. 
Free  raw  material  was  the  Democratic  watchword.  Mr.  Wilson  prepared  a  free 
list  which  struck  at  many  important  industries.  Free  coal  and  free  wool  led  the 
way.  The  bill  was  a  great  reform  measure.  The  McKinley  bill  was  repealed  and 
Republican  reciprocity  completely  overturned.  Free  sugar  with  a  bounty  to 
home  producers,  provided  for  by  the  McKinley  bill  as  a  measure  to  give  cheap 
sugar  to  the  people,  and  at  the  same  time  protect  the  American  product,  was 
wiped  out.  This  bill  went  to  the  senate,  where  it  met  with  formidable  resist- 
ance. Some  of  the  schedules  were  materially  changed,  in  securing  which  Re- 
publicans and  a  few  Democrats  co-operated. 

The  rule  of  the  senate  allowing  endless  debate  worked  against  the  bill. 
Senator  Quay,  of  Pennsylvania,  prepared  a  speech  of  interminable  length,  of 
much  historical  value  concerning  the  development  of  American  manufacture,  and 
of  great  power  as  an  argument  in  favor  of  protection.  His  pile  of  manuscript  was 
often  brought  into  play  to  gain  time,  and  friendly  senators  would  relieve  his 
arduous  labor  by  reading  portions  of  his  address.  The  Democratic  manager  of 
the  Senate  attempted  to  secure  the  approval  of  the  President  and  secretary  of 
the  treasury  to  the  various  modifications  of  the  bill  forced  upon  them,  and  sup- 
posed that  they  had  such  approval,  but  when  the  bill  finally  passed,  and  retained 
a  duty  on  coal,  and  left  a  few  industries  with  partial  protection,  it  was  con- 
demned by  the  President  in  a  published  letter  addressed  to  a  member  of  the 

200 


house,  and  the  bill  was  allowed  to  become  a  law  without  the  President's  approval. 
Mr.  Cleveland's  course  in  this  matter  caused  a  serious  breach  between  him  and 
leading  Democratic  senators,  and  they  were  finally  completely  alienate3  from 
him  politically. 

The  Wilson  bill  stands  out  in  tariff  legislation  as  the  measure  which  inflicted 
more  injury  to  the  business  interests  .  of  the  United  States  than  any  piece  of 
legislation  that  ever  found  its  way  upon  the  National  statute  books.  And  it 
did  not  fairly  represent  Democratic  opinion ;  it  was  not  drastic  enough ;  it  left  a 
modicum  of  protection,  where  free  trade  or  a  much  lower  rate  of  duty  was 
expected.  But  it  did  introduce  largely  that  vicious  system  of  ad  valorem  duties 
instead  of  specific  duties,  thus  opening  the  door  to  fraud  by  under  valuations. 
There  is  so  much  vitality,  so  much  ingenuity,  so  much  push  in  the  business 
men  and  the  skilled  workmen  of  the  country  that  in  spite  of  unwise,  legislation 
during  the  Cleveland  administration,  they  kept  the  field  and  met  foreign  com- 
petition with  undaunted  courage. 

Mr.  Cleveland  was  opposed  to  the  annexation  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands.  In 
this  Judge  Gresham,  secretary  of  state,  was  in  full  accord.  On  March  9,  1893, 
the  President  withdrew  from  the  further  consideration  of  the  Senate  the  treaty 
of  annexation,  as  he  alleged  for  the  purpose  of  re-examination.  His  administra- 
tion then  deliberately  entered  upon  a  movement  to  overthrow  the  republican 
government  of  Hawaii  and  re-establish  the  monarchy.  The  simple  statement  of 
the  fact  is  enough  to  condemn  the  act,  but  happily  all  the  plans  miscarried  and 
the  republic  sustained  itself. 

While  in  fact  Mr.  Cleveland's  administration  was  a  calamity  to  the  country, 
there  were  two  redeeming  features  to  which  it  is  just  to  allude:  First,  Mr. 
Cleveland  was  in  favor  of  sound  money.  He  was  unalterably  opposed  to  the 
free  coinage  of  silver  at  16  to  i.  He  favored  firmly  the  gold  standard.  Upon 
this  issue  he  parted  company  with  his  party.  Second,  Mr.  Cleveland  and  Secre- 
tary Olney  are  entitled  to  great  credit  for  the  attitude  taken  in  regard  to  the 
territorial  dispute  between  Great  Britain  and  Venezuela.  The  firm  stand  in  favor 
of  fair  play  with  Venezuela  brought  about  the  arbitration  of  the  dispute,  whereby 
a  boundary  line  was  fixed  which  satisfied  both  sides.  But  for  this  timely  inter- 
ference it  is  highly  probable  that  Venezuela  would  have  been,  shorn  of  important 
territory  to  which  she  is  and  was  justly  entitled. 


201 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

GOVERNOR  ALTGELD'S  ADMINISTRATION. 

The  political  campaign  of  1892  resulted  in  a  great  Democratic  victory  in 
Illinois.  Judge  John  P.  Altgeld  was  elected  Governor ;  Joseph  P.  Gill,  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor;  William  H.  Hinrichsen,  Secretary  of  State;  David  Gore,  Auditor; 
Rufus  N.  Ramsey,  Treasurer ;  and  Maurice  T.  Maloney,  Attorney-General. 

The  Legislature  was  Democratic  in  both  houses,  with  ten  majority  on  joint 
ballot.  Governor  Altgeld  was  inaugurated  January  9,  1893,  and  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  and  other  State  officers  were  sworn  in  the  same  day.  Alfred  Oren- 
dorff  was  appointed  Adjutant-General  January  20. 

After  thirty-six  years  of  Republican  management  the  affairs  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  Democratic  party.  They  had  full  legisla- 
tive and  executive  control.  It  was  not  the  first  time  that  the  Democracy  of 
Illinois  had  carried  the  Legislature ;  but  to  carry  the  State,  to  elect  an  entire 
State  ticket  and  have  a  good  working  majority  in  both  houses  of  the  Legislature, 
was  a  phenomenal  political  change.  The  State  of  Illinois  not  only  elected  a 
Democratic  Governor,  but  aided  in  electing  a  Democratic  President.  There  was 
nothing  in  the  condition  of  the  public  affairs  of  the  State  that  justified  a  great 
political  reaction. 

The  administration  of  Governor  Fifer  was  able  and  economical.  The  offi- 
cers elected  with  him  were  men  of  high  character,  and  performed  the  duties  of 
their  respective  offices  with  fidelity.  The  public  institutions  of  the  State  were 
under  the  management  of  most  competent,  trustworthy  and  conservative  men. 
The  finances  of  the  State  had  been  conducted  with  great  ability ;  the  State  tax 
levy  had  been  gradually  reduced  to  thirty-one  cents  per  hundred  dollars  of  the 
assessments,  and  had  yielded  sufficient  revenue  for  an  economical  administra- 
tion, besides  producing  an  accumulation  of  more  than  $2,898,000  in  the  treasury 
as  a  working  capital.  Besides  this,  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois  were  in  a 
most  prosperous  condition.  Agriculture,  manufacturing,  mining  and  commerce 
were  all  conducted  at  full  stroke,  while  wages  and  the  returns  for  labor  were 
never  more  remunerative. 

There  is  a  certain  discontent  connected  with  the  greatest  prosperity,  which 
is  more  difficult  to  satisfy  and  appease  than  the  discontent  arising  from  misfor- 
tune, adversity,  or  hard  times.  In  1892,  the  Republican  party  encountered  this 
condition  of  the  public  mind,  and  although  an  unparalleled  prosperity  existed,  the 
perceptions  of  men  seemed  to  have  been  dulled  as  to  the  causes  which  contributed 
to  bring  it  about.  The  Democrats  asserted  that  the  laws  enacted  by  the  Re- 
publicans were  unwise  and  vicious,  and  that  their  administration  was  corrupt. 
They  declared  that  all  that  was  needed  to  secure  to  the  people  supreme  pros- 
perity, contentment  and  happiness  was  Democratic  supremacy.  The  people 
listened  to  these  Democratic  appeals,  and  a  majority  voted  the  Democratic  ticket. 

In  due  course  of  time  Governor  Altgeld,  as  far  as  was  in  his  power,  placed 
the  public  institutions  of  the  State  under  Democratic  management.  He  ap- 
pointed his  party  friends,  as  was  expected  of  him,  to  all  the  important  administra- 
tive positions  throughout  the  State.  The  Democratic  party,  after  being  out  of 
power  thirty-six  years,  was  called  back  by  the  voice  of  the  people,  and  was 
given  an  opportunity  to  demonstrate  to  the  public  the  advantage  or  disadvantage 
of  the  change.  Without  going  into  a  lengthy  examination  of  public  affairs  as 
administered  by  Governor  Altgeld,  it  is  proper  to  state  that  during  his  term  the 
Legislature  authorized  the  erection  of  a  number  of  new  buildings  and  appro- 
priated money  for  the  repair  of  others,  so  that  many  important  improvements 
were  made  in  the  public  institutions  while  he  was  Governor ;  but  there  are  two 

202 


questions  which  involved  high  executive  judgment  and  discretion  which  are  de- 
cisive of  the  unwisdom  and  incompetency  of  his  administration,  namely :  His 
conduct  during  the  Debs'  strike-riots  in  Chicago,  and  his  administration  of  the 
financial  affairs  of  the  State. 

The  strike  in  Chicago  at  the  Pullman  works  involved  but  few  men  and 
none  of  these  railroad  employes.  The  depression  of  the  times  had  caused  a  great 
reduction  in  the  demand  for  the  construction  and  repair  of  cars.  A  reduction 
in  the  number  of  employes  and  of  wages  followed,  and  the  strike  was  the  result. 
Whether  the  Pullman  Company  acted  with  due  consideration  toward  their  old 
employes  was  a  question  upon  which  the  public  was  divided.  Not  having  suffi- 
cient orders  to  keep  all  employes  at  work,  and  claiming  that  the  prices  for  work 
had  fallen,  they  justified  their  action  in  reducing  wages. 

Eugene  Debs,  president  of  a  new  organization  known  as  the  American  Rail- 
way Union,  fresh  from  the  management  of  a  successful  railroad  strike  at  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  came  to  Chicago  and  took  charge  of  the  Pullman  strike.  He  soon 
had  every  railroad  in  the  city  of  Chicago  involved.  While  the  employes  of  the 
railroads  were  in  no  way  directly  interested  in  the  mechanics  who  had  struck  at 
Pullman,  Mr.  Debs  introduced  the  sympathetic  strike  and  in  a  short  time  the 
whole  railroad  transportation  business  of  the  city  was  paralyzed.  No  one  could 
deny  the  right  of  men  who  were  dissatisfied  to  leave  their  employment,  but 
leaving  their  employment  means  nothing  if  other  competent  men  were  ready  to 
take  their  places.  Mr.  Debs  forbade  the  movement  of  trains.  Riots  ensued, 
life  and  property  were  endangered,  Chicago  was  dominated  by  a  mob,  hundreds 
of  cars  and  other  property  were  burned  and  yet  Governor  Altgeld  ignored  the 
existence  of  the  fundamental  principle  that  it  was  his  duty  to  see  that  law  and 
order  was  maintained  throughout  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  utterly  failed  to 
take  necessary  and  proper  steps  to  suppress  the  Debs  riot  in  Chicago,  to  pre- 
vent the  wholesale  destruction  of  property  by  fire  and  otherwise,  and  to  prevent 
the  general  paralysis  of  the  transportation  business  of  the  city. 

Mob  violence  was  allowed  to  run  with  a  free  hand  by  the  governor,  and  when 
the  President  interposed  with  United  States  troops  to  enforce  the  orders  of  the 
United  States  Court,  Governor  Altgeld  demanded  that  the  troops  be  withdrawn. 
The  railroad  business  of  the  city  of  Chicago  was  in  the  hands  of  an  irresponsible 
committee,  who  regarded  mob  violence  and  arson  as  legitimate  means  to  ac- 
complish their  ends.  What  did  Governor  Altgeld  do  in  this  great  emergency? 
Did  he  interpose  his  authority  to  prevent  disorder  and  the  destruction  of  prop- 
erty? Not  so.  Did  he  announce  to  Mr.  Debs  that  while  he  could  not  and 
would  not  interfere  with  the  strike,  that  he  would  see  to  it  that  law  and  order 
was  maintained?  Not  at  all.  He  took  no  steps  whatever  to  maintain  peace, 
to  prevent  disorder  and  to  prevent  the  destruction  of  property. 

There  is  no  proposition  in  connection  with  our  system  of  republican  govern- 
ment that  meets  with  more  universal  and  earnest  endorsement  than  that  law 
and  order  must  be  maintained.  Our  republican  form  of  government  stands  for 
personal,  political  and  religious  freedom ;  it  is  a  guaranty  for  every  element  of 
order,  for  every  element  of  protection.  It  is  based  upon  the  universal  doctrine 
that  the  citizen  with  a  grievance  shall  not  be  permitted  to  set  the  law  at  defiance, 
and  seek  a  remedy  in  force  and  violence. 

It  is  recognized  on  all  hands  that  the  question  of  the  settlement  of  contro- 
versies between  employers  and  employed  is  at  once  of  immense  difficulty  and 
gravity.  Whether  by  mutual  agreement  a  basis  for  the  settlement  of  their  contro- 
versies by  arbitration  will  be  reached ;  or  that  some  law  shall  be  devised,  just 
alike  to  both  sides,  under  which  their  controversies  shall  be  settled,  is  for  the 
future.  But  in  the  absence  of  these  arrangements,  and  whether  they  are  ever 
provided  or  not,  the  principle  will  continue,  that  law  and  order  shall  be  main- 
tained. The  course  pursued  by  Governor  Altgeld  upon  this  question  is  a  blemish 
upon  his  administration  that  can  never  be  effaced. 

When  Governor  Altgeld  took  charge  of  state  affairs  there  was  in  the  treas- 
ury, to  the  credit  of  the  revenue  fund,  for  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  state, 
$2,898,245.  This  was  exclusive  of  the  registered  bond  fund,  and  the  fund  for 
public  schools.  This  was  the  working  capital  of  the  treasury,  and  had  been 
gradually  increased  under  Republican  management.  There  were  unpaid  appro- 

203 


priations  of  $1,683,429,  against  this  sum,  leaving  a  net  working  balance  of 
$1,214,816.  The  old  method  of  issuing  auditor's  warrants  against  an  empty 
treasury,  and  paying  those  warrants  when  taxes  were  collected,  was  abandoned ; 
and  this  better  system  adopted,  of  having  a  surplus  on  hand  to  meet  the  current 
expenses  of  the  state  while  taxes  were  being  collected.  This  system  of  admin- 
istration is  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the  governor,  as  he  has  control,  of  the  levy. 
The  appropriations  of  the  legislature,  and  the  aggregate  of  the  assessments  of 
the  State  are  before  him ;  consequently  it  is  only  a  question  of  computation  as  to 
the  rate  of  the  levy,  to  produce  the  required  amount  of  revenue. 

It  happened,  during  the  administration  of  Governor  Altgeld,  that  the  ex- 
penses of  the  State  were  greatly  augmented  by  appropriations  made  by  the  legis- 
lature;  these  increased  expenses  were  approved  by  the  Governor,  and  he,  there- 
fore, became  responsible  for  them.  Instead  of  assuming  the  just  responsibilities 
of  his  position,  and  levying  the  necessary  taxes  to  produce  the  required  reve- 
nue, he  adopted  a  widely  different  policy.  He  ran  the  government  from  the 
start,  with  annual  deficiencies ;  his  levies  fell  short  of  the  appropriations,  and  the 
surplus  was  steadily  exhausted. 

During  the  administration  of  Governor  Fifer  the  levies  for  State  expenses 
were  38  cents  for  1889,  36  cents  for  1890,  33  cents  for  1891,  and  31  cents  for  1892. 
These  levies  produced  $6,659,018,  which  surn  paid  the  current  expenses  of  the 
State,  with  some  $450,000  over  to  be  added  to  the  surplus  fund.  During  the 
administration  of  Governor  Altgeld  the  levies  for  State  expenses  were  31  cents 
for  1893,  31  cents  for  1894,  52  cents  for  1895,  and  55  cents  for  1896.  These  levies 
produced  $9,356,132,  being  $2,697,114  in  excess  of  the  amount  levied  and  col- 
lected during  the  administration  of  Governor  Fifer.  This  large  sum  of  money 
did  not  meet  the  current  expenses  of  the  State ;  not  only  was  the  surplus  used, 
but  large  sums  of  money  were  borrowed  by  officers  of  a  number  of  public  insti- 
tutions to  pay  current  expenses. 

The  increased  expense  of  running  the  State  government  under  Governor 
Altgeld  as  compared  with  the  administration  of  Governor  Fifer  can  be  summed 
up  as  follows : 

Net  cash  in  treasury  at  end  of  Gov.  Fifer's  term $1,214,816 

Increased  revenues  collected  1893-1897 2,697,114 

Appropriations  unpaid,  less  cash  in  treasury  Jan.  i,  1897.    1,806,865 
Interest  on  loans  contracted  during  Gov.  Altgeld's  term.         21,927 


$5,740,722 

When  Governor  Altgeld  retired  from  office,  instead  of  having  nearly  three 
millions  in  the  treasury  as  a  working  capital,  and  almost  one  million  and  a  quarter 
of  a  net  surplus,  there  was  only  $163,040  in  the  treasury  for  State  expenses  to 
meet  unpaid  appropriations  of  $1,969,905. 

The  financial  affairs  of  the  State  of  Illinois  were  conducted  substantially 
upon  the  same  line  as  the  national  finances.  There  was  a  constant  deficiency, 
and  a  constant  necessity  to  borrow  money  to  keep  the  wheels  in  motion.  But 
Governor  Altgeld  had  this  advantage  over  the  national  treasury:  he  possessed 
the  power  without  additional  legislation  to  fix  the  levy  high  enough  to  produce 
the  required  amount  of  revenue,  while  the  President  and  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  required  additional  legislation.  Governor  Altgeld  neglected  to  make 
the  necessary  levy.  While  President  Cleveland  and  Secretary  of  the  Treasury- 
Carlisle  failed  to  recommend  to  Congress  increased  taxation.  The  Constitution 
and  Laws  of  Illinois  contemplate  that  the  expenses  of  the  State  government 
shall  be  provided  for  in  advance  by  taxation. 

The  1 8th  Section  of  Article  IV  of  the  Constitution  contains  the  following: 
"Provided,  the  State  may,  to  meet  casual  deficits  or  failure  in  revenue,  con- 
tract debts,  never  to  exceed  in  the  aggregate  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
dollars ;  and  moneys  thus  borrowed  shall  be  applied  to  the  purpose  for  which 
they  were  obtained,  or  to  pay  the  debt  thus  created,  and  no  other  purpose ;  and 
no  other  debt,  except  for  the  purpose  of  repelling  invasion,  suppressing  insur- 
rection, or  defending  the  State  in  war  (for  payment  of  which  the  faith  of  the 
State  shall  be  pledged)  shall  be  contracted,  unless  the  law  authorizing  the  same 
shall,  at  a  general  election,  have  been  submitted  to  the  people,  and  then  have 

204 


received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast  for  members  of  the  general  assembly  at 
such  election." 

This  provision  of  the  constitution  prohibits  the  creation  of  a  debt,  or  the 
borrowing  of  money  by  the  State  in  excess  of  $250,000,  unless  approved  by  a 
vote  of  the  people.  But  this  constitutional  inhibition  did  not  stand  in  the  way 
of  Governor  Altgeld's  administration.  During  the  last  sixteen  months  of  his 
term  $1,082,688  was  borrowed  for  the  use  of  thirteen  of  the  State  institutions, 
and  $450,000  was  borrowed  from  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  in  antici- 
pation of  its  annual  payment  to  the  State.  All  of  these  loans  bore  interest,  the 
total  amount  of  interest  paid  by  the  State  being  $21,927.30.  Not  only  were 
current  expenses  provided  for  by  large  loans,  but  money  was  borrowed  even  for 
the  erection  of  buildings  which  had  been  authorized  by  the  legislature,  and  for 
the  payment  of  which  taxes  had  been  levied. 

In  a  brief  paragraph  in  his  last  message  Governor  Altgeld  explains  this 
business,  he  said :  "Several  hundred  thousand  dollars  which  had  been  appro- 
priated for  the  purpose  of  erecting  buildings  and  which  were  to  come  out  of  the 
taxes  to  be  collected  next  year,  have  been  advanced  because  the  State  was 
needing  the  buildings,  and  owing  to  the  low  price  of  material  and  labor,  it  was 
better  for  the  State  to  build  at  once  than  to  wait."  It  did  not  seem  to  enter 
the  mind  of  the  Governor  that  his  official  actions  should  be  controlled  by  the 
constitution.  The  chief  executive  of  a  State  whose  highest  duty  is  to  see  that 
the  laws  are  observed  and  enforced  should  be  the  last  person  to  openly  violate 
a  provision  of  the  constitution. 

These  acts  were  subject  to  the  personal  control  of  the  Governor  and  he  was 
personally  responsible  for  them.  Whatever  just  censure  is  due  to  them  must 
fall  upon  his  head  alone.  Governor  Altgeld,  claiming  to  give  the  State  an  admin- 
istration based  upon  high  business  principles,  was  very  unfortunate  in  the 
selection  of  the  agents  to  administer  many  of  the  important  trusts  under  his 
supervision.  It  is  unfortunately  true  that  Governor  Altgeld's  administration  is 
noted  for  the  dishonesty  of  a  number  of  his  most  important  appointees.  The 
defalcations  in  connection  with  the  University  of  Illinois,  the  West  Park  Board 
and  the  Chester  Penitentiary  amounted  to  almost  nine  hundred  thousand  dollars, 
while  the  mismanagement  of  the  funds  of  the  Industrial  Home  for  the  Blind, 
the  Geneva  Home  for  Girls  and  the  Grain  Inspection  Department  caused  a  loss 
of  nearly  $25,000. 

A  remarkable  case  of  negligence  and  ignorance  occurred  in  the  construction 
of  the  Asylum  for  the  Incurable  Insane  in  Peoria  County.  Over  $60,000  was 
expended  on  this  building,  located  over  a  coal  mine  which  was  liable  to  cave  in 
at  any  time  and  destroy  the  house.  The  building  found  to  be  insecure,  was 
taken  down  and  rebuilt  upon  another  site  with  a  total  loss  to  the  State  of  the 
first  expenditure.  Such  wholesale  dishonesty  and  incapacity  amongst  these 
Democratic  appointees  is  a  reflection  upon  the  judgment  of  the  man  who  made 
the  appointments  and  of  the  party  who  furnished  the  appointees.  It  would  seem 
when  the  people  compare  this  Democratic  administration  with  Republican  man- 
agement they  would  be  satisfied  to  leave  the  Democracy  severely  alone. 


205 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

POLITICAL  CONVENTIONS  IN  1896. 

The  loss  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in  1892  by  the  Republicans  was  a  source 
of  mortification  to  the  rank  and  file  of  the  party;  their  united  efforts  in  1894 
had  placed  the  State  again  in  the  Republican  column,  so  that  the  campaign  of 
1896  was  entered  upon  with  great  confidence. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  of  1896  met,  April  29,  in  the  Capitol  at 
Springfield;  it  brought  together  many  of  the  most  notable  men  of  the  State. 
Amongst  those  from  Chicago  were  Wm.  Penn  Nixon,  General  John  McNulta, 
Arthur  Dixon,  A.  H.  Revell,  George  S.  Willetts,  Isaac  M.  Hamilton,  D.  W. 
Mills,  Charles  U.  Gordon  and  Charles  G.  Dawes;  from  southern  Illinois,  Isaac 
Clemens,  C.  W.  Pavey,  E.  J.  Ingersoll,  W.«H.  Parish,  James  E.  Job  and  J.  R. 
Thomas.  The  central  part  of  the  State  was  well  represented ;  among  those 
present  were  General  Horace  S.  Clark*  E.  C.  Akin,  H.  A.  Snapp,  J.  H.  Rowell, 
H.  G.  Reeves,  J.  M.  Sholl  and  Clark  E.  Carr.  The  following  named  members  of 
Congress  were  present :  J.  Frank  Aid-rich,  George  E.  White,  George  E.  Foss, 
E.  D.  Cooke,  William  Lorimer,  Charles  W.  Woodman,  Hugh  R.  Belknap, 
Walter  Reeves,  George  R.  Prince,  W.  F.  L.  Hadley,  E.  J.  Murphy  and  A.  J. 
Hopkins. 

The  convention  was  called  to  order  by  the  chairman,  T.  N.  Jamieson,  who 
named  Martin  B.  Madden  as  temporary  chairman.  Mr.  Madden  delivered  an 
able  and  eloquent  address.  The  usual  committees  were  appointed.  Senator 
Orville  H.  Berry  of  Hancock  was  selected  as  permanent  chairman ;  James  R.  B. 
Van  Cleave  as  secretary,  with  the  following  named  assistants  from  each  Con- 
gressional District:  Herman  Phillips,  James  B.  Monahan,  R.  J.  McDonald, 
P.  O.  Cooper,  S.  B.  Weston,  William  Reed,  A.  W.  Pulver,  M.  F.  Walsh,  Oscar 
Hurd,  Frank  R.  Hinman,  Charles  P.  Bascon,  M.  M.  Stewart,  William  B.  Roch, 
W.  O.  Clark,  A.  McLean,  Thomas  Williamson,  W.  A.  Patterson,  N.  Eaton, 
James  Gibson,  W.  P.  Goudy,  Theodore  Schultz  and  James  M.  Young. 

The  committee  on  resolutions  was  as  follows :  James  H.  Gilbert,  D.  D. 
Healy,  Dennis  Riley,  Joseph  E.  Bidwell,  Fred  S.  Baird,  Graeme  Stewart,  James 
Reddick,  Thomas  P.  Bryan,  Charles  S.  Fuller,  James  F.  Platt,  John  Virgin, 
W.  R.  Jewell,  E.  S.  Swigert,  J.  C.  Jones,  C.  V.  Chandler,  F.  A.  Clements,  C. 
Ridgeley,  J.  J.  Brown,  E.  Callahan,  Thomas  S.  Ridgway,  Walter  S.  Louden  and 
John  F.  Rector.  The  platform  met  with  unanimous  approval ;  it  endorsed  the 
time  honored  principles  of  the  Republican  party  and  stood  firmly  for  a  pro- 
tective tariff  and  for  the  gold  standard. 

The  Presidential  Electors  chosen:  At  large,  Emil  G.  Hirsch,  Horace  S. 
Clark ;  districts,  N.  B.  Judah,  Dayton  C.  Gray,  Charles  L.  Sherlock,  F.  M. 
Blount,  Ephraim  Banning,  Chester  M.  Dawes,  Washington  Van  Horn,  W.  L. 
Sackett,  E.  W.  Montgomery,  Augustus  G.  Hammond,  Marcellus  W.  Wilson, 
W.  R.  Jewell,  Dr.  Allen  T.  Barnes,  E.  S.  Easton,  Warren  E.  Taylor,  John  H. 
Coates,  H.  N.  Schuyler,  John  R.  Pogue,  Dr.  Joseph  Hall,  Theodore  J.  Risley, 
Walter  S.  Louden  and  W.  W.  Duncan. 

The  delegates  to  the  National  Republican  Convention  were :  At  large, 
Joseph  W.  Fifer,  Robert  W.  Patterson,  William  Penn  Nixon  and  Richard  J. 
Oglesby.  Alternates-at-large,  Charles  W.  Pepper,  James  W.  Ellsworth,  Jordan 
Davis  and  P.  T.  Chapman.  For  the  districts :  Thomas  N.  Jamieson,  William 
Lorimer,  Abner  Taylor,  Frederick  M.  Blount,  John  M.  Smyth,  Samuel  B.  Ray- 
mond, Fred  L.  Wilk,  John  Stewart,  S.  H.  Bethea,  B.  F.  Baker,  Wright  Adams, 
H.  J.  Byrnes,  Dr.  S.  S.  Wilcox,  C.  Zell,  Alexander  Sholl,  A.  Dow,  I.  N.  Reece, 
Walter  C.  Haden,  L.  L.  Lehman,  T.  W.  Scott,  J.  B.  Messick  and  P.  T.  Chapman. 

206 


-There  was  a  spirited  contest  for  the  nomination  for  Governor.  John  R.  Tanner 
of  Clay,  Andrew  J.  Hopkins  of  Kane  and  Dr.  Joseph  Robbins  of  Adams  were 
placed  in  nomination.  On  the  roll  call  of  counties  the  following  vote  was  cast 
for  Governor:  John  R.  Tanner,  1,081 ;  A.  J.  Hopkins,  185 ;  Joseph  Robbins,  69. 
Mr.  Tanner's  nomination  was  made  unanimous.  There  were  three  candidates 
for  Lieutenant-Governor — William  A.  Northcott,  P.  T.  Chapman  and  David 
Ross.  In  fact,  every  office  was  actively  sought  for.  The  full  ticket  nominated 
by  the  convention  was :  John  R.  Tanner,  Governor ;  W.  A.  Northcott,  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor ;  James  A.  Rose,  Secretary  of  State ;  J.  S.  McCulloch,  Auditor ; 
Henry  L.  Hertz,  Treasurer ;  E.  C.  Akin,  Attorney-General ;  University  Trustees, 
F.  M.  McKay,  T.  J.  Smith,  Mrs.  Mary  Carriel. 

The  most  exciting  feature  of  the  convention  was  the  contest  over  instruc- 
tions to  the  delegates-at-large  to  the  National  Convention.  The  friends  of 
Senator  Cullom  were  anxious  to  have  the  delegates  instructed  for  him  and 
Senator  Charles  W.  Fuller  presented  a  resolution  to  that  effect.  An  amendment 
was  offered  by  S.  H.  Bethea  to  substitute  the  name  of  William  McKinley.  The 
question  was  ably  debated  by  Mr.  Fuller  in  favor  of  Senator  Cullom  and  by 
W.  F.  Calhoun  in  favor  of  Major  McKinley.  Upon  the  motion  to  lay  the  sub- 
ject on  the  table,  made  by  a  friend  of  Senator  Cullom,  the  adherents  of  Major 
McKinley,  under  the  leadership  of  Calhoun,  Bethea,  Allerton,  Swift  and  others, 
voted  the  motion  down  with  a  majority  of  200.  This  settled  the  question,  and 
a  resolution  was  adopted  instructing  the  delegates-at-large  to  use  their  influence 
and  vote  for  the  nomination  of  William  McKinley.  This  action  by  the  con- 
vention was  not  actuated  by  want  of  friendship  for  Senator  Cullom ;  the  opinion 
prevailed  that  he  stood  no  chance  of  being  nominated,  and  that  an  instruction 
for  him  would  be  of  no  practical  value  in  securing  his  nomination ;  besides,  there 
was  a  strong  feeling  throughout  the  State  in  favor  of  Major  McKinley,  the 
opinion  being  that  he  was  the  best  representative  and  exponent  in  the  United 
States  of  the  protective  tariff  principle,  which  was  the  dominant  idea  in  the 
minds  of  the  Republicans  from  one  end  of  the  country  to  the  other.  The  con- 
vention had  an  inspiring  effect  upon  the  Republicans  throughout  the  State,  and 
this  influence  spread.  The  party  entered  the  contest  united  and  strong,  with  a 
determination  to  win. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Peoria,  June  23,  1896,  with  1,065 
delegates.  The  most  important  plank  in  the  platform  was  as  follows :  "We 
demand  the  immediate  restoration  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  both  gold 
and  silver,  as  standard  money,  at  the  ratio  of  16  ounces  of  silver  to  I  ounce  of 
gold  of  equal  fineness,  with  full  legal-tender  power  of  each  metal,  without  wait- 
ing or  depending  on  any  other  nation  on  earth."  They  demanded  the  "abolition 
of  government  by  injunction"  and  approved  the  administration  of  Governor 
Altgeld.  The  following  nominations  were  made :  John  P.  Altgeld,  for  Gov- 
ernor ;  Monroe  C.  Crawford,  Lieutenant-Governor ;  Finis  E.  Downing,  Secre- 
tary of  State;  W.  F.  Beck,  Auditor;  Edward  C.  Pace,  Treasurer;  George  A. 
Trude,  Attorney-General ;  Julia  Holmes  Smith,  R.  P.  Morgan  and  M.  W.  Gra- 
ham, University  Trustees.  The  Peoples'  party  having  agreed  to  support  the 
Democratic  ticket  if  allowed  to  nominate  the  Auditor  and  three  electors,  Mr. 
Beck,  the  Democratic  nominee,  resigned,  and  A.  L.  Marshall,  the  Populist 
nominee,  was  substituted  by  the  Democrats. 

The  Populist  party  held  their  State  Convention  at  Springfield,  August  12, 
1896.  The  Gold  Standard  Democrats  held  a  convention  in  Chicago,  August  25, 
1896,  adopted  a  platform  approving  the  gold  standard,  selected  delegates  to  a 
National  Convention  and  nominated  a  State  ticket  as  follows :  John  C.  Black, 
for  Governor ;  Chester  A.  Babcock,  for  Lieutenant-Governor ;  Charles  S.  Wiley, 
for  Secretary  of  State ;  F.  E.  Brink,  for  Auditor ;  Edward  Ridgeley,  for  Treas- 
urer; W'illiam  S.  Foreman,  for  Attorney-General;  H.  S.  Busey,  C.  E.  Babcock 
and  August  Niehaus,  for  University  Trustees.  On  September  9,  General  Black 
declined  the  nomination  and  Hon.  William  S.  Foreman  was  nominated  to  fill 
the  vacancy  and  Daniel  V.  Samuels  was  named  for  Attorney-General. 

The  Middle-of-the-Road  Populists  held  a  State  Convention  at  Chicago,  Sep- 
tember 15.  The  convention  endorsed  the  nomination  of  Thomas  E.  Watson 

207 


for  Vice-President  and  selected  candidates  for  State  offices  except  Governor — • 
Henry  D.  Lloyd,  Lieutenant-Governor ;  L.  A.  Quelmolz,  Secretary  of  State; 
Grant  Dunbar,  Auditor;  Joseph  Schwerzer,  Treasurer ;  JE.  I.  Burdick,  Attorney- 
General,  and  Mrs.  Fanny  Cavanaugh,  University  Trustee.  Other  conventions 
were  held  by  the  Prohibition  and  the  Social-Labor  Parties  which  nominated 
candidates  for  State  offices. 

The  depression  in  business  which  set  in  immediately  after  the  inauguration 
or  President  Cleveland  involved  every  industry  in  the  country ;  agriculture, 
manufactures,  mining,  commerce  and  finances,  all  alike  suffered;  bankruptcies 
increased,  both  individual  and  corporate,  carrying  down  banks,  railroads  and 
other  corporations ;  there  was  a  large  shrinkage  in  the  value  of  real  estate, 
stock,  bonds  and  every  other  form  of  personal  property;  the  rate  of  wages 
declined,  and  hundreds  of  thousands  of  worthy  people  were  thrown  out  of 
employment ;  the  government's  receipts  were  wholly  inadequate  to  pay  current 
expenses.  Although  the  exports  were  largely  in  excess  of  the  imports,  there 
was  a  steady  shipment  of  gold  from  the  United  States ;  want  of  confidence  in 
the  future  value  of  American  securities  caused  millions  of  dollars  of  stocks  and 
bonds  to  be  returned  for  sale  in  the  United  States ;  the  redemption  reserve  in 
the  treasury  was  constantly  encroached  upon,  and  $262,000,000  United  States 
bonds  were  sold  ostensibly  to  replenish  the"reserve,  but  really  to  pay  current 
expenses.  While  this  condition  of  the  country  was  at  its  height  the  time  for 
the  Presidential  election  approached. 

The  Republican  Convention  met  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  16,  1896;  whole 
number  of  delegates,  895 ;  Marcus  A.  Hanna  of  Ohio  was  chairman  of  the 
Republican  National  Committee  and  William  M.  Osborn  of  Massachusetts  was 
secretary.  Charles  W.  Fairbanks  of  Indiana  was  made  temporary  chairman 
and  John  M.  Thurston  permanent  chairman.  The  usual  committee  on  resolu- 
tions was  appointed  and  reported  a  platform  which  was  adopted.  Thirty-four 
members  of  the  convention  being  in  favor  of  the  free  coinage  of  silver  at  the 
ratio  of  16  to  I,  having  ineffectually  protested  against  the  resolution  in  favor 
of  the  gold  standard,  withdrew  under  the  leadership  of  Henry  M.  Teller,  United 
States  Senator  from  Colorado.  On  the  first  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  President 
William  McKinley  was  nominated.  The  vote  was  as  follows :  William  Mc- 
Kinley,  661^  ;  Thomas  B.  Reed,  84^  ;  Matthew  S.  Quay,  6il/2  ;  Levi  P.  Morton, 
58;  William  B.  Allison,  351/2  ;  J.  Donald  Cameron,  i ;  blank,  4. 

On  the  first  ballot  for  a  candidate  for  Vice-President  Garret  A.  Hobart  of 
New  Jersey  was  nominated.  The  vote  was  as  follows :  Garret  A.  Hobart, 
535^  !  Henry  Clay  Evans,  277 V2  ;  Morgan  G.  Buckeley,  39 ;  James  A.  Walker, 
24;  Charles  W.  Lippitt,  8;  Thomas  B.  Reed,  3;  Chauncey  M.  Depew,  3;  John 
M.  Thurston,  2;  Frederick  D.  Grant,  2;  Levi  P.  Morton,  i. 

The  platform  denounced  the  then  existing  Democratic  tariff  known  as  the 
Wilson  Bill  and  endorsed  the  Republican  doctrine  of  a  protective  tariff  and  the 
principle  of  reciprocity,  promised  protection  to  the  wool  growers  and  made 
this  declaration  in  regard  to  finances : 

"The  Republican  party  is  unreservedly  for  sound  money.  It  caused  the 
enactment  of  the  law  providing  for  the  resumption  of  specie  payments  in  1879; 
since  then  every  dollar  has  been  as  good  as  gold.  We  are  unalterably  opposed 
to  every  measure  calculated  to  debase  our  currency  or, impair  the  credit  of  our 
country.  We  are,  therefore,  opposed  to  the  free  coinage  of  silver  except  by 
international  agreement  with  the  leading  commercial  nations  of  the  world, 
which  we  pledge  ourselves  to  promote ;  and  until  such  agreement  can  be  ob- 
tained the  existing  gold  standard  must  be  maintained.  All  our  silver  and  paper 
currency  must  be  maintained  at  parity  with  gold,  and  we  favor  all  measures 
designed  to  maintain  inviolably  the  obligations  of  the  United  States  and  all  our 
money,  whether  coin  or  paper,  at  the  present  standard,  the  standard  of  the  most 
enlightened  nations  of  the  earth." 

The  following  resolution  in  regard  to  Cuba  was  adopted:  "The  govern- 
ment of  Spain  having  lost  control  of  Cuba  and  being  unable  to  protect  the  prop- 
erty or  lives  of  resident  American  citizens  or  to  comply  with  its  treaty  obliga- 
tions, we  believe  that  the  government  of  the  United  States  should  actively  use 

208 


its  influence  and  good  offices  to  restore  peace  and  give  independence  to  the 
island." 

The  Democratic  party  met  at  Chicago,  July  7,  1896.  James  K.  Jones  of 
Arkansas  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  National  Committee  and  Charles 
A.  Walsh  of  Iowa  was  secretary.  John  W.  Daniel  of  Virginia  was  temporary 
chairman;  Stephen  M.  White  of  California  was  permanent  chairman.  The 
advocates  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  I  had 
absolute  control  of  the  convention.  The  most  conspicuous  figures  in  the  con- 
vention were  Governor  Altgeld  of  Illinois  and  Senator  Tillman  of  South  Caro- 
lina. The  platform  was  an  elaborate  declaration  of  the  principles  of  the  party. 
The  following  quotations  are  made  therefrom : 

"We  demand  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  both  silver  and  gold  at  the 
present  ratio  of  16  to  i,  without  waiting  for  the  aid  or  consent  of  any  other 
nation." 

"We  denounce  arbitrary  interference  by  Federal  authorities  in  local  affairs 
as  a  violation  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  a  crime  against  free 
institutions,  and  we  especially  object  to  government  by  injunction  as  a  new  and 
highly  dangerous  form  of  oppression  by  which  Federal  judges,  in  contempt  of 
the  laws  of  the  States  and  rights  of  citizens,  become  at  once  legislators,  judges 
and  executioners." 

The  New  York  delegation  led  a  movement  to  amend  the  silver  coinage 
resolution.  Ex-Governor  D.  B.  Hill  offered  an  amendment  to  the  effect  that 
silver  dollars  issued  under  a  free  coinage  law  should  not  be  a  legal  tender  in 
payment  of  debts  contracted  previous  to  the  passage  of  the  law.  This  amend- 
ment was  supported  by  Mr.  Hill  in  an  able  speech,  but  was  voted  down  by  a 
great  majority.  The  platform  was  finally  adopted  as  at  first  reported  by  the 
vote  of  628  to  301. 

William  J.  Bryan  of  Nebraska  made  an  able  and  eloquent  speech  upon  the 
silver  question,  which  actually  carried  the  convention  away  from  its  moor- 
ings and  undoubtedly  carried  his  nomination.  William  J.  Bryan  was  nominated 
on  the  fifth  ballot.  The  first  ballot  gave  W.  J.  Bryan  119  votes,  Richard  P. 
Bland,  235 ;  Robert  E.  Pattison,  95 ;  Horace  Boies,  85 ;  Joseph  S.  C.  Blackburn, 
83;  Joseph  R.  McLean,  54;  Claude  Matthews,  37;  Benjamin  R.  Tillman,  17, 
and  seven  other  persons  received  votes  ranging  from  I  to  8.  Arthur  Sewall 
of  Maine  was  nominated  for  Vice-President  on  the  fifth  ballot,  receiving  568 
votes  ;  fifteen  other  persons  were  voted  for  for  Vice-President. 

The  Silver  Party  Convention  met  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  22,  1896;  Frank  G. 
Newlands  of  Nevada,  temporary  chairman;  William  P.  St.  John  of  New  York, 
chairman.  This  convention  represented  the  bolting  delegates  frorii  the  Repub- 
lican Convention.  They  adopted  a  platform  in  favor  of  the  free  coinage  of 
silver  and  nominated  William  J.  Bryan  for  President  and  Arthur  Sewall  for 
Vice-President. 

The  Peoples'  Party  Convention  met  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  July  22,  1896.  Marion 
C.  Butler  was  temporary  chairman  and  William  V.  Allen,  chairman.  The 
convention  adopted  a  lengthy  platform,  of  which  the  silver  plank  was  the  most 
important.  It  was  as  follows :  "We  demand  the  free  and  unrestricted  coinage' 
of  silver  and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  I,  without  waiting  for  the 
consent  of  foreign  nations."  The  vote  of  the  convention  for  a  Presidential 
candidate  was  as  follows:  William  J.  Bryan,  1,042;  S.  F.  Norton,  321;  Eugene 
V.  Debs,  8;  Ignatius  Donnelly,  3 ;  J.  S.  Coxey,  i.  Thomas  E.  Watson  of  Geor- 
gia was  nominated  for  Vice-President.  He  received  469^2,  Arthur  Sewall 
257^,  and  four  others  were  voted  for. 

The  National  Democratic  Convention  met  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  September 
2,  1896.  Roswell  P.  Flower  of  New  York  was  temporary  chairman;  Donelsoii 
Caffery  of  Louisiana,  permanent  chairman.  The  convention  favored  the  gold 
standard  and  nominated  John  M.  Palmer  of  Illinois  for  President  and  Simon 
Bolivar  Buckner  of  Kentucky  for  Vice-President. 

The  Prohibition  Convention  met  May  27,  1896,  at  Pittsburg.  A.  A.  Ste- 
vens of  Pennsylvania  was  temporary  chairman ;  Oliver  W.  Stewart  of  Illinois, 
chairman.  The  convention  adopted  a  prohibition  platform  and  nominated 

209 


Joshua  Levering  of  Maryland  for  President  and  Hale  Johnson  of  Illinois  for 
Vice-President. 

The  National  Party  Convention  met  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  May  28,  1896;  A.  L. 
Moore  of  Michigan,  chairman.  A  platform  was  adopted  opposing  the  manu- 
facture, sale,  importation,  exportation  and  transportation  of  intoxicating  liquors ; 
favoring  female  suffrage,  issuing  of  all  money  by  the  Government,  and  discuss- 
ing various  other  questions.  The  convention  nominated  Rev.  Charles  E.  Bently 
of  Nebraska  for  President  and  James  H.  Southgate  of  North  Carolina  for  Vice- 
President. 

The  Socialist  Labor  Convention  met  in  New  York  City,  July  6,  1896;  Wil- 
liam Watkins  of  Ohio,  chairman;  and  nominated  Charles  H.  Matchett  of  New 
York  for  President  and  Matthew  Maguire  of  New  Jersey  for  Vice-President. 
The  platform  presented  the  views  of  the  Socialist  organization.  The  campaign 
brought  out  the  best  speaking  talent  of  the  country.  The  people  took  a  pro- 
found interest  in  the  event.  Mr.  Bryan  made  an  extensive  tour  of  the  country, 
meeting  immense  crowds  wherever  he  went.  He  fixed  his  attention  solely  on 
the  silver  question,  and  could  not  be  drawn  from  its  discussion,  claiming  that 
the  free  and  unrestricted  coinage  of  silver  by  the  United  States  at  the  ratio  of 
1 6  to  i  was  the  paramount  question ;  that  the  property  and  welfare  of  the  country 
depended  upon  the  success  of  that  issue,  and  that  all  other  questions  must  wait 
upon  it.  Mr.  Bryan  performed  a  labor  as  a  public  speaker  unequaled  by  any 
man  who  had  ever  canvassed  the  country. 

Mr.  McKinley  remained  at  his  home  in  Canton,  Ohio,  where  he  received 
numerous  delegations  from  all  parts  of  the  country.  He  made  many  speeches, 
all  clear,  forceful  and  of  great  ability.  He  presented  the  questions  of  a  pro- 
tective tariff  and  sound  finance  in  a  manner  to  be  comprehended  by  all.  His 
speeches  were  full  of  short,  pointed  statements  of  argument  and  conclusion, 
covering  every  phase  of  the  issues  of  the  campaign.  These  addresses  stand  as 
an  evidence  of  the  ability  and  oratorical  resources  of  the  speaker. 

While  there  were  a  number  of  candidates  for  the  Presidency,  everybody 
knew  that  the  issue  was  between  the  Republican  party  on  the  one  side  and  the 
Democratic  party  and  its  allies  on  the  other.  The  issues  between  these  two 
great  parties  were  to  be  passed  upon  by  the  people  at  the  polls.  There  was 
fusion  on  the  electoral  ticket  of  the  Democrats  and  Populists,  and  in  some  of 
the  states  there  was  fusion  on  the  electoral  ticket  of  the  Democrats  and  Silver 
Republicans. 

The  popular  vote  was  as  follows:  William  McKinley,  7,107,304;  William 
J.  Bryan  (Democratic  vote  6,287,352,  Populist  vote  245,728),  6,533,080;  Joshua 
Levering,  130,753;  Charles  E.  Bentley,  13,955;  Charles  H.  Matchett,  33,545; 
John  M.  Palmer,  133,542.  Total,  13,952,179. 

Electoral  vote:  McKinley  and  Hobart,  271  ;  William  J.  Bryan,  176;  Arthur 
Sewall  for  Vice-President,  149;  Thomas  E.  Watson  for  Vice-President,  27. 
William  McKinley  and  Garret  A.  Hobart  were  duly  elected  President  and  Vice- 
President. 

The  Fifty-fifth  Congress  was  divided  politically  as  follows :  Senate — 34 
Democrats,  44  Republicans,  5  Populists,  6  Silver  Republicans  and  I  Independent. 
House — 121  Democrats,  203  Republicans,  21  Populists,  3  Silverites,  4  Independ- 
ents, 5  vacancies. 

The  Fifty-sixth  Congress  is  divided  politically  as  follows:  Senate — 51 
Republicans,  26  Democrats,  5  Populists,  4  Silverites,  4  vacancies.  House — 185 
Republicans,  161  Democrats,  5  Populists,  3  Silverites,  3  vacancies. 


210 


CHAPTER   XXXII. 

GOVERNOR    TANNER'S    ADMINISTRATION — REVIEW  OF  LAWS  ENACTED  IN  ILLI- 
NOIS UNDER  REPUBLICAN  GOVERNORS  SINCE  1856. 

At  the  November  election,  1896,  so  widely  divergent  was  public  opinion 
that  there  were  thirteen  tickets  on  the  ballot,  namely :  Democrat,  Republican, 
Prohibition,  Peoples'  Party,  Socialist  Labor  Party,  National  Party,  Independent 
Gold  Standard  Democracy,  Independent  Party,  Independent  Democratic  Party, 
Independent  Silver  Party,  Independent  Republican  Party,  National  Silver  Party 
and  Middle-of-the-Road  Party. 

The  vote  on  the  State  election  stood  as  follows :  Tanner,  587,587 ;  Altgeld, 
474,270;  Gere,  14,582;  Foreman,  8,100;  Bastian,  985. 

The  vote  for  Presidential  Electors  was:  Republican,  607,130;  Democratic, 
464,523;  Prohibition,  9,796;  Gold  Democrat,  6,390;  Social  Labor,  1,147;  Middle- 
of-the-Road  Populist,  1,090;  National,  793. 

Governor  John  R.  Tanner  was  inaugurated  January  nth,  1897,  on  the  same 
clay  William  A.  Northcott,  Lieutenant-Governor ;  James  A.  Rose,  Secretary  of 
State ;  James  S.  McCullough,  Auditor ;  Henry  L.  Hertz,  Treasurer ;  and  Edward 
C.  Akin,  Attorney  General,  were  sworn  into  office  and  assumed  the  duties  of 
their  respective  positions.  On  February  2d,  Jasper  N.  Reece  was  appointed 
Adjutant  General.  The  legislature  then  in  session  was  strongly  Republican. 
The  Senate  contained  thirty-eight  Republicans,  twelve  Democrats,  and  one  Peo- 
ple's. The  House  contained  eighty-eight  Republicans,  sixty-three  Democrats 
and  two  People's.  The  Senate  had  elected  Hendrick  V.  Fisher  President  pro 
tern,  and  James  H.  Paddock,  Secretary ;  the  House  had  elected  Ed.  C.  Curtis 
Speaker,  and  John  A.  Reeve,  Clerk. 

In  his  inaugural  address  Governor  Tanner  exhibited  a  strong  grasp  of  all 
important  public  questions.  It  was  quite  evident  that  he  had  given  matters 
of  State  government  serious  consideration,  and  that  he  was  not  entering  upon 
the  duties  of  his  office  unprepared  for  the  weighty  task  before  him.  The  financial 
embarrassments  of  the  State  became  a  matter  of  serious  concern  to  Governor 
Tanner  immediately  upon  entering  the  duties  of  his  office.  On  February  10, 
1897,  he  sent  a  special  message  to  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  which  he 
set  forth  the  fact  that  the  unpaid  appropriations  of  the  previous  General  As- 
sembly amounted  to  $1,800,000;  that  $900,000  of  the  amount  was  due  a_nd  pay- 
able during  the  quarter  ending  March  31,  1897,  and  that  the  fund  available  to 
pay  the  same  would  not  exceed  $150,000. 

The  Governor  recommended  that  the  legislature  authorize  the  borrowing  of 
$250,000,  as  provided  for  in  the  constitution.  The  authority  was  granted ;  the 
loan  was  openly  negotiated ;  and  the  money  borrowed  at  2.6  per  cent  interest  per 
annum.  This  loan  was  authorized  by  law,  consequently  the  State  was  able  to 
secure  the  money  at  the  lowest  rate  of  interest.  Making  this  loan  was  the 
only  legal  means  open  for  the  relief  of  the  treasury.  The  last  fiscal  year  oi 
Governor  Altgeld's  administration  ended  June  30,  1897,  six  months  after  the 
Governor  had  retired  from  office.  The  assessments  and  tax  levies  had  been 
made,  and  nothing  Governor  Tanner  could  do  would  increase  the  amount  of 
revenue  or  hasten  its  collection  and  payment  into  the  State  Treasury.  His  action 
in  obtaining  authority  from  the  legislature  to  borrow  the  money  was  a  marked 
departure  from  the  methods  adopted  by  his  predecessor. 

The  period  of  time  covered  by  the  administration  of  Governor  Tanner  has 
been  filled  with  events  of  great  moment  and  he  has  of  necessity  been  required 
to  act  upon  them ;  the  appointment  of  competent  people  to  office ;  the  street 
railway  franchise  question  in  the  city  of  Chicago;  the  disorders  incident  to  a 

211 


number  of  labor  strikes ;  the  Spanish  war ;  and  the  finances  of  the  State  have 
all  earnestly  engaged  the  attention  of  the  Governor.  In  regard  to  the  appoint- 
ments made  by  Governor  Tanner,  his  most  unfriendly  critics  must  admit  that 
in  point  of  ability,  efficiency  and  fidelity  to  duty  these  men  have  never  been 
excelled.  Governor  Tanner  is  a  Republican.  He  has  labored  for  years  for 
the  success  of  the  party.  He  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the  proposition  that  the 
Republican  party  can  more  certainly  give  the  State  an  efficient  administration 
through  its  party  friends  than  through  its  party  opponents.  He  has  acted  upon 
these  principles  and  has  placed  Republicans  in  the  high  places  of  public  trust 
and  confidence,  but  in  doing  so  he  has  been  guided  in  his  selections  by  a  still 
higher  test  of  fitness,  that  of  ability  and  integrity.  The  admirable  manner  in 
which  all  the  public  institutions  of  the  State  have  been  conducted  during  Gov- 
ernor Tanner's  term  fully  attest  the  merits  of  the  men  who  have  had  charge 
of  them.  There  has  been  no  case  of  scandal,  no  case  of  fraud,  no  case  of  pecu- 
lation, no  case  of  defalcation.  When  compared  with  the  previous  Democratic 
administration  of  the  public  institutions,  which  was  clouded  by  mismanagement, 
peculations,  fraud  and  defalcations  in  nearly  all  of  them,  the  business  of  the  State" 
as  conducted  by  this  Republican  administration  stands  out  in  bold  relief. 

It  is  the  duty  of  men  to  be  honest  iti  public  places  and  to  perform  their 
duties  faithfully.  Indeed  this  is  always  expected  of  Republican  office  holders. 
But  having  performed  their  duties  with  intelligence  and  fidelity,  they  are  entitled 
to  the  commendation  of  their  fellow  citizens. 

In  1897  the  extension  of  the  franchises  of  a  number  of  the  street  railway 
companies  of  Chicago  became  a  burning  question.  A  number  of  these  franchises 
were  about  to  expire;  the  managers  of  the  property  and  the  owners  of  the  stocks 
and  bonds  necessarily  felt  a  deep  interest  in  having  those  franchises  renewed 
on  liberal  terms.  This  was  natural  and  was  to  have  been  expected.  The  agita- 
tion of  the  question  as  to  what  would  be  just  terms  for  the  extensions  became 
so  heated  and  intemperate,  in  the  public  press  and  with  great  numbers  of  promi- 
nent people,  that  a  settlement  of  the  matter  in  Chicago  between  the  companies 
and  the  authorities  with  the  approval  of  the  public  became  impracticable.  The 
railway  managers  appealed  to  the  legislature  and  the  war  was  carried  to 
Springfield.  The  first  bill  introduced  in  and  passed  by  the  Senate  was  defeated 
in  the  House.  The  second  bill,  known  as  the  Allen  law,  met  a  different  fate. 
It  passed  both  houses ;  it  was  not  a  party  measure ;  it  was  supported  by  a  large 
majority  o7  the  Cook  County  delegation  in  the  legislature.  It  was  a  general  law, 
but  conferred  certain  authority  on  the  city  government  of  Chicago  in  regard  to 
the  extension  of  street  railway  franchises.  The  serious  objection  made  to  the 
bill  by  its  opponents  was  that  under  its  provisions  the  city  government  had  too 
much  authority;  that  the  franchise  extensions  might  be  made  upon  terms  too 
liberal.  The  fear  expressed  was  that  undue  and  corrupt  influences  would  induce 
the  city  government  to  grant  to  the  street  car  companies  long  term  franchises 
with  inadequate  compensation  to  the  city  for  the  use  of  the  streets.  The  propo- 
sition which  was  urged  with  greatest  force  was  that  in  addition  to  the  ordinary 
taxes  paid  by  the  companies  on  their  property  that  they  should  be  required  to 
pay  twenty  per  cent  of  their  gross  earnings  into  the  city  treasury.  The  advocates 
of  this  plan  seemed  oblivious  to  the  fact  that  this  was  not  a  tax  on  the  corpora- 
tions, but  a  tax  upon  the  traveling  public.  This  bijl  came  before  the  Governor 
for  his  consideration.  Immense  petitions  were  presented  urging  him  to  approve 
the  bill.  Many  large  taxpayers  urged  its  approval. 

The  mayor  of  Chicago  and  a  delegation  of  prominent  men  visited  the  Gov- 
ernor and  in  a  personal  interview  presented  their  views  favoring  the  veto  of  the 
bill.  After  due  consideration  the  Governor  signed  the  bill  and  it  became  a  law. 
This  Allen  law  became  an  issue  in  Cook  County  at  the  following  election  for 
legislators.  The  nominating  conventions  in  a  majority  of  the  districts  exacted 
pledges  from  their  candidates  to  the  efTect  that  they  would  vote  for  the  repeal 
of  the  Allen  law.  In  his  message  to  the  Forty-first  General  Assembly  the  Gov- 
ernor discussed  the  taxation  and  fares  question  in  connection  with  the  extension 
of  these  franchises.  He  advocated  the  principles  that  where  the  earnings  of  a 
company  are  such  as  to  justify  it,  instead  of  having  a  large  percentage  of  those 
earnings  paid  into  the  city  treasury,  the  fares  should  be  reduced  to  the  traveling 

212 


public.  This  proposition  is  unquestionably  just.  The  city  railways  should  be 
required  to  pay  their  equal  proportion  of  taxes,  but  they  should  not  be  used 
as  an  instrumentality  to  exact  from  their  patrons  a  tax  to  the  city  for  the  privi- 
lege of  using  a  public  highway. 

The  Forty-first  General  Assembly  passed  a  bill  repealing  the  Allen  law 
and  Governor  Tanner  approved  it.  The 'approval  of  the  Allen  bill  brought  down 
upon  Governor  Tanner's  head  an  avalanche  of  severe  criticism  from  many  lead- 
ing men  in  Chicago  and  from  a  portion  of  the  press.  To  some  of  these  criticisms 
the  Governor  replied  in  kind.  He  is  not  a  man  to  submit  to  abuse  tamely. 
Knowing  that  he  had  performed  his  duty  in  this  matter  conscientiously  and  un- 
influenced by  mercenary  motives,  he  felt  indignant  at  the  continuous  attacks 
of  the  press  and  their  effort  to  bring  him  into  contempt  with  the  people  of  the 
State.  However  men  may  differ  as  to  the  merits  of  the  Allen  law,  when  they 
realize  the  fact  that  the  Governor  was  in  no  way  responsible  for  the  introduction 
of  the  bill,  and  at  no  time  did  he  exercise  any  influence  whatever  in  favor  of  its 
passage,  but  simply  performed  his  duty  as  he  understood  it  when  he  came  to  sign 
the  bill,  they  will  realize  the  injustice  of  a  prejudice  against  him  for  what  he  did 
in  the  matter.  There  is  one  thing  quite  certain,  those  who  have  known  Gov- 
ernor Tanner  longest  and  best  will  acquit  him  of  any  improper  motive  in  con- 
nection with  the  Allen  law. 

Illinois  is  now  the  second  State  in  the  Union  in  the  production  of  coal. 
There  are  about  one  thousand  producing  mines  in  the  State.  To  operate  these 
mines  requires  a  very  large  force  of  employes.  From  time  to  time  disagree- 
ments arise  between  the  owners  and  the  operatives.  In  1897,  after  the  inaugura- 
tion of  Governor  Tanner,  he  found  that  a  serious  controversy  existed  between 
the  mine  owners  and  the  employes;  the  trouble  continued  during  most  of  the 
year,  but  by  conservatism  and  persuasion  on  the  part  of  the  Governor,  there  was 
no  serious  outbreak,  and  no  bloodshed  during  the  entire  year. 

In  January,  1898,  a  convention  was  held  in  Ohio,  where  representatives 
of  the  mine  owners  of  the  coal  fields  of  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Missouri,- 
and  representatives  of  the  mine  operatives  met,  and,  after  due  consultation, 
agreed  upon  a  scale  of  prices  to  be  paid  in  the  district ;  the  differential  questions 
of  the  rates  to  be  paid  were  referred  to  the  mine  owners  and  the  operatives  of 
each  State  respectively.  Following  this  convention  a  meeting  of  mine  owners 
and  operatives  was  held  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  an  adjustment  of  the  prices 
was  had  and  terms  agreed  upon  without  a  dissenting  voice  on  either  side. 
Under  this  agreement,  about  860  mines  in  the  State  opened  up  and  had  an 
active  year  in  the  coal  business.  A  few  mines,  most  of  them  in  the  Virden-Pana 
district,  soon  closed  down,  some  of  them,  perhaps,  never  having  opened  up 
under  the  contract.  The  operatives  did  not  strike — it  was  a  lock-out  by  the 
mine  owners,  they  being  unwilling  to  work  under  the  Springfield  agreement.  It 
is  understood  that  all  of  these  mine  owners  were  either  present  or  represented 
at  the  Springfield  meeting,  and  voted  for  or  did  not  oppose  the  adoption  of  the 
scale  of  wages.  It  seems  that  the  miners  were  perfectly  willing  to  work  at  the 
same  scale  of  wages  that  was  being  paid  at  the  other  mines  throughout  the 
State.  Late  in  the  summer  the  mine  owners  of  Pana  quietly  brought  in  several 
hundred  miners  from  Alabama,  most  of  them  negroes  who  had  learned  their 
trade  while  doing  time  while  under  a  sentence  in  the  penitentiary.  The  miners 
resented  this  act,  and  trouble  was  the  result.  The  militia  was  called  out  and  a 
detachment  sent  down,  the  commanding  officers  being  instructed  to  protect 
life  and  property  and  preserve  order,  but  not  to  assist  the  mine  owners  in  their 
scheme  of  importing  laborers  under  guard.  Order  was  restored  for  a  time. 
The  Superintendent  of  the  Virden  mine  in  Macoupin  County  sent  agents  to 
Birmingham,  Ala.,  and  engaged  three  or  four  hundred  negroes  of  the  same 
character  as  before  described,  to  come  to  Virden  and  take  employment  in  the 
mine.  The  agents,  it  is  understood,  did  not  inform  these  negroes  that  trouble 
existed  at  Virden,  between  the  company  and  their  old  employes.  These  negro 
miners  were  placed  in  cars,  under  lock :  about  seventv-five  men  from  some  detec- 
tive agency,  armed  with  Winchester  rifles,  accompanied  these  miners  as  a  guard. 

Governor  Tanner  was  informed  of  this  state  of  things  while  the  train  was 
still  at  St.  Louis ;  he  was  also  informed  by  the  Superintendent  of  the  Virden  mine 

213 


that  the  train  load  of  miners  were  on  their  way  to  Virden,  and  he  demanded  that 
the  militia  at  once  be  sent  to  Virden  to  aid  in  the  protection  ot  these  men, 
as  he  was  satisfied  that  on  their  arrival  there  would  be  a  conflict.  The  Virden 
mine  had  already  been  enclosed  by -a  strong  stockade  and  towers,  including 
about  ten  acres,  and  some  sixty  or  more  armed  detectives  were  already  in  the 
enclosure.  When  these  facts  were  brought  to  Governor  Tanner's  attention,  he 
urged  the  Superintendent  to  desist  from  bringing  these  miners  and  this  body 
of  armed  men  into  the  State,  urging  that  this  array  of  armed  men  was  cal- 
culated to  stimulate  a  breach  of  the  peace,  and  cause  a  riot  and  conflict  between 
them  and  the  large  number  of  laborers  who  had  been  discharged.  The  Gov- 
ernor, using  the  telephone,  urged  the  Superintendent  that,  assuming  that  he  had- 
the  legal  right  to  do  this,  it  was  obviously  a  great  moral  wrong  to  precipitate 
a  riot  and  bloodshed,  but  the  Superintendent  insisted  that  the  National  Guard 
should  be  sent  down.  This  the  Governor  declined  to  do,  informing  the  Superin- 
tendent that  if  persons  came  in  from  neighboring  States  in  the  ordinary  way 
that  he  would  afford  them  protection,  if  it  took  the  entire  National  Guard  of  the 
State  to  do  so,  but  that  he  was  opposed  to  the  importation  of  labor  under  the 
guard  of  a  body  of  armed,  irresponsible  persons  not  under  the  direction  of  the 
law  officers  of  the  State.  The  Governor  intimated  that  if  he  had  time  to  do  so, 
he  would  call  out  the  National  Guard  to  prevent  this  armed  force  and  the 
miners  coming  into  the  State  from  St.  Louis.  In  a  few  hours  this  train  load  of 
armed  men  and  miners  rolled  into  Virden;  their  coming  had  been  announced; 
and  a  great  crowd  of  people  were  present  to  witness  their  arrival.  A  commo- 
tion occurred,  and  the  armed  detectives  in  the  towers  and  on  the  train  fired, 
killing  twelve  persons,  most  of  whom  were  unarmed,  innocent  spectators  taking 
no  part  in  the  disorder.  The  Grand  Jury  indicted  a  number  of  persons  con- 
nected with  this  bloody  work. 

Later  on  there  was  some  rioting  at  Pana ;  the  militia  were  sent  to  that  place 
and  remained  there  some  seven  months,  until  the  conflict  between  the  owners 
and  operatives  was  settled.  A  number  of  the  negroes,  anxious  to  return  to  Ala- 
bama, were  furnished  transportation,  which  was  paid  for  out  of  the  contingent 
fund  of  the  State.  Some  forty  or  fifty  of  these  men,  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment at  Virden  and  Pana,  went  to  Cartersville,  Williamson  County,  and  were 
employed  there.  These  people  excited  a  great  deal  of  opposition,  and  on  a  cer- 
tain Sunday,  when  a  number  of  them  were  on  their  way  to  church  at  Marian, 
eight  of  them  were  shot  to  death  by  a  mob.  Indictments  were  preferred  against 
parties  engaged  in  this  riot,  but  they  were  tried  and  acquitted.  This  was  an 
unhappy  business  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  and  kept  the  operators  of  the 
State  in  a  turmoil  for  several  months.  The  course  of  events  during  that  period 
seems  to  urgently  suggest  the  enactment  of  a  law  in  this  State  of  compulsory 
arbitration,  to  be  conducted  under  the  management  of  a  State  Board  organized 
specially  for  that  purpose,  and  also  the  enactment  of  a  stringent  law  for  the 
arrest  and  punishment  of  bodies  of  armed  men  organized  by  detective  agencies 
and  sent  into  Illinois  to  guard  miners  being  transported  to  disturb  districts  in 
the  State.  The  conflict  between  mine  owners  and  their  discharged  employes 
should  not  be  permitted  to  result  in  a  breach  of  the  peace  or  destruction  of 
property.  When  owners  of  mines  have  secured  the  employment  of  a  large 
number  of  men,  and  they,  with  their  families,  have  for  several  years  been  living 
off  the  earnings  made  in  the  mines,  and  these  people  strike  for  alleged  causes  or 
are  locked  out  by  their  employers,  for  alleged  causes,  the  miners  should  be  pre- 
vented from  interfering  with  or  destroying  property,  and  the  mine  owners,  also, 
should  be  required  by  law  to  pause  in  their  operations  until  such  time  as  the 
grievances  existing  between  the  employer  and  the  employed  can  be  settled  by 
arbitration.  The  peace  of  the  State  must  be  preserved  at  every  cost,  not  only 
as  against  operatives,  but  also  against  mine  owners.  Governor  Tanner  was 
dearly  rierht  in  protesting  against  the  invasion  of  the  State  by  the  armed  detec- 
tives of  the  Virden  mine.  It  is  obvious,  from  the  course  pursued  by  Governor 
Tanner,  that  his  prime  object  was  the  preservation  of  law  and  order. 

When  the  news  of  the  destruction  of  the  Maine  and  two  hundred  and  sixty- 
six  of  her  ill-fated  crew  reached  the  United  States  the  Illinois  legislature  was  in 
session.  On, February  17,  1898,  two  days  after  the  disaster.  Governor  Tanner 
sent  a  message  to  that  body  recommending  a  resolution  of  condolence  to  the 

214 


families  of  the  deceased,  and  a  tender  to  the  National  Government  of  a  military 
force  in  the  event  of  war  with  Spain.  The  legislature  the  same  day  passed  suitable 
resolutions  in  accordance  with  the  views  pf  the  Governor. 

On  April  21,  passports  were  delivered  to  General  Woodford,  the  American 
Minister  at  Madrid,  and  Polo  Y.  Bernabe,  the  Spanish  Minister,  left  Washington 
City. 

On  April  23,  1898,  President  McKinley  issued  a  call  for  125,000  volunteers. 
On  April  25th  the  allotment  of  troops  under  the  call  was  made  by  the  Secretary 
of  War.  Governor  Tanner  decided  to  call  out  the  Illinois  National  Guard  in 
.response  to  the  call  for  volunteers,  so  on  April  25,  he  issued  a  proclamation 
directing  the  National  Guard  of  Illinois  to  assemble  at  the  Fair  Grounds  near 
Springfield,  April  27,  by  noon. 

The  greatest  activity  prevailed  in  making  preparations  to  receive  the  troops. 
Brig.-Gen.  J.  H.  Barkley  was  placed  in  command  of  the  post.  The  promptness 
with  which  these  troops  left  their  employments,  assembled  at  their  proper  places 
of  rendezvous,  and  made  all  arrangements  for  responding  to  the  call  of  duty, 
can  be  understood  by  the  dispatch  of  the  Governor  sent  within  thirty-six  hours 
after  he  had  issued  his  proclamation.  This  is  the  message: 

"Springfield,  111.,  April  27,  1898. 
"Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C, 

"Seven  regiments  of  infantry  and  one  of  cavalry  are  mobilized  at  Spring- 
field. Approximate  strength,  8,000.  Await  further  orders. 

"JOHN  R.  TANNER,  Governor." 

On  May  25th,  the  President  called  for  75,000  additional  volunteers.  Under 
these  two  calls,  the  Illinois  National  Guard  were  equipped  and  mustered  into 
the  service  of  the  United  States  in  the  following  order: 

Fifth  Infantry,  Col.  J.  S.  Culver,  May  7 ;  3d  Infantry,  -Col.  Fred  C.  Bennett, 
May  7;  6th  Infantry,  Col.  D.  Jack  Foster,  May  n  ;;  Battery  A.,  111.  N.  G.,  Capt. 
Phillip  Yaeger,  May  12;  ist  Infantry,  Col.  Henry  L.  Turner,  May  13;  2d  In- 
fantry, Col.  Geo.  M.  Moulton,  May  16;  7th  Infantry,  Col.  Marcus  Kavanaugh, 
May  18;  4th  Infantry,  Col.  Casimer  Andel,  May  20. 

Additional  regiments,  known  as  Illinois  Volunteers,  were  organized, 
equipped  and  mustered  in  as  follows:  ist  Cavalry,  Col.  Ed.  C.  Young,  May  21 ; 
9th  Illinois  Infantry,  Col.  James  R.  Campbell,  July  4,  1 1 ;  8th  Illinois  Infantry, 
Col.  John  R.  Marshall,  July  22. 

.  These  regiments  were  composed  of  as  fine  a  body  of  officers  and  men  as 
could  have  been  assembled  in  the  State.  The  promptness  with  which  the  national 
guard  turned  out  showed  their  efficiency  and  discipline,  and,  further,  is  con- 
clusive proof  of  the  wisdom  of  the  national  guard  law.  The  Illinois  soldiers  of 
the  Spanish  war  reflected  credit  upon  themselves  and  the  State,  and  are  entitled 
to  the  gratitude  of  their  countrymen.  Col.  Marshall's  8th  Regiment  was  com- 
posed entirely  of  colored  men.  Governor  Tanner  had  confidence  in  the  patriot- 
ism, courage  and  ability  of  these  men  and  commissioned  men  of  their  own  race 
to  offices,  including  the  colonel  commanding.  They  did  not  disappoint  his 
expectations. 

With  an  almost  empty  treasury  and  a  deficiency  of  nearly  $2,000,000,  Gov- 
ernor Tanner  was  compelled  to  increase  the  rate  of  taxation  for  State  expenses 
the  first  year  of  his  administration.  He  proposed  to  bring  the  State  back  to 
Republican  methods  and  had  no  fears  of  facing  the  people  on  that  question.  The 
operations  of  the  State  treasury  during  the  past  two  years  in  respect  to  regular 
State  expenses  are  briefly  set  forth  as  follows : 

1897  Tax  rate  66  cents,  amount  raised $4,989,326.40 

1898  Tax  rate  56  cents,  amount  raised 4,140,668.54 

1899  Tax  rate  42  cents,  amount  raised 3,853,467.03 


Total  paid  into  treasury $12,982,461.97 

These  revenues  were  faithfully  used  for  liquidating  the  debts  contracted  by 
the  previous  administration ;  for  paying  the  current  expenses  of  the  government 
as  provided  for  by  law,  and  accumulating  in  the  treasury  a  surplus  as  a  working 

215 


capital,  so  that  the  business  of  the  State  can  be  continuously  carried  on  and  its 
expenses  paid  during  each  quarter  without  the  necessity  of  incurring  debts  or 
borrowing  money.  As  a  result  of  this  judicious  management  of  the  affairs  of 
the  State,  the  balance  in  the  treasury  on  July  i,  1900,  was  $2,103,779.22. 

Governor  Tanner  has  clearly  demonstrated  his  ability  as  an  executive  offi- 
cer. In  the  selection  of  men  to  administer  important  positions  under  him  he  has 
shown  the  rare  faculty  of  surrounding  himself  with  men  not  only  of  ability  but 
of  fidelity.  Their  official  conduct  when  compared  with  their  predecessors  stands 
in  noble  contrast,  and  is  creditable  to  themselves  and  to  the  Republican  admin- 
istration of  which  they  formed  an  honorable  part. 

The  progress  of  the  State  of  Illinois  during  the  past  forty  years  can  be 
judged  by  the  laws  placed  upon  the  statute  books  and  the  executive  records.  If 
nothing  else  remained  upon  which  a  student  of  her  history  could  base  an  opin- 
ion, these  records  would  necessarily  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  they  represented 
a  great,  progressive,  intelligent,  humane  and  free  people. 

Almost  every  conceivable  subject  has  been  treated  of  by  the  law-making 
power.  The  subject  of  education  has  received  constant  thought.  Agriculture, 
the  great  underlying  industry,  has  had  intelligent  care.  Mining  and  manufac- 
turing have  received  due  attention.  Commerce,  transportation,  navigation,  trade 
and  finance  have  been  encouraged  and  guarded.  The  government  and  improve- 
ment of  towns,  villages  and  cities,  including  the  establishment  of  parks,  have 
received  wise  consideration.  Laws  to  secure  uniform  taxation  have  been  a  con- 
stant study. 

The  treatment  of  the  unfortunate,  defective  and  criminal  classes — the  gov- 
ernment of  erring  youth,  and  the  nurture  of  poor  and  abandoned  children,  have 
all  received  the  attention  of  legislators,  animated  by  the  broadest  sentiments  of 
humanity. 

This  great  progressive  work  began  with  the  Legislature  of  1857.  At  that 
time  there  were  only  four  State  institutions.  Three  of  these  at  Jacksonville  for 
the  care  of  the  blind,  the  deaf  and  dumb,  and  the  insane.  The  fourth  was  the 
old  and  out-of-date  penitentiary  at  Alton. 

By  the  act  of  February  18,  1857,  the  State  Board  of  Education  was  created, 
and  the  State  Normal  University  at  Normal  was  established.  This  was  the 
foundation  of  the  present  splendid  educational  system  of  Illinois.  The  immediate 
success  of  the  education  of  teachers  brought  about  a  higher  and  advancing 
standard  of  instruction  throughout  the  State.  The  Southern  Illinois  Normal 
University  at  Carbondale  followed  in  1869.  The  University  of  Illinois  at  Urbana, 
the  Eastern  Illinois  State  Normal  School  at  Charleston  and  the  Northern  Illi- 
nois State  Normal  School  at  DeKalb  followed  in  due  course.  The  existing  free 
school  system  of  education  of  Illinois,  with  its  compulsory  provision,  affords  the 
rising  generation  of  the  State  an  opportunity  to  obtain  free  of  cost  a  good,  prac- 
tical education  ;  while  the  normal  schools  and  university  conveniently  located 
in  various  parts  of  the  State  are  accessible  to  those  who  aspire  to  a  higher  edu- 
cation. No  State  in  the  Union  has  advanced  to  a  higher  plane  for  public  edu- 
cation than  the  State  of  Illinois.  Besides  this,  the  State  is  the  home  of  a  num- 
ber of  well  established  and  successful  colleges  and  universities. 

The  Legislature  of  1857  also  made  provision  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
penitentiary  at  Joliet.  This  institution  has  been  conducted  in  the  most  satis- 
factory manner  and  has  from  time  to  time  been  in  charge  of  men  highly  fitted 
by  nature  for  this  class  of  work. 

Amongst  them  Major  R.  W.  McClaughrv  stands  pre-eminent.  No  man  in 
the  United  States  is  better  qualified  by  experience  and  natural  gift  than  he,  for 
the  management  of  a  great  penal  institution..  Recognizing  his  fitness  for  such 
a  service,  he  has  been  selected  by  the  United  States  Government  to  manage 
the  National  Prison  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  Kansas. 

The  imprisonment  of  the  young  with  hardened  criminals  was  provided 
against  in  1867  bv  the  establishment  of  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  ?t  Pon- 
tiac  and  a  State  home  for  juvenile  female  offenders  was  established  at  Geneva 
in  1803. 

Provisions  for  the  care  of  the  insane  has  kept  pace  with  the  growth  of  the 
State.  The  Southern  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Anna,  the  Northern  Hospital 

216 


for  the  Insane  at  Elgin,  were  authorized  in  1869,  the  Eastern  Hospital  for  the 
Insane  at  Kankakee  in  1877,  the  Western  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Rock 
Island  in  1895,  while  at  Chester  an  asylum  for  insane  criminals  was  established 
in  1889,  and  a  similar  institution  for  the  incurable  insane  was  established  at 
Peoria  in  1895.  Other  classes  of  unfortunates  were  provided  for.  An  asylum 
for  feeble  minded  children  was  located  at  Lincoln  in  1865,  and  the  same  year  the 
Illinois  Charitable  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary  was  established  in  Chicago,  while 
later  on,  in  1887,  the  industrial  home  for  blind  children  was  also  located  in 
Chicago. 

But  the  Legislature  did  not  stop  with  these  institutions.  The  Civil  War  left 
its  victims  of  misfortune  and  poverty.  In  1865  the  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  was 
established  at  Normal  and  in  1895  the  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Home  was  located  at 
Quincy,  and  the  same  year  the  Soldiers'  Widows'  Home  was  located  at 
Wilmington. 

These  noble  charities  one  and  all  will  stand  as  monuments  to  the  humanity 
and  liberality  of  the  people  of  Illinois.  The  appropriations  for  their  support  have 
at  all  times  been  liberal.  Their  management  has  been  humane  and  progressive. 

The  rapid  growth  in  population,  in  the  development  of  agriculture,  in  the 
extension  of  railroads,  in  the  mining  of  coal,  in  manufacturing,  in  internal  com- 
merce and  especially  the  extraordinary  increase  of  the  business  interests  of 
Chicago  threw  upon  the  legislature  of  Illinois  the  grave  and  important  duties  of 
devising  and  enacting  laws  suitable  to  the  necessities  of  so  complex  a  civilization. 
The  old  theory  that  "the  world  is  governed  too  much"  had  exerted  its  influence 
in  the  early  days  of  the  State,  and  the  people  and  corporations  had  been  left 
to  carry  on  their  business  without  State  supervision.  The  time  had  arrived, 
however,  when  the  old  policy  gave  way  to  more  advanced  ideas  and  the  govern- 
ment entered  upon  the  task  of  taking  a  more  active  part  in  the  affairs  of  the 
people. 

A  number  of  important  measures,  far  reaching  in  their  character,  and  per- 
manent in  their  duration,  were  brought  forward  and  passed  into  laws. 

A  State  Board  of  Equalization,  for  equalizing  the  assessments  for  State 
taxes,  was  established  in  1867.  A  State  Board  of  Charities  was  provided  for  in 
1869;  this  Board  supervised  the  charitable  institutions  of  the  State.  In  1871  the 
Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commission  was  organized  to  supervise  the  railroads 
and  public  grain  elevators  throughout  the  State  so  as  to  prevent  discrimination 
and  to  maintain  uniform  and  reasonable  transportation  rates,  and  by  inspection 
of  grain  to  secure  to  purchasers  the  delivery  of  grain  equal  to  the  article  con- 
tracted for  according  to  the  established  grades ;  in  connection  with  this  com- 
mission a  corps  of  grain  inspectors  was  authorized.  The  beneficial  work  of  this 
Commission  can  scarcely  be  overestimated.  State  fairs  had  for  many  years  been 
patronized  by  the  State,  but  in  1893  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  organ- 
ized with  a  president,  secretary  and  treasurer  and  one  vice-president  from  each 
Congressional  District,  and  this  Board  was  given  charge  of  the  State  fairs,  which 
are  now  a  State  institution.  The  professions  and  trades  also  came  under  the 
supervision  of  the  State. 

The  Commissioners  of  Labor  were  established  in  1879.  The  State  Board 
of  Pharmacy  and  the  State  Board  of  Dental  Examiners  were  established  in  1881. 
A  corps  of  mine  inspectors,  and  a  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  Mine  Inspectors 
was  authorized  by  law  in  1893  ;  as  was  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  Archi- 
tects;  and  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  Horseshoers  in  1897.  The  Fish 
Commissioners  were  authorized  in  1879 ;  as  were  the  live  stock  commissioners 
in  1885. 

In  1893  a  corps  of  Inspectors  of  Factories  was  created,  consisting  of  a 
Chief  Inspector,  an  assistant  chief  and  the  deputy  inspectors. 

Three  game  wardens  were  authorized  by  law  in  1885.  A  State  Board  of 
Pardons  was  created  June  5,  1897. 

A  State  Entomologist  and  a  State  Veterinarian  were  provided  for  by  law 
in  1885  ;  while  as  early  as  May  25,  1877,  three  State  Agents  to  enforce  the  law 
in  relation  to  cruelty  to  animals  were  authorized. 

On  May  25,  1889,  the  State  Historical  Library  was  established  with  a 
president,  vice-president  and  secretary,  and  located  at  the  State  Capital. 

217 


On  February  8,  1869,  the  Lincoln  Park  Commissioners  were  authorized, 
and  on  the  2/th  of  the  same  month  and  year  the  West  Park  Commissioners 
were  provided  for. 

The  Illinois  State  Dairy  Men's  Association  was  incorporated  March  5,  1883. 

The  Illinois  Farmers'  Institute  was  created  June  24,  1895,  with  a  president 
and  four  other  officers  and  a  Board  of  Directors,  consisting  of  twenty-seven 
persons,  one  from  each  Congressional  District,  and  five  ex-officio  directors,  con- 
sisting of  the  Dean  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  and  four  other  State  officials. 

The  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society  was  created  March  24,  1874,  and 
the  Illinois  State  Poultry,  Pigeon  and  Pet  Stock  Association  was  incorporated 
December  3,  1896. 

The  mention  of  the  various  Commissioners,  Boards  and  Institutions  without 
going  into  detail  as  to  their  various  objects  and  purposes  is  sufficient  to  show 
to  some  extent  the  range  of  legislation. 

The  legislation  for  the  promotion  of  the  interests  of  Chicago  has  been 
of  immense  importance ;  two  enactments  alone  need  be  cited,  viz. :  The  law  in 
aid  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,  and  the  act  authorizing  the  Drainage 
Canal  and  creating  the  Sanitary  District  \>f  Chicago,  from  which  $30,000,000 
has  been  collected  for  the  digging  of  the  canal.  Both  of  these  great  works,  car- 
ried to  complete  success  at  a  cost  of  $45,000,000,  have  brought  Chicago  to  the 
attention  of  mankind  as  the  most  progressive  city  in  the  world.  But  the  legis- 
lators did  not  complete  their  work  with  the  legislation  cited.  They  improved 
the  Common  Law  System  of  Pleading  and  Practice.  They  created  the  Court 
of  Appeals,  and  thereby  made  it  possible  for  the  Supreme  Court  to  keep  up 
with  its  work.  In  trials  for  murder  they  authorized  imprisonment  for  life. 
They  permitted  parties  to  a  suit  to  testify  in  their  own  behalf.  They  passed 
laws  for  the  protection  of  bank  deposits ;  encouraging  and  regulating  farm 
draining ;  the  reduction  of  the  rate  of  interest ;  for  the  organization  of  the  State 
Militia ;  for  the  compulsory  education  of  children ;  for  regulating  primary  elec- 
tions ;  they  established  the  present  mode  of  conducting  elections ;  and  also  passed 
a  law  for  restricting  the  right  of  aliens  to  acquire  and  hold  real  and  personal 
estate. 

They  have  enacted  a  general  incorporation  law  suitable  for  every  industry, 
employment  or  business  for  profit  or  pleasure.  They  have  made  provision  for 
the  government  of  insurance  companies,  either  foreign,  American  or  State.  They 
have  enacted  a  pure  food  law,  for  which  every  householder  should  be  thankful. 

They  enacted  a  series  of  laws  restricting  the  sale  of  intoxicating  drinks, 
including  the  license  law  of  1883,  which  is  probably  the  most  comprehensive 
and  wisest  legislation  upon  that  subject  extant  in  the  United  States. 

They  have  regulated  the  employment  of  child  labor  by  mines,  manufacturers 
and  merchants  and  limited  the  age  of  employment.  They  have  enacted  laws 
relieving  women  of  the  injustice  of  many  common  law  disabilities,  and  have 
secured  to  them  the  right  of  contract  and  the  disposal  of  their  own  property. 

As  before  stated,  these  acts  began  in  1857,  during  the  governorship  of 
Colonel  Bissell.  During  the  Civil  War  legislation  was  mainly  confined  to 
strengthening  the  military  power  of  the  State,  but  under  Governor  Oglesby  the 
good  work  was  taken  up  again. 

When  Governor  Palmer  came  in  January,  1869,  the  agitation  began  for 
regulating  railroad  passenger  rates.  Senator  Fuller  introduced  a  bill  fixing  pas- 
senger rates  on  railroads  at  three  cents  per  mile.  The  bill  passed  both  houses, 
but  was  vetoed  by  the  Governor  upon  the  ground  that  it  was  an  invasion  of  the 
corporate  contract  rights  of  the  railroad. 

A  new  bill  was  passed  and  approved  limiting  "to  a  just,  reasonable  and 
uniform  rate,  fare,  toll  and  compensation  for  the  transportation  of  passengers 
and  freight."  This  subject  received  further  attention  April  13,  1871,  when  the 
railroad  and  warehouse  commissioners'  act  was  passed.  The  legislature  during 
the  administrations  of  Governor  Beveridge  and  Governor  Cullom  enacted  a 
number  of  important  measures,  and  the  same  can  be  said  of  the  administration 
of  Governor  Hamilton  and  of  the  third  administration  of  Governor  Oglesby  and 
of  the  administration  of  Governor  Joseph  W.  Fifer.  The  same  progressive 
spirit  prevailed  during  the  administration  of  every  Republican  Governor, 

218 


The  public  debt  created  for  internal  improvements  reached  its  highest 
point,  $16,724,177,  January  i,  1853,  and  was  fully  paid  off  during  Governor 
Cullom's  second  term. 

The  legislators  of  Illinois  have  kept  pace  with  this  great  progressive  age. 
They  have  fashioned  the  laws  from  time  to  time  to  meet  the  changing  conditions 
of  this  people.  Being  the  representatives  of  the  people,  and  knowing  their  cir- 
cumstances and  needs,  the  laws  have  been 'framed  accordingly.  The  splendid 
legislative  superstructure  has  met  the  expectations  of  the  people.  The  machinery 
of  government  set  in  motion  by  the  laws  has  worked  harmoniously,  and  for  the 
uplifting  and  betterment  of  the  people. 

These  statutes  of  Illinois  are  obviously  the  result  of  an  immense  amount 
of  labor  and  profound  study  upon  the  questions  upon  which  they  treat.  They 
conclusively  show  that  their  makers  were  men  of  fine  constructive  ability  and 
were  devoted  to  the  great  task  of  legislating  to  the  best  interests  of  the  people 
of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

During  the  past  forty-four  years  the  Governors  of  this  State  have  been 
Republicans  with  the  single  exception  of  one  term  of  four  years  from  January, 
1893,  to  January,  1897,  when  John  P.  Altgeld,  a  Democrat,  was  Governor.  The 
Republican  party  have  almost  continuously  been  responsible  for  legislation. 
They  have  led  the  way  in  the  enactment  of  nearly  every  important  measure,  and  it 
is  but  fair  to  claim  for  the  Republican  party  the  credit  for  the  splendid,  pro- 
gressive and  wise  system  of  laws  which  have  been  enacted  for  the  State. 


219 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

PRESIDENT  MCKINLEY'S  ADMINISTRATION — THE  WAR  WITH  SPAIN. 

The  election  of  William  McKinley,  President,  had  the  immediate  effect  of 
restoring  confidence  in  the  future.  The  verdict  of  the  people  was  in  favor  of 
a  protective  tariff  and  the  gold  standard.  They  had  elected  203  Republicans  to 
the  National  House  of  Representatives,  being  a  majority  of  49  over  all  opposi- 
tion. It  was  known  that  the  Senate,  composed  of  90  members,  had  but  44  Re- 
publicans, but  it  was  confidently  believed"that  enough  of  the  six  silver  Repub- 
licans would  vote  for  a  protective  tariff  to  carry  that  measure.  The  second  ses- 
sion of  the  Fifty-fourth  Congress,  which  met  in  December,  1896,  with  Thomas 
B.  Reed  as  Speaker,  did  not  undertake  to  legislate  upon  important  questions, 
although  the  House  had  a  large  Republican  majority,  but  the  tariff  question 
was  taken  up  by  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley  and  others,  and  the  entire  time  of  the 
session  was  spent  in  the  preparation  of  a  tariff  bill. 

President  McKinley  was  inaugurated  March  4,  1897,  with  great  jubilation. 
It  was  quite  obvious  from  everything  that  occurred  throughout  the  country 
that  a  great  pall  had  been  lifted  and  that  the  people  everywhere  felt  that  the 
Republican  platform,  upon  which, the  party  went  to  the  country,  was  not  a  mere 
formality  but  that  every  promise  made  therein  would  be  faithfully  kept.  The 
President  immediately  issued  a  proclamation  convening  the  Fifty-fifth  Congress 
in  special  session.  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Reed  of  Maine  was  elected  Speaker;  he 
appointed  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  naming  Hon.  Nelson  Dingley 
of  Maine,  Chairman.  That  committee  proceeded  at  once  to  the  preparation  of 
a  tariff  bill,  and  in  good  time  it  was  presented  to  the  House.  On  March  31, 
1897,  twenty-seven  clays  after  President  McKinley's  inauguration,  the  bill 
passed  the  House  of  Representatives.  It  passed  the  Senate  July  7,  with  amend- 
ments. On  July  9,  a  conference  committee  of  the  two  Houses  began  its  con- 
sideration ;  the  committee  agreed  upon  a  report ;  that  report  was  adopted  by 
the  House  July  19,  and  by  the  Senate  July  24.  The  bill  was  immediately  ap- 
proved by  the  President.  The  principle  which  governed  in  the  preparation  and 
passage  of  this  law  was  plain  and  simple,  namely :  that  all  articles  which  cannot 
be  produced  in  the  United  States,  except  luxuries,  should  be  admitted  free  of 
duty,  and  that  on  all  imports  coming  into  competition  with  the  products  of 
American  labor  there  should  be  levied  duties  equal  to  the  difference  between 
wages  abroad  and  at  home.  The  recommendation  of  President  McKinley  in 
his  message  to  Congress,  that  "In  raising  revenue;  duties  should  be  levied  upon 
foreign  products  as  to  preserve  the  home  market,  so  far  as  possible  to  our  own 
producers,"  was  fully  carried  out.  This  law  has  produced  sufficient  revenue 
to  pay  the  current  expenses  of  the  Government  with  a  small  surplus,  while  the 
revenues  from  the  Wilson  bill  which  it  repealed  were  wholly  inadequate  and 
were  supplementd  by  loans.  The  good  effect  of  this  law  upon  the  productive 
industries  of  the  country  was  instantaneous.  The  history  of  the  world  affords 
no  parallel  to  the  extraordinary  revival  of  business  which  attended  the  passage 
of  the  Dingley  tariff  law. 

The  McKinley  bill  created  during  President  Harrison's  administration  was 
simply  an  amendment  of  former  protective  legislation  applying  the  principles 
to  larger  classes  of  products  and  introducing  the  important  feature  of  recip- 
rocity with  foreign  nations  in  the  interchange  of  products.  As  has  been  shown, 
the  country  had  prospered  as  never  before  under  the  law,  while  its  repeal  by 
the  Wilson  bill  plunged  the  country  into  an  abyss  of  financial  and  commercial 
woe.  A  few  comparative  figures  will  shed  a  flood  of  light  upon  the  subject. 
During  the  first  three  years  of  Harrison's  administration,  the  wheat  crop  was 

220 


worth  $1,190,738,096.  During  the  first  three  years  of  Cleveland's  administra- 
tion the  wheat  crop  was  worth  $677,012,404,  while  during  the  first  three  years 
of  McKinley's  administration  it  was  worth  $1,140,862,700.  Deposits  in  National 
banks,  1892,  $1,771,000,000;  deposits  in  National  banks,  1895,  $1,574,000,000; 
deposits  in  National  banks,  1899,  $2,605,000,000.  The  per  capita  circulation 
of  money  under  Harrison  was  $24.44,  under  Cleveland,  $21.10,  under  McKinley, 
$26.50.  The  total  money  in  the  United  States,  as  shown  by  the  Treasury  re- 
ports was:  July  i,  1896,  $1,506,434,966;  on  July  i,  1900,  $2,062,425,496.  There 
has  been  no  run  upon  the  National  treasury  for  gold  during  McKinley's  admin- 
istration as  there  was  during  the  administration  of  President  Cleveland.  In 
regard  to  the  manufacturers,  every  industry  in  the  country  was  quickened,  the 
millions  of  persons  thrown  out  of  employment  were  given  work  at  increased 
wages.  The  wisdom  of  the  protective  system  is  vindicated  by  results. 

The  United  States  now  leads  all  nations  in  agriculture,  in  manufactures,  in 
mining,  in  facilities  for  and  cheapness  of  transportation;  in  the  volume  of  pro- 
ducts sold  in  the  home  market ;  in  the  rate  of  wages  paid  to  every  class  of 
labor ;  in  the  style  of  living  of  its  inhabitants ;  and  in  accumulated  wealth.  There 
is  more  raw  material  for  manufacturers  imported  now  than  ever  before,  and 
there  are  more  manufactured  articles  exported  now  than  ever  before.  Manu- 
factured articles  exported  in  1860,  $40,345,892;  in  1880,  $102,856,015;  in  1900, 
$432,284,366.  By  reason  of  superior  skill  and  cheap  transportation  American 
manufacturers  are  now  entering  foreign  markets  with  their  products,  although 
the  wages  paid  are  fifty  per  cent  greater  than  abroad.  The  excess  of  exports 
over  imports  in  the  year  ending  June  30, 1898,  189931x1  1900  amounted  to  $1,689,- 
778,790,  while  the  excess  of  exports  over  imports  from  1790  to  June  30,  1897, 
was  only  $356,809,012.  The  result  of  this  state  of  trade  has  placed  this  country 
financially  at  ease.  The  drains  of  the  precious  metals  to  pay  foreign  debts  has 
ceased,  the  amount  of  precious  metals  has  rapidly  increased,  and  instead  of 
being  a  debtor  nation,  the  United  States  has  become  a  creditor  nation.  Ameri- 
can bankers  are  loaning  money  to  Great  Britain  and  Germany. 

Experience  is  often  a  hard  school  in  which  to  learn  the  great  lessons  of 
life,  the  experience  of  the  country  under  the  McKinley  bill,  the  Wilson  bill  and 
the  Dingley  bill,  would  seem  to  be  sufficient  for  this  day  and  generation  in  re- 
gard to  the  tariff  question.  Prosperity  depends  upon  the  people  having  constant 
remunerative  labor.  They  cannot  have  that  if  the  tariff  law  throws  open  the 
doors  of  the  home  market  so  that  foreigners,  without  paying  for  the  privilege, 
can  enter  that  market  and  sell  articles  which  can  be  produced  here.  If  we 
employ  others  to  do  our  work  for  us,  we  certainly  will  be  idle  ourselves.  The 
good  work  of  acquiring  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  so  well  began  by  President 
Harrison,  and  suddenly  suspended  by  President  Cleveland  upon  the  advice  of 
the  Secretary  of  State  Gresham,  was  earnestly  taken  up  by  President  McKinley 
and  carried  to  a  successful  issue.  Those  islands  have  been  given,  by  Congres- 
sional legislation,  a  territorial  government,  which  will  ensure  the  progressive 
development  of  the  people  and  protect  all  in  civil  and  religious  liberty.  Al- 
ready delegates  from  those  islands  have  participated  in  the  deliberations  of  the 
two  great  national  political  conventions  of  1900.  As  a  Territory  of  the  United 
States  those  islands  will  steadily  grow  in  importance  in  respect  to  their  own 
productions  and  trade  and  their  relation  to  the  commerce  of  the  Pacific  Ocean ; 
but  a  few  years  will  elapse  when  the  most  carping  objectors  will  recognize  the 
wisdom  of  the  acquisition. 

The  acquisition  of  the  Philippines,  Porto  Rico  and  Guam  was  an  event 
•  that  no  wisdom  could  foresee.  It  was  the  inexorable  logic  of  the  war  with 
Spain.  The  public  opinion  of  the  country  demanded  and  approved  the  retention 
of  the  islands.  The  question  of  the  Government  of  those  islands  is  spoken  of 
in  another  place.  It  would  seem  that  their  importance  to  the  development  of 
the  trade  of  the  United  States  in  the  Pacific  would  be  recognized  by  every  person 
of  intelligence.  The  nations  which  front  the  Pacific  Ocean  have  an  immense 
population  of  industrious  and  thrifty  people ;  the  United  States  already  draws 
large  supplies  from  China  and  Japan.  The  trade  is  rapidly  increasing.  The 
trade  of  the  world  is  now  largely  conducted  in  steamships ;  these  vessels  require 
convenient  coaling  stations,  docks,  harbors  and  depots  of  supplies.  With 

221 


Hawaii,  Guam,  Samoa  and  the  Philippines,  the  United  States  stands  unrivalled 
in  advantages  for  securing  a  large  proportion  of  this  Pacific  trade.  The  East 
will  unquestionable  become  a  great  outlet  for  the  surplus  products  of  the  enter- 
prise and  skill  of  the  American  people.  Foreign  markets  are  absolutely  essential 
to  the  continued  advance  in  business  and  prosperity  of  this  country ;  the  home 
market  cannot  absorb  the  products  of  labor.  The  man  or  the  party  that  can 
secure  to  the  United  States  additional  facilities  for  trade  and  new  markets  must 
be  classed  as  a  public  benefactor. 

The  fact  must  be  recognized  that  a  great,  successful  commerce  means  peace. 
The  United  States  stands  for  free  government  at  home,  and  for  justice  and  peace 
between  nations.  The  prestige  abroad  gained  by  this  country  during  the  admin- 
istration of  President  McKinley  will  undoubtedly  work  for  the  betterment  of 
the  relations  between  all  the  great  nations  of  the  world.  It  will  greatly  tend  to 
the  establishment  of  universal  peace.  The  Republican  party  is  unwilling  to 
shrink  from  the  great  responsibilities  which  now  devolve  upon  the  Republic. 
They  have  confidence  in  the  strength  of  our  system  of  government  as  it  may 
be  applied  to  district  and  territory,  and  they  are  unwilling  to  dim  the  torch  of 
treedom  which  our  forefathers  erected  here  in  America  in  colonial  days. 

The  war  with  Spain  was  the  people's  war.  It  was  inevitable.  For  four 
hundred  years  Spain  had  ruled  Cuba  with  a  rod  of  iron.  The  laws  for  the  gov- 
ernment of  Cuba  were  enacted  in  Spain.  The  officers  were  Spaniards,  headed 
by  a  Captain  General,  with  Spanish  soldiers  to  enforce  his  authority.  A  corrupt 
tyrannical  military  government  was  the  result.  The  people  were  heavily  taxed, 
the  revenues  not  only  supported  the  local  government  but  contributed  largely 
to  the  Spanish  exchequer.  The  necks  of  the  Cubans,  straddled  with  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  "divine  right  of  kings"  and  the  "divine  right  of  bishops,"  had  no 
space  left  for  the  divine  right  of  the  people ;  they  were  governed  by  the  most 
tyrannical  and  bigoted  nation  in  the  world,  whose  aim  was  to  wring  from  them 
every  dollar  that  could  possibly  be  exacted.  General  education  was  neither  in 
the  Spanish  scheme  of  either  home  or  colonial  government,  consequently  the 
common  people  of  Cuba  grew  up  in  ignorance. 

The  discovery  of  the  new  world  had  aroused  the  avarice  of  the  Spanish 
people.  Spain  was  the  greatest  power  in  Europe ;  she  was  mistress  of  the  seas ; 
the  new  world  was  hers  by  virtue  of  a  Papal  Decree.  She  decided  to  control  the 
Western  Hemisphere ;  her  conquests  extended  to  a  large  portion  of  South 
America,  all  of  Central  America,  and  the  Southern  half  of  North  America.  Her 
colonies  were  ruled  by  the  sword.  The  aggressions  and  cruelties  in  Peru  and 
Mexico  were  only  equaled  by  the  sacking  of  Antwerp  and  the  inquisition  at 
home.  But  tyranny,  cruelty  and  injustice  cannot  continue  forever.  The  pre- 
tentions  and  aggressions  of  Spanish  rulers  worked  the  downfall  of  their  great- 
ness. Their  sea  power  was  broken  by  England  with  the  destruction  of  the 
Armada.  As  time  passed  on,  the  independence  of  free  government  in  the  United 
States  aroused  the  aspiration  and  hopes  of  the  people  in  all  the  Spanish-Ameri- 
can colonies.  The  advent  of  Napoleon  upon  the  arena  of  war  and  politics 
caused  Spain  to  lose  Louisiana  Territory  in  1800.  In  South  America  Chile  led 
the  revolt  against  Spanish  rule  in  1810,  followed  soon  by  Peru  and  other  states. 
Two  years  later  the  people  of  Central  America  and  Mexico  threw  off  the  Span- 
ish yoke;  thus  Spain  was  driven  from  the  mainland,  but  still  held  control  of  her 
island  possessions.  Cuba  was  the  gem  of  the  Antilles,  naturally  the  garden 
spot  of  the  world,  rich  beyond  the  dreams  of  men.  Her  people  panted  for  free- 
dom. The  home  government  denied  every  suggestion  of  moderation  and  re- 
form. The  people  revolted ;  for  ten  years  a  civil  war  raged.  The  rebellion  was 
suppressed.  The  galling  of  the  chains  continued,  and  after  years  of  discontent 
the  people  again  rebelled ;  two  hundred  thousand  Spanish  soldiers  were  sent  to 
Cuba.  A  guerrilla  war  desolated  the,  island.  A  cruel  order  of  the  Captain  Gen* 
eral  forced  the  rural  population,  men,  women  and  children,  into  the  towns, 
where  without  work  and  without  food  they  starved ;  hundreds  of  prisoners 
were,  without  public  trial,  condemned  and  shot.  Girls  were  sold  at  public  auc- 
tion to  officers  of  the  Spanish  army.  Respectable,  refined,  educated  women 
were  imprisoned  in  the  same  cells  with  the  worst  malefactors.  Barbarity  and 
cruelty  had  reached  its  highest  mark  in  the  nineteenth  century.  The  people  of 


the  United  States  at  large  and  their  great  national  political  conventions,  in  1896, 
took  notice  of  the  deplorable  state  of  Cuba,  and  expressed  decided  opinions  in 
favor  of  Cuban  independence,  but  Spain  disdained  any  suggestions  of  mercy. 

In  May,  1897,  President  McKinley  appointed  W.  J.  Calhoun,  of  Illinois, 
American  counsel  to  the  Joint  Commission  of  Spain  and  the  United  States  to 
investigate  the  circumstances  attending  the  death  in  Cuba  of  Doctor  Ruiz,  an 
alleged  American  citizen.  Hon.  W.  R.  Day  h.ad  been  appointed  as  counsel,  but 
on  his  arrival  in  Washington  on  his  way  to  Cuba,  he  was  prevailed  upon  to 
accept  the  position  of  Assistant  Secretary  of  State.  This  commission  was  com- 
posed of  Dr.  Jose  Congosto  on  behalf  of  Spain,  and  General  Fitz  Hugh  Lee 
on  behalf  of  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Calhoun  arrived  in  Cuba,  May  20,  1897.  The  Commission  was  organ- 
ized at  Guanabacoa,  some  twelve  miles  from  Havana.  The  evidence  brought 
out  the  following  facts :  Dr.  Ruiz  was  a  native  Cuban,  attended  a  medical  col- 
lege in  Philadelphia,  took  out  naturalization  papers,  returned  to  Cuba,  prac- 
ticed his  profession  at  Guanabacoa,  was  married,  had  a  family  of  children,  was 
a  quiet,  inoffensive  man,  took  no  part  in  politics,  showed  interest  only  in  his 
profession,  his  family,  and  his  garden  of  fruit  and  flowers.  Guanabacoa  was 
a  storm  center  of  the  revolution;  there  was  a  band  of  revolutionists  in  the 
neighborhood ;  one  evening  their  guerrillas  swooped  down  upon  a  passenger 
train,  captured  some  Spanish  officers,  including  a  paymaster  and  his  money, 
and  took  them  away.  The  Spanish  authorities  were  very  indignant  over  the 
bold  act  of  the  Cubans.  It  was  supposed  that  some  one  had  given  the  insur- 
gents information  which  led  to  this  capture.  Many  citizens  were  arrested  on 
suspicion,  among  them  Dr.  Ruiz.  He  was  imprisoned  incommunicado,  that  is, 
denied  communication  with  any  one.  The  rule  for  such  prisoners  was  to  try 
them  by  court  martial,  the  witnesses  to  be  examined  in  the  absence  of  the 
prisoner.  The  accused  was  not  represented  by  an  attorney,  or  friend,  and  if 
found  guilty  the  prisoner  was  taken  from  his  cell  by  a  file  of  soldiers  and  es- 
corted to  a  convenient  field,  where  he  was  shot.  Evidence  was  taken  in  Dr. 
Ruiz'  case  by  the  Commission. 

The  guard  who  had  charge  of  him  testified  that  one  night  Ruiz  became 
very  excited ;  that  he  paced  his  cell  crying ;  that  he  would  call  for  his  children 
and  his  wife ;  and  at  times  cried  out  in  great  agony  of  spirit.  Finally,  the  guard 
said,  he  heard  Ruiz  rush  across  the  stone  floor  and  butt  his  head  against  the 
iron-plated  door  of  his  cell ;  this  he  did  several  times.  The  guard  called  for 
help,  and  when  the  door  was  opened  the  unhappy  man  was  found  lying  uncon- 
scious and  bleeding  from  wounds  on  the  top  of  his  head.  That  morning  he 
died  amid  violent  convulsions.  General  Lee  was  informed  of  his  death,  and 
under  his  direction  a  post-mortem  examination  was  made,  Dr.  Burgess,  U.  S. 
Marine  Medical  Inspector,  assisting,  and  it  showed  the  man  had  died  from 
congestion  of  the  brain.  The  theory  of  the  prison  officials  was  that  he  had 
become  suddenly  insane.  This  man  was  locked  up  in  a  narrow  cell,  with  no 
window,  no  light,  or  ventilation  except  from  a  transom  over  the  door.  No  one 
except  his  guard  could  see  him  or  communicate  with  him.  A  reign  of  terror 
prevailed.  None  of  the  other  prisoners  would  tell,  even  if  they  knew  anything. 
No  evidence  beyond  that  of  the  prison  guards  could  be  obtained. 

The  agreement  between  Spain  and  the  United  States  was  made  up  of  cor- 
respondence between  Secretary  Sherman  and  Depuy  de  Lome,  the  Spanish 
Ambassador,  and  a  clause  in  one  of  Secretary  Sherman's  letters  provided  that 
the  Commission  could  call  for  any  official  records  or  papers  connected  with 
the  case.  Mr.  Calhoun  taking  advantage  of  this  clause,  prepared  and  served 
a  written  demand  for  certified  copies  of  all  complaints  or  orders  attending  the 
arrest  and  imprisonment  of  Ruiz,  and  of  all  depositions  taken  or  evidence  given 
to  or  before  the  court  martial,  etc.  The  Spanish  Commission  protested  against 
such  a  demand,  and  finally  asked  for  time  to  consult  his  government.  This  was 
conceded,  and  after  a  delay  of  a  week,  or  ten  days,  copies  of  the  records  and 
papers  were  furnished.  A  translation  was  made  into  English,  and  the  fact  was 
disclosed  that  the  prisoner  as  he  entered  the  prison  handed  to  the  jailer  a  cer- 
tificate of  registration  as  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  at  the  American  Consulate 
in  Havana.  Notice  of  this  fact  had  been  transmitted  by  the  prison  officials  to 

223 


Gen.  Weyler,  the  Captain  General.  Gen.  Lee  had  also  written  Gen.  Weyler 
that  Ruiz  was  an  American  citizen  and  demanded  that  he  be  treated  as  such. 

The  treaty  between  Spain  and  the  United  States  provided  that  American 
citizens  arrested  without  arms  in  his  hands,  should  be  tried  for  alleged  offenses 
against  the  Spanish  Government  by  the  civil  code  and  not  by  the  military  code. 
The  Spanish  civil  code  provided  that  imprisonment  incommunicado  should  not 
exceed  ten  days.  Ruiz,  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  been  imprisoned  incom- 
municado some  fifteen  or  eighteen  days,  and  was  undergoing  a  trial  under  the 
military  code.  All  this  was  in  violation  of  the  treaty,  and  these  facts  made  a 
basis  for  a  claim  for  indemnity  for  the  family  of  Ruiz.  But  for  the  blowing 
up  of  the  Maine,  the  sudden  departure  of  Depuy  de  Lome  from  Washington, 
upon  the  disclosure  of  the  celebrated  letter  he  wrote  reflecting  upon  the  Presi- 
dent, and,  finally  but  for  the  war  that  soon  followed,  the  United  States  would 
no  doubt  have  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  substantial  sum  for  Mrs.  Ruiz  and  her 
children. 

The  tyranny  and  cruelty  of  Spanish  rule  in  Cuba,  which  should  have  been 
broken  up  by  the  United  States  years  ago,  culminated  in  the  diabolical  act  of 
blowing  up  the  United  States  warship  Maine.  This  vessel  with  266  of  her  crew 
was  destroyed  by  the  explosion  of  a  Spanish  mine  in  the  harbor  of  Havana  at  9 :4O 
P.  M.,  February  15,  1898.  The  news  of  this  dreadful  event  created  a  profound 
impression  upon  the  public  mind.  The  majority  of  the  people  at  once  con- 
cluded that  the  destruction  of  the  Maine  was  due  to  Spanish  treachery.  A  court 
of  inquiry  was  ordered  by  the  President ;  an  exhaustive  investigation  was  made 
into  the  cause  of  the  destruction  of  the  vessel.  The  report,  dated  March  21,  1898, 
was  able  and  exhaustive.  Its  conclusions  were  as  follows : 

"6.  The  Court  finds  that  the  loss  of  the  Maine  on  the  occasion  named  was 
not  in  any  respect  due  to  fault  or  negligence  on  the  part  of  any  of  the  officers 
or  members  of  the  crew  of  said  vessel. 

"7.  In  the  opinion  of  the  Court,  the  Maine  was  destroyed  by  the  explosion 
of  a  submarine  mine,  which  caused  the  partial  explosion  of  two  or  more  or  her 
forward  magazines." 

This  report  fixed  in  the  public  mind  the  opinion  that  Spanish  authority  was 
responsible  for  the  terrible  disaster.  An  apology  and  a  money  indemnity  could 
not  be  accepted  in  settlement  of  such  an  injury.  Nothing  less  than  the  imme- 
diate withdrawal  of  Spanish  authority  from  the  Western  Hemisphere  could  be 
considered.  Congress,  which  had  already  appropriated  $50,000,000  for  public 
defense,  passed  and  the  President  approved  on  April  igth  a  preamble  and  reso- 
lutions demanding  "that  the  Government  of  Spain  at  once  relinquish  its  authority 
and  government  in  the  island  of  Cuba  and  withdraw  its  land  and  naval  forces 
from  Cuba  and  Cuban  waters,"  and  "that  the  President  of  the  United  States  be, 
and  he  is  hereby  directed  and  empowered  to  use  the  entire  land  and  naval  forces 
of  the  United  States,  and  to  call  into  actual  service  of  the  United  States  the 
militia  of  the  several  States  to  such  an  extent  as  may  be  necessary  to  carry  these 
resolutions  into  effect." 

On  the  same  day  an  ultimatum  was  cabled  to  General  Woodford,  the  Amer- 
ican Minister  at  Madrid  fixing  the  hour  of  noon,  April  23,  for  a  full  and  satis- 
factory response  by  the  Spanish  Government.  Spain  did  not  wait  for  the  deliv- 
ery of  the  ultimatum. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  rose  up  as  one  man  and  the  deed  was 
done.  The  American  navy  at  Manila  and  Santiago  proved  its  superiority  in 
ships,  guns  and  men,  and  the  Spanish  fleets  went  to  the  bottom  of  the  seas. 
The  American  army  at  Santiago  and  Manila  soon  brought  the  war  to  an  end. 
The  success  of  the  American  army  on  the  land  and  on  the  sea  excited  the  ad- 
miration of  the  world.  There  were  no  two  opinions  in  foreign  lands  as  to  what 
should  be  the  outcome  of  the  war.  In  the  United  States  the  great  body  of 
people  favored  the  policy  of  holding  all  the  Spanish  islands  seized  by  the  Na- 
tional Army.  A  treaty  of  peace  was  negotiated  in  which  Spain  relinquished  her 
sovereignty  over  Cuba,  Porto  Rico,  Guam  and  the  Philippines.  That  treaty,  re- 
quiring a  two-thirds  vote  in  the  Senate,  was  ratified,  seventeen  Democrats  voting 
with  Republicans  for  its  approval.  It  then  became  the  law  of  the  land.  Con- 
gress having  declared  that  Cuba,  after  the  establishment  of  a  stable  govern- 

224 


ment,  should  be  free,  the  good  work  of  rehabilitating  that  desolated  country  wa& 
set  on  foot.  Peace  and  order  have  been  restored,  schools  have  been  established, 
cities  improved,  the  people  aided  and  encouraged  to  return  to  work;  famine, 
which  under  Spanish  rule  decimated  the  country,  has  disappeared,  plenty  pre- 
vails, the  finances  of  the  island  have  been  established  on  a  solid  basis,  current  ex- 
penses being  paid,  and  $1,500,000  surplus  in  the  treasury.  A  Constitu- 
tional Convention  meets  in  November,  1900;  the  crops  for  the  year  are  now 
estimated  to  be  worth  one  hundred  million  dollars.  The  Cuban  people  will  be 
free,  the  hand  of  tyranny  has  been  forever 'lifted  from  them.  They  will  now 
have  an  opportunity  to  work  out  the  great  problem  of  self-government  to  which 
they  have  aspired,  and  they  will  have  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  people 
of  the  United  States.  Their  cause  was  the  cause  of  a  common  humanity,  which 
appealed  to  the  hearts  of  the  American  people;  the  blood  and  treasure  spent 
in  their  behalf  was  a  willing  sacrifice  made  by  the  people  of  the  United  States 
in  the  interest  of  liberty  and  humanity. 

While  the  important  legislation  of  the  Republican  administration  of  Presi- 
dent McKinley,  in  the  interest  of  the  protective  system  and  the  gold  standard, 
have  brought  confidence  and  prosperity  to  the  country  and  will  ever  be  reme'm- 
bered  as  works  of  wisdom,  the  successful  war  with  Spain,  with  all  its  attendant 
diplomatic  negotiations,  will  stand  out  in  the  future  as  the  greatest  and  most 
important  event  of  this  era  of  American  history.  It  has  given  the  United  States 
that  prestige  with  the  statesmen  of  the  old  world  that  will  enable  this  country 
by  her  counsels  to  contribute  largely  to  a  universal  peace  based  on  respect,  con- 
fidence and  fair  dealing.  Surely  it  must  be  admitted  that  civil  government  is  a 
great  progressive  science  and  that  the  United  States  of  America,  under  the 
'leadership  of  the  Republican  party,  is  the  great  exponent  of  that  science. 


225 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

REPUBLICAN  AND  DEMOCRATIC  CONVENTIONS,  1900. 

The  Republican  State  Convention  met  at  Peoria,  May  8.  It  was  composed 
of  1,537  members.  Every  county  had  a  full  delegation;  thousands  of  citizen's 
from  all  parts  of  the  State  were  present  to  witness  the  proceedings.  Charles 
G.  Dawes  was  chosen  as  temporary  chairman:  He  delivered  an  able  and  elo- 
quent speech. 

The  usual  committees  were  appointee!.  The  contests  of  delegations  were 
settled.  Joseph  W.  Fifer  was  named  as  permanent  chairman  and  Charles  F. 
Peters  as  secretary.  The  following  named  persons  were  chosen  as  Presidential 
electors : 

Electors  at  Large. — John  Maurice  Herbert,  Murphysboro;  Henry  Button 
Pierce,  Oak  Park. 

District  Electors. — First,  Wm.  McLaren,  Chicago;  Second,  Edwin  S.  Con- 
way,  Oak  Park ;  Third,  Thos.  J.  Finucane,  Chicago ;  Fourth,  James  H.  Graham, 
Chicago;  Fifth,  Wm.  J.  Moxley,  Chicago;  Sixth,  Edward  G.  Halle,  Chicago; 
Seventh,  Eli  P.  Chatfield,  Chicago ;  Eighth,  Joseph  H.  Patterson,  Morris ;  Ninth, 
John  C.  McKenzie,  Elizabeth;  Tenth,  Thomas  P.  Pierce,  Kewanee;  Eleventh, 
Charles  L.  Romberger,  Dwight ;  Twelfth,  Horace  Russell,  Milford ;  Thirteenth, 
Isaac  Newton  Biebinger,  Milmine ;  Fourteenth,  Joseph  B.  Greenhut,  Peoria ; 
Fifteenth,  Burton  O.  Willard,  Rushville ;  Sixteenth,  Edward  J.  Frost,  Winches- 
ter; Seventeenth,  Nathaniel  W.  Bronson,  Petersburg;  Eighteenth,  Samuel  H. 
McLean,  Hillsboro ;  Nineteenth,  Sylvester  H.  Gee,  Lawrenceville ;  Twentieth, 
Chas.  Kommeyer,  McLeansboro ;  Twenty-first,  J.  C.  Eisenmayer,  Trenton ; 
Twenty-second,  Marion  S.  Whitley,  Harrisburg. 

The  Convention  selected  a  State  Central  Committee  composed  of  the  fol- 
lowing named  persons,  one  from  each  Senatorial  District :  First,  Thomas  N. 
Jamieson,  Chicago;  Second,  Charles  S.  Deneen,  Chicago;  Third,  Ernest  J.  Ma- 
gerstadt,  Chicago;  Fourth,  Joseph  E.  Biclwill,  Chicago;  Fifth,  William  J.  Mox- 
ley, Chicago;  Sixth,  Fred  A.  Busse,  Chicago;  Seventh,  James  Pease,  Chicago; 
Eighth,  Luman  T.  Hoy,  Woodstock ;  Ninth,  J.  R.  Cowley,  Freeport ;  Tenth, 
James  McKinney,  Aledo ;  Eleventh,  Ralph  F.  Bradford,  Pontiac ;  Twelfth,  Len 
Small,  Kankakee ;  Thirteenth,  Charles  G.  Eckhart,  Tuscola ;  Fourteenth,  John 
S.  Stevens,  Peoria ;  Fifteenth,  J.  Mack  Sholl,  Carthage ;  Sixteenth,  H.  D.  L. 
Griggsby,  Pittsfield ;  Seventeenth,  T.  M.  Harris,  Lincoln ;  Eighteenth,  George 
T.  Turner,  Vandalia ;  Nineteenth,  Charles  P.  Hitch,  Paris ;  Twentieth,  John  H. 
Miller,  McLainsboro ;  Twenty-first,  George  F.  Mead,  Pinckneyville ;  Twenty- 
second,  Daniel  Hogan,  Mound  City.  At  Large. — Joseph  Robbins,  Quincy; 
Charles  Bent,  Morrison ;  S.  H.  Watson,  Mount  Vernon ;  John  W.  Bunn,  Spring- 
field; Edward  H.  Morris,  Chicago;  Joseph  Brucker,  Chicago;  G.  Bernhard 
Anderson,  Chicago. 

There  were  four  candidates  for  Governor,  Elbridge  Hanecy,  O.  N.  Carter, 
Walter  Reeves  and  Richard  Yates,  all  men  of  ability.  Judges  Hanecy  and 
Carter,  both  of  Cook  County,  were  active  competitors  for  delegates  in  their 
own  county. 

Each  candidate  had  a  strong  following,  but  upon  the  first  ballot  Judge 
Hanecy  was  well  in  the  lead.  The  friends  of  the  two  Cook  County  candidates 
were  unable  to  agree  among  themselves,  otherwise,  it  is  probable  the  nomina- 
tion would  have  gone  to  Chicago.  But  this  was  not  to  be.  On  the  third 
ballot  the  friends  of  Judge  Hanecy,  under  the  leadership  of  Hon.  William  Lori- 
mer,  threw  their  entire  strength  to  Judge  Yates,  and  he  was  nominated.  It 
was  a  happy  solution  of  a  very  heated  contest.  Judge  Yates  was  in  no  way 

226 


involved  in  the  intense  controversy  which  had  sprung  up  in  Cook  County,  s6 
his  nomination  resulted  in  harmonizing  the  party  and  insuring  a  united  effort 
for  the  success  of  the  ticket : 

The  ticket  nominated  by  the  Convention  was :  Richard  Yates  for  Gov- 
ernor, Wm.  A.  Northcott,  Lieutenant  Governor ;  James  A.  Rose,  Secretary  of 
State;  James  S.  McCullough,  Auditor;  M.  O.  Williamson,  Treasurer;  H.  J. 
Hamlin,  Attorney  General. 

The  platform  adopted  by  the  Convention  reaffirmed  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  Party  and  endorsed  the  administration  of  President  McKinley. 

The  delegates  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  were  the  following: 
At  Large. — Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Danville;  John  J.  Brown,  Vandalia;  John  M. 
Smyth,  Chicago ;  H.  P.  Judson,  Aurora.  Alternates. — Norman  H.  Moss,  Mount 
Vernon ;  C.  H.  Castle,  Adair;  E.  H.  Morris,  Chicago;  Maurice  Rosenfeld,  Chi- 
cago. District  Delegates. — First,  Martin  B.  Madden,  Henry  G.  Foreman;  Sec- 
ond, William  Lorimer,  Charles  S.  Deneen ;  Third,  Frank  O.  Lowden,  E.  J. 
Magerstadt;  Fourth,  Christopher  Mamer,  D.  W.  Clark;  Fifth,  Ephraim  Ban- 
ning, Louis  D.  Sitts ;  Sixth,  Graeme  Stewart,  Bernard  E.  Sunny ;  Seventh,  D. 
S.  McMullen,  Fred  L.  Wilk ;  Eighth,  Isaac  L.  Ellwood,  John  Stewart ;  Ninth, 
John  M.  Rinewalt,  L.  W.  Mitchell;  Tenth,  F.  B.  Rice,  Charles  Deere;  Eleventh, 
John  C.  Ames,  E.  C.  Brown ;  Twelfth,  John  Lambert,  Hamilton  K.  Wheeler ; 
Thirteenth,  J.  A.  Rowell,  J.  P.  Middlecoff ;  Fourteenth,  Fred  H.  Smith,  E.  W. 
Wilson;  Fifteenth,  W.  S.  Warfield,  Everett  C.  Harding;  Sixteenth,  J.  G.  Pope, 
Charles  A.  T.  Martin;  Seventeenth,  W.  C.  Johns,  Loren  E.  Wheeler;  Eigh- 
teenth, George  R.  Hewitt,  W.  G.  Cochran ;  Nineteenth,  H.  G.  Van  Zandt,  T.  A. 
Dyas ;  Twentieth,  Orlando  Burrell,  L.  L.  Emerson ;  Twenty-first,  Charles  Beck- 
er, M.  H.  Hughey ;  Twenty-second,  Thomas  John,  Jr.,  P.  T.  Chapman. 

The  National  Republican  Convention  met  in  Philadelphia,  June  19,  1900. 
It  was  a  notable  and  enthusiastic  gathering.  The  convention  was  called  to 
order  by  Marcus  A.  Hanna,  chairman  of  the  Republican  National  Committee. 
Edward  O.  Wolcott,  United  States  Senator  from  Colorado,  was  named  tem- 
porary chairman,  and  Henry  Cabot  Lodge,  United  States  Senator  from  Massa- 
chusetts, was  chosen  permanent  chairman.  These  three  gentlemen  delivered 
speeches  of  exceptional  power  and  eloquence,  reviewing  the  principles  of  the 
Republican  party  and  the  important  work  of  the  administration  of  President 
McKinley.  The  convention  and  great  audience  were  in  complete  rapport.  The 
telling  points  of  orators  were  received  with  billows  of  applause.  The  platform 
abated  nothing  of  former  declarations,  but  stood  by  the  record  of  the  party 
from  the  beginning.  Its  most  important  features  follow : 

"The  Republicans  of  the  United  States,  through  their  chosen  representa- 
tives, met  in  national  convention,  looking  back  upon  an  unsurpassed  record  of 
achievement  and  looking  forward  into  a  great  field  of  duty  and  opportunity ; 
and,  appealing  to  the  judgment  of  their  countrymen,  make  these  declarations : 

"The  expectation  in  which  the  American  people,  turning  from  the  Demo- 
cratic party,  intrusted  power  four  years  ago  to  a  Republican  Chief  Magistrate 
and  a  Republican  Congress,  has  been  met  and  satisfied.  When  the  people  then 
assembled  at  the  polls,  after  a  term  of  Democratic  legislation  and  administra- 
tion, business  was  dead,  industry  paralyzed,  and  the  national  credit  disastrously 
impaired.  The  country's  capital  was  hidden  away  and  its  labor  distressed  and 
unemployed.  The  Democrats  had  no  other  plan  with  which  to  improve  the 
ruinous  conditions,  which  they  had  themselves  produced,  than  to  coin  silver  at 
the  ratio  of  16  to  i. 

"The  Republican  party,  denouncing  this  plan  as  sure  to  produce  conditions 
even  worse  than  those  from  which  relief  was  sought,  promised  to  restore  pros- 
perity by  means  of  two  legislative  measures — a  protective  tariff  and  a  law  mak- 
ing gold  the  standard  of  value. 

"The  people,  by  great  majorities,  issued  to  the  Republican  party  a  com- 
mission to  enact  these  laws.  This  commission  has  been  executed,  and  the  Re- 
publican promise  is  redeemed. 

"Prosperity  more  general  and  more  abundant  than  we  have  ever  known 
has  followed  these  enactments.  There  is  no  longer  controversy  as  to  the  value 
of  any  government  obligations.  Every  American  dollar  is  a  gold  dollar  or  its 

227 


assured  equivalent,  and  American  credit  stands  higher  than  that  of  any  nation. 
Capital  is  fully  employed  and  even  where  labor  is  profitably  occupied.  No 
single  fact  can  more  strikingly  tell  the  story  of  what  .Republican  government 
means  to  the  country  than  this — that  while  during  the  whole  period  of  107 
years,  from  1790  to  1897,  there  was  an  excess  of  exports  over  imports  of  only 
$383,028,497,  there  has  been  in  the  short  three  years  of  the  present  Republican 
administration  an  excess  of  exports  over  imports  in  the  enormous  sum  of 
$1,483,537,094. 

"And  while  the  American  people,  sustained  by  this  Republican  legislation, 
have  been  achieving  these  splendid  triumphs  in  their  business  and  commerce, 
they  have  conducted  and  in  victory  concluded  a  war  for  liberty  and  human 
rights.  No  thought  of  national  aggrandizement  tarnished  the  high  purpose  with 
which  American  standards  were  unfurled. 

"It  was  a  war  unsought  and  patiently  resisted,  but  when  it  came  the  Ameri- 
can government  was  ready.  Its  fleets  were  cleared  for  action.  Its  armies  were 
in  the  field,  and  the  quick  and  signal  triumph  of  its  forces  on  land  and  sea  bore 
equal  tribute  'to  the  courage  of  American  soldiers  and  sailors  and  to  the  skill 
and  foresight  of  Republican  statesmanship.  To  ten  millions  of  the  human  race 
there  was  given  'a  new  birth  of  freedom,'  and  to  the  American  people  a  new 
and  noble  responsibility. 

"We  indorse  the  administration  of  William  McKinley.  Its  acts  have  been 
established  in  wisdom  and  in  patriotism,  and  at  home  and  abroad  it  has  dis- 
tinctly elevated  and  extended  the  influence  of  the  American  nation. 

"Walking  untried  paths  and  facing  unforeseen  responsibilities,  President 
McKinley  has  been  in  every  situation  the  true  American  patriot  and  the  upright 
statesman,  clear  in  vision,  strong  in  judgment,  firm  in  action,  always  inspiring, 
and  deserving  the  confidence  of  his  countrymen. 

"In  asking  the  American  people  to  indorse  this  Republican  record  and  to 
renew  their  commission  to  the  Republican  party,  we  remind  them  of  the  fact 
that  the  menace  to  their  prosperity  has  always  resided  in  Democratic  principles 
and  no  less  in  the  general  incapacity  of  the  Democratic  party  to  conduct  public 
affairs. 

"The  prime  essential  of  business  prosperity  is  public  confidence  in  the  good 
sense  of  the  government  and  in  its  ability  to  deal  intelligently  with  each  new 
problem  of  administration  and  legislation.  That  confidence  the  Democratic 
party  has  never  earned.  It  is  hopelessly  inadequate,  and  the  country's  pros- 
perity when  Democratic  success  at  the  polls  is  announced  halts  and  ceases  in 
mere  anticipation  of  Democratic  blunders  and  failures. 

"We  renew  our  allegiance  to  the  principle  of  the  gold  standard  and  declare 
our  confidence  in  the  wisdom  of  the  legislation  of  the  Fifty-sixth  Congress,  by 
which  the  parity  of  all  our  money  and  the  stability  of  our  currency  on  a  gold 
basis  have  been  secured. 

"We  recognize  that  interest  rates  are  a  potent  factor  in  production  and 
business  activity,  and  for  the  purpose  of  further  equalizing  and  of  further  low- 
ering the  rates  of  interest  we  favor  such  monetary  legislation  as  will  enable  the 
varying  needs  of  the  season  and  of  all  sections  to  be  promptly  met  in  order  that 
trade  may  be  evenly  sustained,  labor  steadily  employed,  and  commerce  enlarged. 

"The  volume  of  money  in  circulation  was  never  so  great  per  capita  as  it  is 
today.  WTe  declare  our  steadfast  opposition  to  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage 
of  silver.  No  measure  to  that  end  could  be  considered  which  was  without  the 
support  of  the  leading  commercial  countries  of  the  world.  However  firmly 
Republican  legislation  may  seem  to  have  secured  the  country  against  the  peril 
of  base  and  discredited  currency,  the  election  of  a  Democratic  President  could 
not  fail  to  impair  the  country's  credit  and  to  bring  once  more  into  question 
the  intentions  of  the  American  people  to  maintain  upon  the  gold  standard  the 
parity  of  their  money  circulation.  The  Democratic  party  must  be  convinced 
that  the  American  people  will  never  tolerate  the  Chicago  platform. 

"We  recognize  the  necessity  and  propriety  of  the  honest  co-operation  of 
capital  to  meet  new  business  conditions,  and  especially  to  extend  our  rapidly 
increasing  foreign  trade,  but  we  condemn  all  conspiracies  and  combinations 
intended  to  restrict  business,  to  create  monopolies,  to  limit  production,  or  to 

228 


control  prices,  and  favor  such  legislation  as  will  effectually  restrain  and  pre- 
vent all  such  abuses,  protect  and  promote  competition,  and  secure  the  rights  of 
producers,  laborers,  and  all  who  are  engaged  in  industry  and  commerce. 

"We  renew  our  faith  in  the  policy  of  protection  to  American  labor.  In  that 
policy  our  industries  have  been  established,  diversified,  and  maintained.  By  pro- 
tecting the  home  market  the  competition  has  been  stimulated  and  production 
cheapened.  Opportunity  to  the  inventive  genius  of  our  people  has  been  secured 
and  wages  in  every  department  of  labor  maintained  at  high  rates,  higher  now 
than  ever  before,  always  distinguishing  our  working  people  in  their  better  con- 
ditions of  life  from  those  of  any  competing  country. 

''Enjoying  the  blessings  of  American  common  school,  secure  in  the  right 
of  self-government,  and  protected  in  the  occupancy  of  their  own  markets,  their 
constantly  increasing  knowledge  and  skill  have  enabled  them  finally  to  enter 
the  markets  of  the  world.  We  favor  the  associated  policy  of  reciprocity  so 
directed  as  to  open  our  markets  on  favorable  terms  for  what  we  do  not  ourselves 
produce  in  return  for  free  foreign  markets. 

"In  the  further  interest  of  American  workmen  we  favor  a  more  effective 
restriction  of  the  immigration  of  cheap  labor  from  foreign  lands,  the  extension 
of  opportunities  of  education  for  working  children,  the  raising  of  the  age  limit 
for  child  labor,  the  protection  of  free  labor  as  against  contract  convict  labor, 
and  an  effective  system  of  labor  insurance. 

"Our  present  dependence  upon  foreign  shipping  for  nine-tenths  of  our 
foreign  carrying  is  a  great  loss  to  the  industry  of  this  country.  It  is  also  a 
serious  danger  to  our  trade,  for  its  sudden  withdrawal  in  the  event  of  European 
war  would  seriously  cripple  our  expanding  foreign  commerce.  The  national 
defense  and  naval  efficiency  of  this  country,  moreover,  supply  a  compelling 
reason  for  legislation  which  will  enable  us  to  recover  our  former  place  among 
the  trade  carrying  fleets  of  the  world. 

"The  nation  owes  a  debt  of  profound  gratitude  to  the  soldiers  and  sailors 
who  have  fought  its  battles,  and  it  is  the  government's  duty  to  provide  for  the 
survivors  and  for  the  widows  and  orphans  of  those  who  have  fallen  in  the  coun- 
try's wars. 

"The  pension  laws,  founded  in  this  sentiment,  should  be  liberal  and  should 
be  liberally  administered,  and  preference  should  be  given  wherever  practicable 
with  respect  to  employment  in  the  public  service  to  soldiers  and  sailors  and  to 
their  widows  and  orphans. 

"President  McKinley  has  conducted  the  foreign  affairs  of  the  United  States 
with  distinguished  credit  to  the  American  people.  In  releasing  us  from  the 
vexatious  conditions  of  a  European  alliance  for  the  government  of  Samoa  his 
course  is  especially  to  be  commended.  By  securing  to  our  undivided  control 
the  most  important  island  of  the  Samoan  group  and  the  best  harbor  in  the 
Southern  Pacific  every  American  interest  has  been  safeguarded. 

"We  approve  the  annexation  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands  to  the  United  States. 

"We  favor  home  rule  for  and  the  early  admission  to  Statehood  of  the  Terri- 
tories of  New  Mexico,  Arizona  and  Oklahoma. 

"The  Dingley  act,  amended  to  provide  sufficient  revenue  for  the  conduct 
of  the  war,  has  so  well  performed  its  work  that  it  has  been  possible  to  reduce 
the  war  debt  in  the  sum  of  $40,000,000.  So  ample  are  the  government's  reve- 
nues, and  so  great  is  the  public  confidence  in  the  integrity  of  its  obligations,  that 
its  newly  funded  2  per  cent  bonds  sell  at  a  premium.  The  country  is  now  justi- 
fied in  expecting  and  it  will  be  the  policy  of  the  Republican  party  to  bring  about 
a  reduction  of  the  war  taxes. 

"Wre  favor  the  construction,  ownership,  control  and  protection  of  an  isth- 
mian canal  by  the  government  of  the  United  States.  New  markets  are  neces- 
sary for  the  increasing  surplus  of  our  farm  products.  Every  effort  should  be 
made  to  open  and  obtain  new  markets,  especially  in  the  Orient,  and  the  admin- 
istration is  warmly  to  be  commended  for  its  successful  effort  to  commit  all 
trading  and  colonizing  nations  to  the  policy  of  the  open  door  in  China. 

"In  the  interest  of  our  expanding  commerce  we  recommend  that  Congress 
create  a  Department  of  Commerce  and  Industries  in  the  charge  of  a  Secretary 
with  a  seat  in  the  Cabinet. 

229 


"The  United  States  consular  system  should  be  reorganized  under  the  super- 
vision of  this  new  department  upon  such  a  basis  of  appointment  and  tenure  as 
will  render  it  still  more  serviceable  to  the  nation's  increasing  trade. 

"The  American  government  must  protect  the  person  and  property  of  every 
citizen  wherever  they  are  wrongfully  violated  or  placed  in  peril. 

"We  congratulate  the  women  of  America  upon  their  splendid  record  of 
public  service  in  the  Volunteer  Aid  association,  and  as  nurses  in  camp  and 
hospital  during  the  recent  campaigns  of  our  armies  in  the  Eastern  and  Western 
Indies,  and  we  appreciate  their  faithful  co-operation  in  all  works  of  education 
and  industry. 

"In  accepting  by  the  treaty  of  Paris  the  just  responsibility  of  our  victories 
in  the  Spanish  war,  the  President  and  the  Senate  won  the  undoubted  approval 
of  the  American  people.  No  other  course  was  possible  than  to  destroy  Spain's 
sovereignty  throughout  the  Western  Indies  and  in  the  Philippine  Islands. 

"That  course  created  our  responsibility  before  the  world  and  with  the  un- 
organized population  whom  our  intervention  had  freed  from  Spain,  to  provide 
for  the  maintenance  of  law  and  order,  and  for  the  establishment  of  good  gov- 
ernment, and  for  the  performance  of  international  obligations. 

"Our  authority  could  not  be  less  than  our  responsibility,  and  wherever  sov- 
ereign rights  were  extended  it  became  the  high  duty  of  the  government  to  main- 
tain its  authority,  to  put  down  armed  insurrection  and  to  confer  the  blessings 
of  liberty  and  civilization  upon  all  the  rescued  peoples. 

"The  largest  measure  of  self-government  consistent  with  their  welfare  and 
our  duties  shall  be  secured  to  them  by  law. 

"To  Cuba  independence  and  self-government  were  assured  in  the  same 
voice  by  which  war  was  declared,  and  to  the  letter  this  pledge  should  be  per- 
formed. 

"The  Republican  party  upon  its  history  and  upon  this  declaration  of  its 
principles  and  policies  confidently  invokes  the  considerate  and  approving  judg- 
ment of  the  American  people." 

Martin  B.  Madden  represented  Illinois  on  the  Committee  on  Resolutions. 
Graeme  Stewart  was  selected  as  the  Illinois  member  of  the  Republican  National 
Committee. 

The  renomination  of  William  McKinley  as  the  Republican  candidate  for 
President  was  a  foregone  conclusion  from  the  beginning.  No  one  else  was 
considered.  The  public  mind  rested  serenely  in  the  knowledge  that  he  would 
be  renominated,  and  in  the  confident  belief  that  he  would  be  re-elected.  The 
question  was  upon  the  selection  of  his  running  mate.  Governor  Theodore 
Roosevelt  was  the  universal  favorite,  but  he  had  specifically  stated  that  he 
would  not  accept  the  nomination ;  that  he  was  a  candidate  for  re-nomination 
and  election  as  Governor  of  New  York.  Governor  Roosevelt  was  a  delegate 
to  the  Philadelphia  convention.  He  met  delegates  from  all  parts  of  the  coun- 
try, and  soon  found  that  the  desire  for  his  candidacy  as  Vice-President  was 
quite  universal  and  sincere.  He  found  himself  carried  forward  by  this  wave 
of  popularity,  and  enthusiastic  support,  and  yielded  to  it.  William  McKinley 
of  Ohio,  was  unanimously  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent, and  Theodore  Roosevelt,  of  New  York,  was  unanimously  nominated  as 
the  Republican  candidate  for  Vice-President.  This  ended  the  work  of  the 
convention.  The  great  throng  of  citizens  from  every  state  and  territory,  in- 
cluding Hawaii,  which  had  assembled  to  witness  the  extraordinary  scene  of 
the  Grand  Convocation  of  this  Republic  selecting  a  candidate  for  the  greatest 
office  in  the  world,  namely  that  of  President  of  the  United  States,  after  a 
week  of  social  and  political  association,  returned  to  their  homes  inspired  more 
deeply  than  ever  before  with  grandeur  of  our  system  of  Republican  Govern- 
ment, and  a  deeper  determination  to  labor  for  the  success  of  the  Republican 
party. 

The  Democratic  State  Convention  met  at  Springfield,  June  26,  1900,  and 
nominated  the  following  candidates  for  State  offices :  Samuel  Alschuler,  for 
Governor ;  Elmer  E.  Perry,  Lieutenant  Governor ;  James  F.  O'Donnell,  Secre- 
tary of  State;  George  B.  Parsons,  Auditor;  Millard  F.  Dunlap,  Treasurer;  James 
Todd,  Attorney  General. 

230 


The  Democratic  National  Convention  met  July  4,  1900,  at  Kansas  City,  Mo. 
It  was  a  notable  gathering  of  leading  Democrats,  representing  every  section 
of  the  country,  and  every  faction  of  the  party.  There  was  no  opposition  what- 
ever to  the  renomination  of  William  J.  Bryan,  of  Nebraska ;  his  wonderful  cam- 
paign of  1896  endeared  him  to  the  party,  and  he  was  the  only  person  consid- 
ered. While  in  1896  the  Democratic  Convention  adopted  a  lengthy  platform, 
the  single  issue  upon  which  they  made  the  compaign  was  the  "Free  and  unlim- 
ited coinage  of  silver  at  the  rate  of  16  to  r."  A  great  many  Democrats  who 
favored  the  gold  standard  opposed  Mr.  Bryan,  but  the  great  body  of  Dem- 
ocracy, numbering  more  than  six  and  a  half  millions,  voted  for  him  and  en- 
thusiastically supported  the  silver  plank  in  their  platform.  They  lost  at  the 
election — business  revived — the  output  of  gold  increased.  Congress  passed  a 
financial  law  fully  establishing  the  gold  standard.  Prosperity  was  universal. 
Confidence  was  restored.  A  foreign  war  had  been  successfully  fought.  The 
Spanish  islands  had  been  acquired.  An  issue  was  made  as  to  the  disposition 
of  those  islands. 

When  the  Democratic  Convention  met,  the  fact  was  soon  developed  that  a 
large  majority  of  the  delegates  were  not  favorable  to  making  the  silver  issue 
a  distinct  feature  of  the  platform.  They  were  willing  to  endorse  the  Chicago 
platform  of  1896  in  general  terms,  but  they  were  desirous  of  leaving  the  silver 
question  severely  alone.  They  wanted  to  make  tlie  race  for  President  entirely 
upon  a  new  issue.  They  desired  to  present  to  the  people  of  the  country 
the  awful  danger  that  was  impending  to  free  institutions  as  the  result  of  retain- 
ing the  Philippines  and  the  organization  of  an  army  to  establish  order  in  that 
archipelago.  But  while  Mr.  Bryan  had  sounded  the  alarm  of  imperialism  and 
militarism,  he  demanded  a  specific  declaration  on  the  silver  question  Identical 
with  the  Chicago  plank. 

The  Convention,  heartily  against  its  will,  yielded  to  this  demand,  but  showed 
their  repugnance  to  the  silver  issue  by  placing  that  resolution  near  the  tail-end 
of  the  platform  and  declaring  that  the  burning  issue  was  something  else  besides 
silver. 

The  following  are  some  of  the  important  declarations  of  that  document : 

"We  condemn  and  denounce  the  Philippine  policy  of  the  present  adminis- 
tration. It  has  involved  the  Republic  in  unnecessary  war,  sacrificed  the  lives 
of  many  of  our  noblest  sons,  and  placed  the  United  States,  previously  known 
and  applauded  throughout  the  world  as  the  champion  of  freedom,  in  the  false 
and  un-American  position  of  crushing  with  military  force  the  efforts  of  our 
former  allies  to  achieve  liberty  and  self-government.  The  Filipinos  cannot  be 
citizens  without  endangering  our  civilization ;  they  cannot  be  subjects  without 
imperiling  our  form  of  government,  and  as  we  are  not  willing  to  surrender  our 
civilization  or  to  convert  the  Republic  into  an  empire,  we  favor  an  immediate 
declaration  of  the  nation's  purpose  to  give  the  Filipinos  first  a  stable  form  of 
government ;  second,  independence,  and,  third,  protection  from  outside  inter- 
ference such  as  has  b'een  given  for  nearly  a  century  to  the  Republics  of  Central 
and  South  America. 

"The  greedy  commercialism  which  dictated  the  Philippine  policy  of  the 
Republican  administration  attempts  to  justify  it  with  the  plea  that  it  will  pay, 
but  even  this  sordid  and  unworthy  plea  fails  when  brought  to  the  test  of  facts. 
The  war  of  criminal  aggression  against  the  Filipinos,  entailing  an  annual  ex- 
pense of  many  millions,  has  already  cost  more  than  any  possible  profit  that 
could  accrue  from  the  entire  Philippine  trade  for  years  to  come.  Furthermore, 
when  trade  is  extended  at  the  expense  of  liberty  the  price  is  always  too  high. 

"The  importance  of  other  questions  now  pending  before  the  American  peo- 
ple is  in  nowise  diminished,  and  the  Democratic  party  takes  no  backward  step 
from  its  position  on  them,  but  the  burning  issue  of  imperialism  growing  out  of 
the  Spanish  war  involves  the  very  existence  of  the  Republic,  and  the  destruction 
of  our  free  institutions.  We  regard  it  as  the  paramount  issue  of  the  campaign. 

"We  oppose  militarism.  It  means  conquest  abroad  and  intimidation  at 
home.  It  means  the  strong  arm  which  has  ever  been  fatal  to  free  institutions. 
It  is  what  millions  of  our  citizens  have  fled  from  in  Europe.  It  will  impose 
upon  our  peace-loving  people  a  large  standing  army  and  unnecessary  burden 

231 


of  taxation  and  a  constant  menace  to  their  liberties.  A  small  standing  army 
and  a  well-disciplined  state  militia  are  amply  sufficient  in  time  of  peace.  This 
Republic  has  no  place  for  a  vast  military  service  antf  conscription.  When  the 
nation  is  in  danger  the  volunteer  soldier  is  his  country's  best  defender. 

"We  condemn  the  Dingley  tariff  law  as  a  trust-breeding  measure,  skillfully 
devised  to  give  the  few  favors  which  they  do  not  deserve  and  to  place  upon  the 
many  burdens  which  they  should  not  bear. 

"We  reaffirm  and  indorse  the  principles  of  the  National  Democratic  plat- 
form adopted  at  Chicago  in  1896,  and  we  reiterate  the  demand  of  that  platform 
for  an  American  financial  system,  made  by  the  American  people  for  themselves, 
which  shall  restore  and  maintain  a  bimetallic  price  level,  and  as  part  of  such 
system  the  immediate  restoration  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver 
and  gold  at  the  present  legal  ratio  of  16  to  i,  without  waiting  for  the  aid  or 
consent  of  any  other  nation. 

"Wre  denounce  the  currency  bill  enacted  at  the  last  session  of  Congress  as 
a  step  forward  in  the  Republican  policy  which  aims  to  discredit  the  sovereign 
right  of  the  National  Government  to  issue  all  money,  whether  coin  or  paper, 
and  to  bestow  upon  national  banks  the  power  to  issue  and  control  the  volume 
of  paper  money  for  their  own  benefit.  A  permanent  national  bank  currency, 
secured  by  government  bonds,  must  have  a  permanent  debt  to  rest  upon,  and  if 
the  bank  currency  is  to  increase  with  population  and  business,  the  debt  must 
also  increase.  The  Republican  currency  scheme  is  therefore  a  scheme.for  fasten- 
ing upon  the  taxpayers  a  perpetual  and  growing  debt  for  the  benefit  of  the 
banks.  We  are  opposed  to  this  private  corporation  paper  circulated  as  money, 
but  without  legal-tender  qualities,  and  demand  the  retirement  of  the  national 
bank  notes  as  fast  as  government  paper  or  silver  certificates  can  be  substituted 
for  them. 

"We  are  opposed  to  government  by  injunction ;  we  denounce  the  black-list 
and  favor  arbitration  as  a  means  of  settling  disputes  between  corporations  and 
their  employes.  In  the  interest  of  American  labor  and  the  uplifting  of  the 
workingman,  as  the  corner  stone  of  the  prosperity  of  our  country,  we  recom- 
mend that  Congress  create  a  department  of  labor  in  charge  of  a  Secretary,  with 
a  seat  in  the  Cabinet,  believing  that  the  elevation  of  the  American  laborer  will 
bring  with  it  increased  production  and  increased  prosperity  to  our  country 
at  home  and  to  our  commerce  abroad. 

"Believing  that  our  most  cherished  institutions  are  in  great  peril,  that  the 
very  existence  of  our  constitutional  Republic  is  at  stake,  and  that  the  decision 
now  to  be  rendered  will  determine  whether  or  not  our  children  are  to  enjoy 
those  blessed  privileges  of  free  government  which  have  made  the  United  States 
great,  prosperous  and  honored,  we  earnestly  ask  for  the  foregoing  declaration 
of  principles  the  hearty  support  of  liberty-loving  American  people  regardless  of 
previous  party  affiliations." 

During  the  sittings  of  the  Convention  prominent  Populists  and  advocates 
of  free  silver,  who  had  abandoned  the  Republican  party,  were  in  conference 
with  the  Democratic  leaders.  The  object  in  view  was  to  unite  all  parties  and 
factions  against  the  Republican  party.  The  favorite  plan  was  the  nomination 
of  a  Populist  as  the  candidate  for  Vice-President.  Mr.  Towne  was  the  Populist 
favorite. 

William  J.  Bryan  was  unanimously  and  enthusiastically  nominated  as  a 
candidate  for  President. 

A  strong  effort  was  made  to  induce  ex-Goxernor  Hill,  of  New  York,  to 
accept  the  nomination  for  Vice-President.  He  could  have  been  nominated 
if  he  had  consented,  but  he  utterly  declined,  although  it  was  shown  conclusively 
by  the  demonstrations  of  the  Conventions  that  they  were  sincerely  in  favor  of 
his  nomination. 

Mr.  Hill  had  led  the  gold  standard  men  in  the  Convention  against  the 
adoption  of  the  free  silver  plank,  but  he  had  finally  acquiesced  in  Mr.  Bryan's 
demand.  Mr.  Hill  seemed  to  feel  that  his  attitude  on  the  silver  question  for- 
bade that  he  should  be  a  candidate  with  Mr.  Brvan,  and  so  the  Convention 
respected  his  wishes.  Adlai  E.  Stevenson,  of  Illinois,  Vice-President  of  the 
United  States  with  President  Cleveland,  was  nominated  as  the  candidate  for 
Vice-President. 

232 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

IMPERIALISM — MILITARISM. 

The  attitude  of  the  Democratic  party  in  this  political  contest  of  1900,  upon 
the  questions  growing  out  of  the  Spanish  war,  is  of  alleged  alarm  for  the 
perpetuity  of  free  government  in  America.  While  the  impression  widely  pre- 
vails that  this  issue  is  made  paramount  for  the  purposes  of  this  campaign  to 
throw  into  shadow  the  Democratic  position  on  the  tariff  and  silver  question; 
and  to  draw  the  public  mind  away  from  the  consideration  of  the  phenomenal 
prosperity  of  the  country  under  a  protective  tariff  and  the  gold  standard. 

But  the  Democracy  treat  this  matter  too  seriously  to  allow  it  to  go  unan- 
swered. There  are  certain  fundamental  questions  involved  in  this  issue  which 
it  is  well  to  consider.  The  power  to  declare  war  is  based  upon  the  inherent  right 
of  self-defense.  A  Government  without  written  constitution  or  laws  possesses 
this  right.  In  the  nature  of  things  it  results  to  a  community  or  government 
from  the  individual  right  of  self  protection.  Congress  has  power  under  the 
Constitution  to  declare  war.  When  this  Nation  goes  to  war,  it  possesses  law- 
ful authority  to  do  any  act  against  the  enemy  necessary  for  success ;  the  only 
limitation  being  an  observance  of  the  laws  of  humanity.  If  the  territory  of  the 
enemy  is  invaded,  seized  and  held,  the  powers  exercised  there  are  not  outside  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States,  but  clearly  within  its  provisions. 

The  power  in  Congress  to  declare  war  carries  with  it  authority  to  legislate 
upon  every  topic  that  may  arise  connected  with  the  progress  of  the  war  and  the 
seizure  of  the  enemy's  territory.  It  is  universally  recognized  as  the  duty  of 
a  conqueror  in  war  to  preserve  order  and  to  administer  government  in  the 
conquered  territory,  through  the  militarv  authority,  until  such  time  as  the  law 
making  power  of  the  conquering  nation  shall  provide  civil  government.  It  is 
also  universally  recognized  as  lawful  and  necessary  that  the  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  conquering  nation  shall  have  a  free  hand  in  adopting  means  for 
preserving  order  and  administering  the  government  of  the  conquered  country. 
His  military  orders  are  law.  These  are  elementary  principles  which  apply  to 
all  forms  of  government.  Autocratic  Governments,  Constitutional  Monarchies 
and  Constitutional  Republics  all  possess  the  same  power  and  authority  under 
such  circumstances.  The  contention,  that  the  government  of  a  conquered  coun- 
try by  military  authority,  is  not  warranted  or  authorized  by  the  Constitution,  is 
a  dangerous  fallacy,  which  strikes  at  the  very  root  of  the  power  and  authority 
of  self  protection.  When  a  man  is  attacked  he  need  not  retreat  to  a  wall  and 
defend  himself  there ;  he  may  pursue  his  enemy  until  he  finds  himself  wholly 
out  of  danger.  This  is  so  with  a  nation.  In  defending  the  rights  of  its  people 
it  may  search  for  and  pursue  its  enemy  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  and  finding 
him  there  bring  him  to  punishment.  In  doing  this  the  nation  is  exercising  its 
high  constitutional  power  and  duty  of  self  defense. 

The  war  with  Spain  was  a  just  war.  When  entered  upon  it  was  the 
business  of  the  United  States  to  strike  down  her  power  at  every  point.  The 
destruction  of  the  Spanish  fleet  at  Manila  and  the  defeat  of  the  Spanish  army, 
gave  the  United  States  a  firm  hold  upon  the  Philippine  Archipelago.  Spanish 
authority,  which  had  existed  for  two  hundred  years,  was  overthrown.  Pos- 
session by  the  United  States  imposed  the  duty  of  preserving  order  and  adminis- 
tering government.  The  cession  of  those  islands  by  treaty  passed  the  sov- 
ereignty from  Spain  to  the  United  States.  The  treaty  became  a  part  of  the 
law  of  the  land.  According  to  the  laws  of  nations,  the  title  of  the  United  States 
to  the  Philippine  Islands  is  unimpeachable  and  the  public  opinion  of  the  country 
favors  holding  the  Islands.  The  original  possession  having  been  taken  under 

233 


the  war  power,  that  power  having  been  invoked  by  Act  of  Congress,  it  is  per- 
fectly clear  that  the  President  as  Commander-in-Chief,  and  military  officers 
acting  under  him,  are  strictly  within  their  constitutional  duty  in  restoring  order 
and  establishing  and  administering  government  until  such  time  as  Congress 
shall  by  law  make  other  provision. 

The  exercise  of  military  powers  for  the  government  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  Philippine  Islands  under  existing  circumstances  is  not  extra  Constitutional, 
but  clearly  within  the  constitutional  power  of  the  President.  This  great  repre- 
sentative Republic  possesses  all  the  powers  under  the  Constitution  necessary 
for  her  to  perform  every  act  imposed  by  the  duties  which  may  arise  during  the 
progress  of  war,  and  conditions  which  result  therefrom. 

The  Imperialism  of  which  so  much  fear  is  expressed,  which  is  to  sap  the 
foundations  of  this  Republic,  has  its  origin  in  alleged  misgovernment  of  the 
islands  taken  from  Spain.  A  complete  answer  to  the  charge  of  Imperialism 
is  found  in  four  simple  propositions:  Ffrst,  these  islands  are  now  territory  of 
the  United  States.  Second,  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  confers  upon 
Congress  the  power  to  provide  government  for  this  territory.  Third,  the  Re- 
publican party  has  shown  by  its  past  record  of  forty  years  that  it  can  be  trusted 
to  have  this  government  fulfill  every  obligation  in  the  interest  of  liberty,  equality 
and  justice  imposed  upon  it  as  the  result  of  the  acquisition  of  these  islands. 
Fourth,  that  this  is  a  government  of  law,  and  that  all  laws  of  Congress  relating 
to  the  people  of  the  Philippines  can  be  brought  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  the  United  States  and  their  constitutionality  determined.  The  burning  ques- 
tion in  the  minds  of  the  Democracy  now,  is  to  have  the  Republican  party  de- 
clare its  purposes  in  regard  to  the  Philippine  Islands.  The  purposes  of  the 
Republican  party  might  be  summarized  in  a  resolution  substantially  as  follows : 
"Resolved,  That  the  United  States  accepts  the  responsibilities  and  duties  de- 
volved upon  it  as  the  result  of  the  just  war  prosecuted  against  the  Kingdom  of 
Spain.  That  this  Government  will  establish  good  governments  in  Cuba,  Porto 
Rico,  the  Philippines  and  other  islands  acquired  from  Spain,  establishing  peace, 
order  and  justice  in  said  islands.  That  the  people  of  these  islands  will  be  se- 
cured in  personal  and  religious  liberty,  equal  and  just  taxation,  a  humane  ad- 
ministration of  justice,  opportunity  for  education  and  intellectual  development ; 
the  right  to  work  and  enjoy  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  a  participation  in  the 
affairs  of  government  as  rapidly  as  the  various  divisions  and  classes  of  people 
are  qualified  therefor.  This  government  will  secure  to  the  people  of  these 
islands  the  benefits  necessarily  growing  out  of  a  political  connection  with  the  free 
and  progressive  people  of  the  United  States,  and  will  secure  to  the  people  of  the 
States  the  benefits  which  will  result  from  the  political  connection  with  these 
islands  in  the  extension  of  trade  and  commerce  with  the  Eastern  world."  In 
the  government  of  the  Philippine  Islands  the  people  of  the  United  States  will  be 
content  with  no  treatment  less  than  that  outlined  above. 

President  McKinley's  intentions  towards  the  Filipinos  must  be  judged  by 
his  acts.  By  virtue  of  his  constitutional  power  as  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
Army  and  Navy,  he  has  sent  out  a  commission  composed  of  men  of  undoubted 
ability,  integrity,  wisdom  and  experience,  with  authority  to  organize  civil  gov- 
ernment there,  to  stand  until  such  time  as  Congress  may  by  law  provide  for  the 
government  of  the  islands. 

The  President  has  given  Judge  Taft,  President  of  the  Commission,  and  his 
colleagues,  full  instructions  to  guide  them  in  their  work,  and  those  instructions 
have  been  published  in  the  daily  press  for  the  information  of  the  American  peo- 
ple. What  are  those  instructions?  They  direct  that  the  Filipinos  shall  be  pro- 
tected in  their  liberty  and  property  to  as  full  an  extent  as  we  are  in  Illinois, 
that  no  person  shall  be  deprived  of  life,  liberty  or  property  without  due  process 
of  law,  that  excessive  bail  shall  not  be  required,  nor  excessive  fines  imposed,  nor 
cruel  and  unusual  punishments  inflicted,  that  no  law  shall  be  passed  respecting 
an  establishment  of  religion,  or  prohibiting  the  free  exercise  thereof.  In  fine, 
the  President  requires  that  the  elementary  guarantees  that  lay  at  the  founda- 
tion of  our  republican  system  shall  be  applied  to  the  Filipinos,  giving  them  rights 
and  protection  they  and  their  ancestors  never  enjoyed  in  the  history  of  their 
race.  The  proclamations,  military  and  civil,  which  have  been  issued  in  the  Phil- 

234 


ippines  are  a  sufficient  guaranty  to  the  inhabitants  there  and  to  the  people  of 
the  United  States  that  the  hand  of  tyranny  will  not  be  laid  upon  that  people. 

The  acquisition  of  the  Philippine  Islands  was  the  inevitable  result  of  causes 
which  had  been  operating  for  hundreds  of  years.  The  tyranny,  oppression  and 
cruelty  of  Spanish  misrule,  in  all  her  island  possessions,  in  the  nature  of  things 
had  to  come  to  an  end.  Animated  by  no  spirit  of  aggression,  or  of  oppression, 
the  United  States  has  gone  forward  to  the  performance  of  a  great  duty  thrust 
upon  her  by  causes  which  she  could  not  control  or  resist.  It  was  manifest 
destiny.  It  was  Providence  working  through  the  United  States  to  break  the 
chains  of  Spanish  tyranny  and  for  the  uplifting  of  down-trodden  and  oppressed 
humanity.  Men  cry  out  Commercialism,  and  sneer  at  the  suggestion  that  the 
commerce  of  this  country  can  be  more  certainly  extended  in  the  East  by  the 
possession  of  the  Philippines. 

Is  it  a  crime  for  the  President  and  Congress  to  safeguard  the  markets  of 
the  world  for  American  products?  Not  so.  -This  country  now  leads  all  nations 
in  production.  Foreign  markets  are  absolutely  essential  to  the  continued  pros- 
perity of  this  people.  The  Pacific  Ocean  is  destined  soon  to  become  the  theatre 
of  an  intense  commercial  rivalry  between  the  peoples  of  all  the  Western  nations. 

The  people  of  the  United  States  cannot  afford  to  relinquish  the  advantages 
which  have  come  to  them  commercially  as  a  result  of  the  war  with  Spain.  Every- 
body knows  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  can  be  trusted  to  deal  justly 
with  the  people  of  their  new  possessions.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Philippine 
Islands  never  have  since  the  creation  of  the  world  exercised  rights  and  duties 
of  self-government.  Intelligent  men  everywhere  know  that  the  mass  of  the 
Filipinos  are  not  capable  of  self-government  according  to  our  republican  sys- 
tem. In  the  cities  and  towns  there  are  men  of  intelligence  and  education ;  men 
versed  in  the  business  of  production  and  commerce,  but  as  subjects  of  Spain 
few  of  them  actually  took  part  in  government.  These  people  will  at  once  learn 
that  the  Republic  means  peace,  equal  rights  and  equal  protection  to  all;  those 
persons  who  labor  and  produce,  who  earn  a  living  in  peaceful  avocations,  will 
constitute  the  governing  class  in  the  Philippines  and  will  no  doubt  in  good  time 
exercise  the  right  of  suffrage  by  authority  of  Congress.  But  the  nomadic  races, 
the  tribes  of  uncivilized  savage  and  barbarous  men,  cannot  be  admitted  to  the 
ballot.  Such  persons  in  the  Philippines  will  take  their  places  in  the  plan  of 
government,  in  the  subordinate  positions,  always  occupied  by  such  people.  Our 
forefathers  when  they  formed  the  Constitution  excluded  the  North  American 
Indian  from  the  governing  class,  and  that  precedent  can  safely  be  followed  by 
Congress  at  the  present  day  in  regard  to  similar  people  in  the  Philippines.  It 
is  perfectly  safe  to  say  that  the  people  of  the  Philippine  Islands  will  be  given  a 
civil  government  suited  to  their  condition ;  that  they  will  be  protected  in  life, 
liberty  and  property ;  that  they  will  have  a  just  system  of  taxation,  and  that  they 
will  not  be  the  subjects  of  tyranny  and  misrule  under  unjust  laws  of  Congress. 

The  Democratic  party  favored  the  war  with  Spain,  voted  for  the  declaration 
of  war,  voted  for  men  and  money,  patriotically  aided  in  prosecuting  the  war,  and 
voted  for  the  ratification  of  the  treaty  of  peace.  Having  approved  the  acquisi- 
tion of  the  Philippine  Archipelago  under  the  leadership  of  the  presidential  can- 
didate, they  now  declare  against  the  retention  of  the  Philippines,  and  raise  the 
issue  of  "Imperialism"  and  "Militarism";  declaring  that  our  republican  system 
of  government  is  threatened.  The  Democratic  party  evidently  has  lost  confi- 
dence in  the  considerate  judgment  and  patriotic  devotion  to  principle  of  the 
American  people.  The  expressed  fear  of  military  rule  in  this  country  has  no 
foundation  on  which  to  build.  There  is  no  suggestion  in  public  opinion  favoring 
such  a  view.  There  is  nothing  in  the  public  press  indicating  so  direful  a  change 
in  the  minds  of  the  people.  No  utterance  of  any  man  in  official  position,  either 
legislative,  executive  or  judicial,  suggests  such  danger.  In  the  history  of  the 
Republic  there  is  no  record  from  the  days  of  the  Revolution  to  the  present 
hour  of  any  body  of  soldiers,  while  in  the  public  service  or  after  their  discharge, 
banding  together  to  overthrow  or  resist  the  lawful  authority  of  the  govern- 
ment. The  millions  of  officers  and  men  of  the  army  and  navy  who,  during  the 
past  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years,  have  rallied  under  the  flag  and  fought 
the  battles  of  their  country,  won  its  independence,  subdued  the  savage,  over- 

235 


came  the  aggressions  of  every  foreign  foe,  preserved  the  Union,  and  bore  the 
national  ensign  in  victory  and  honor  into  foreign  lands,  were  animated  by  those 
noble  virtues,  patriotism  and  valor.  Hundreds  of'thousands  of  these  men  laid 
down  their  lives  for  their  country,  while  other  hundreds  of  thousands  lost  health 
and  strength  from  wounds  and  disease.  What  these  people  have  of  indepen- 
dence, of  freedom,  of  unity,  of  glory,  they  owe  to  the  army  and  navy.  There 
has  been  a  continuity  of  heroic  service  and  devotion  to  duty  from  the  days  of 
Washington  to  the  present  hour.  No  act  of  men  fighting  under  the  starry 
banner  can  be  brought  forward  to  impugn  their  patriotism.  The  citizens  of 
to-day  as  compared  with  citizens  of  other  periods  in  the  history  of  the  country, 
have  not  degenerated.  Their  patriotism  is  as  true  as  that  of  1776,  1812,  1846 
and  1861.  The  soldiers  of  to-day  would  no  more  conspire  to  overthrow  this 
Republic  than  did  the  soldiers  of  the  periods  named.  Relieved  from  their  mili- 
tary service,  either  at  home  or  abroad*  they  return  to  their  families  and  friends, 
not  to  become  willing  dupes  of  conspirators  against  law  and  order,  but  to  take 
up  the  duties  of  life  at  the  very  spot  where  they  laid  them  down.  The  sugges- 
tion that  American  soldiers  are  a  menace  to  the  American  Republic,  a  menace 
to  law  and  order,  is  a  slander  upon  the  patriotism  of  the  people. 

The  Filipinos  will  never  become  victims  of  tyranny  and  misgovernment  as 
the  result  of  American  imperialism.     Nor  will  the  liberties  of  the  people  of  the 
United  States  ever  be  overthrown  by  militarism — Never !    Never ! ! 
"Till  the  sun  grows  cold, 

And  the  stars  are  old, 

And  the  leaves  of  the  Judgment 
Book  unfold !" 


236 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY  IN  ILLINOIS,  OFFICERS  OF  THE  STATE 
CENTRAL  COMMITTEE  1856-1900 — ILLINOIS  REPUBLICANS  IN  CONGRESS. 

When  the  men  of  1856  undertook  the  organization  of  the  Anti-Nebraska 
elements  of  Illinois  into  a  political  party,  which  was  to  co-operate  with  similar 
organizations  in  the  various  States  of  the  Union,  in  a  determined  effort  to  pre- 
vent the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  territory  which  had  been  dedicated  to 
Freedom,  they  could  not  foresee  the  mighty  effect  that  this  organization  was 
to  have  upon  the  destiny  of  this  country.  They  performed  their  duty  at  the 
time  as  they  saw  it,  and  left  to  the  future  judgment  of  the  country  the  wisdom 
and  justice  of  their  course.  Their  action  in  organizing  the  Republican  party  has 
met  the  approval  of  the  people. 

Eleven  elections  for  President  have  occurred  in  the  United  States  since  the 
meeting  of  the  Republican  Convention  of  May  29,  1856,  at  Bloomington,  in  nine 
of  which  the  Republican  party  has  been  victorious.  That  party  has  come  to 
be  the  great  controlling  power  in  the  country.  The  Republican  party  of  Illinois 
has  long  had  a  complete  organization  in  every  county  and  has  regularly  held 
biennial  State  conventions  at  which  the  principles  of  the  party  were  from  time 
to  time  announced,  and  candidates  for  State  offices  nominated,  electors  chosen, 
delegates  to  national  conventions  selected,  and  the  State  organization  perpetu- 
ated. These  conventions  were  composed  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  the 
State,  selected  by  popular  conventions  in  the  counties ;  they  were  men  who  were 
leaders  in  their  respective  localities,  many  of  whom  were  distinguished  because 
of  their  military  and  political  services.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  and  much  to  be 
regretted,  that  no  official  record  has  been  kept  by  the  State  Central  Com- 
mittee of  the  names  of  the  persons  who  composed  it  from  time  to  time,  and  of 
its  principal  officers.  The  proceedings  of  the  State  conventions  were  never 
printed  in  pamphlet  form.  It  has  been  found  a  herculean  task  to  bring  together 
all  the  interesting  facts  connected  with  these  various  conventions  and  have  them 
appear  in  this  work.  The  author  has  really  been  forced  to  content  himself  with 
giving  the  names  of  officers  who  managed  the  campaigns,  without  giving  the  full 
list  of  the  committees. 

The  citizens  of  McLean  County  have  long  felt  great  pride  in  the  fact  that 
the  first  Republican  Convention  of  Illinois  was  held  at  Bloomington.  The  Mc- 
Lean County  Historical  Society  commemorated  the  event  by  a  public  meeting 
on  the  44th  anniversary  of  the  convention,  May  29,  1900.  A  number  of  men  were 
present  who  attended  the  convention  in  1856  as  delegates  and  spectators.  This 
anniversary  meeting  was  largely  attended  by  citizens  from  different  parts  of  the 
State ;  a  number  of  interesting  addresses  were  delivered.  The  Historical  So- 
ciety secured  a  full  report  of  the  convention,  including  a  list  of  the  delegates, 
which,  with  the  account  of  the  anniversary  meeting,  has  been  published  in  a  neat 
volume  of  184  pages. 

An  interesting  feature  of  the  book  is  a  group  picture  of  General  John  M. 
Palmer,  General  J.  M.  Ruggles,  General  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  George 
Schneider,  Paul  Selby,  J.  O.  Cunningham,  William  Vocke,  David  McWilliams 
and  B.  F.  Shaw,  all  of  whom  were  delegates  to  the  convention  of  May  29,  1856, 
General  Palmer  being  the  President,  and  General  Ruggles  one  of  the  Vice- 
Presidents.  The  photograph  for  this  picture  was  taken  immediately  after  the 
adjournment  of  the  anniversary  meeting.  By  permission  of  the  Historical  So- 
ciety, extracts  have  been  made  from  their  book,  in  reference  to  the  convention, 
and  the  portrait  of  General  Palmer  and  his  colleagues  is  reproduced  in  this  work. 

It  has  been  shown  in  a  previous  chapter  that  the  preliminary  step  for  the 
organization  of  the  Republican  party  was  taken  at  the  Editorial  Convention 

237 


held  at  Decatur,  111.,  on  Feb.  22,  1856,  which  was  called  by  Paul  Selby,  of  the 
"Morgan  Journal,"  and  responded  to  by  twenty-four  other  newspapers  of  the 
State.  This  Editorial  Convention  appointed  a  comjnittee  with  authority  to  call 
a  State  convention.  Therefore,  in  making  up  the  record  of  the  Republican  or- 
ganization of  the  State,  it  is  proposed  to  begin  with  the  meeting  at  Decatur. 

The  Editorial  Convention  was  held  at  Decatur,  111.,  Feb.  22,  1856,  at  the 
Castle  House,  now  known  as  the  St.  Nicholas  Hotel,  with  Paul  Selby,  President ; 
W.  J.  Usrey,  Secretary.  Upon  motion,  the  following  named  gentlemen  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  issue  a  call  for  a  State  convention,  to  be  held  Thurs- 
day, May  29;  1856,  in  the  city  of  Bloomington : 

First  District,  S.  M.  Church,  Rockford ;  Second,  W.  B.  Ogden,  Chicago; 
Third,  G.  D.  A.  Parks,  Joliet ;  Fourth,  T.  J.  Pickett,  Peoria ;  Fifth,  Edward  A. 
Dudley,  Quincy;  Sixth,  W.  H.  Herndon,  Springfield;  Seventh,  R.  J.  Oglesby, 
Decatur;  Eighth,  Joseph  Gillespie,  Edwardsville ;  Ninth,  D.  L.  Phillips,  Jones- 
boro.  W.  B.  Ogden  declined  on  accoimt  of  pressing  demands  of  business.  His 
place  was  filled  by  Dr.  John  Evans.  Richard  J.  Oglesby  left  the  State  for  a  tour 
through  Europe,  and  his  place  was  filled  by  Colonel  J.  C.  Pugh. 

This  committee  issued  a  call  for  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Bloomington, 
May  29,  1856,  for  the  purpose  of  nominating  candidates  for  State  officers.  They 
fixed  the  representation  at  226  delegates.  The  convention  met  at  the  time 
fixed  by  the  call  and  held  its  meeting  in  Major's  Hall,  and  was  called  to  order 
by  George  T.  Brown,  of  Madison  County.  Hon.  Archibald  Williams,  of  Adams 
County,  was  chosen  temporary  chairman,  and  Henry  S.  Baker,  of  Madison 
County,  was  appointed  secretary ;  on  motion  of  Mr.  Judd,  George  T.  Brown  was 
requested  to  act  as  assistant  secretary.  On  the  call  of  the  secretary,  delegates 
responded  from  seventy  counties.  On  motion  of  O.  H.  Browning,  of  Adams 
County,  the  following  committee  on  permanent  organization  was  appointed: 
S.  M.  Church,  N.  B.  Judd,  B.  C.  Cook,  Robert  Carter,  O.  H.  Browning,  J.  C. 
Conkling,  S.  C.  Parks,  and  David  L.  Phillips.  The  committee  reported  the  fol- 
lowing list  of  officers  and  the  report  was  adopted : 

President — John  M.  Palmer,  of  Macoupin ;  Vice-Presidents — J.  A.  Davis,  of 
Stephenson ;  William  Ross,  of  Pike ;  James  McKie,  of  Cook ;  J.  H.  Bryant,  of 
Bureau ;  A.  C.  Harding,  of  Warren ;  Richard  Yates,  of  Morgan ;  H.  C.  Johns,  of 
Platt ;  George  Smith,  of  Madison ;  D.  L.  Phillips,  of  Union ;  T.  A.  Marshall,  of 
Coles;  J.  M.  Ruggles,  of  Mason;  G.  D.  A.  Parks,  of  Will;  and  John  Clark,  of 
Schuyler.  Secretaries — H.  S.  Baker,  of  Madison;  C.  L.  Wilson,  of  Cook;  John 
Tillson,  of  Adams ;  Washington  Bushnell,  of  LaSalle ;  and  B.  J.  F.  Hanna,  of 
Randolph. 

A  like  committee  on  resolutions  was  appointed,  which  reported  the  platform 
of  the  party.  The  state  ticket  was  nominated,  delegates  were  appointed  to  the 
Philadelphia  convention,  and  presidential  electors  were  chosen. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Skinner,  a  State  Central  Committee,  consisting  of  five 
persons,  was  appointed,  namely :  James  C.  Conkling,  Sangamon ;  Isahel  Grid- 
ley,  McLean;  B.  C.  Cook,  LaSalle;  Charles  A.  Ray  and  N.  B.  Judd,  Cook. 
This  committee,  with  its  president  and  secretary,  was  continued  in  183*8,  and 
again  in  1860,  and  conducted  the  political  campaigns  in  Illinois  when  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  elected  president,  and  Richard  Yates,  Governor. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  REPUBLICAN  STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE,  1856-1900. 

1856 — Norman  B.  Judd,  President.  Horace  White,  Secretary. 

1858 — Norman  B.  Judd,  President.  Horace  White,  Secretary. 

i8fx) — Norman  B.  Judd,  President.  Horace  White,  Secretary. 

1862 — Burton  C.  Cook,  Chairman.  Horace  White,  Secretary. 

1864 — Thomas  J.  Turner,  Chairman.  James  P.  Root,  Secretary. 

1866 — James  C.  Sloo,  Chairman.  James  P.  Root,  Secretary. 

1868 — Colonel  A.  C.  Babcock,  Chairman.  James  P.  Root,  Secretary. 

1870 — Charles  B.  Farwell,  Chairman.  Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 

1872 — Charles  B.  Farwell,  Chairman.  Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 

1874 — Colonel  A.  C.  Babcock,  Chairman.  James  P.  Root,  Secretary. 

1876 — Colonel  A.  C.  Babcock,  Chairman.  Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 

1878 — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman.  Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 

238 


IB  > 
0    £ 

n  ? 

2 

3 

5 


td    w 


iftSo — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman. 

1882 — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman. 

1884 — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman. 

1886 — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman. 

1888 — General  James  S.  Martin,  Chairman. 

1890 — A.  M.  Jones,  Chairman. 

1892 — James  H.  Clark,  Chairman. 

1894 — **John  R.  Tanner,  Chairman. 

1896 — Chas.  P.  Hitch,  Chairman. 

1898 — Chas.  S.  Rannells,  Chairman. 

1900 — Fred  H.  Rowe,  Chairman. 


Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
D'aniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
"Daniel  Shepard,  Secretary. 
Dr.  T.  N.  Jamieson,  Secretary. 
Charles  A.  Partridge,  Secretary. 
J.  R.  B.  Van  Cleave,  Secretary. 
J.  R.  B.  Van  Cleave,  Secretary. 
Walter  Fieldhouse,  Secretary. 


STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE,  1894. 


District. 

ist — T.  N.  Jamieson,  Chicago. 

2d  — Charles  S.  Deneen,  Chicago. 

3d  — E.  R.  Brainerd,  Chicago. 

4th — S.  H.  Case,  Chicago. 

5th — M.  R.  Harris,  Chicago. 

6th— William  T.  Ball,  Chicago. 

7th — James  L.  Pease,  Chicago. 

8th — Ira  C.  Copley,  Aurora. 

9th— H.  O.  Hilton,  Rockford. 
loth — James  McKinney,  Aledo. 
nth— Geo.  W.  Patton,  Pontiac. 


District. 

?2th— E.  W.  Willard,  Joliet. 

1 3th — L.  S.  Wilcox,  Champaign. 

I4th — Isaac  C.  Edwards,  Peoria. 

1 5th — W.  H.  Hainline,  Macomb. 

i6th — Chas.  S.  Rannells,  Jacksonville. 

1 7th — W.  F.  Calhoun,  Decatur. 

1 8th— W.  A.  Haskell,  Alton. 

ipth — C.  P.  Hitch,  Paris. 

2oth — John  H.  Miller,  McLeansboro. 

2 ist — W.  A.  Stoker,  Centralia. 

22d—  W.  C.  S.  Rhea,  Marion. 


At  Large — Edward  H.  Morris,  Chicago  ;   Houston  Singleton,  Decatur ;   A. 
W.  Berggren,  Galesburg;  Charles  Goetz,  Chicago;  Daniel  Hogan,  Mound  City. 

STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE,   1896. 


District. 

ist — T.  N.  Jamieson,  Chicago. 
2d  — Charles  S.  Deneen,  Chicago. 


District. 

I2th— E.  W.  Willard,  Joliet. 

:  3th — Dr.  L.  S.  Wilcox,  Champaign. 


3d  — Ernest  J.  Magerstadt,  Chicago.     I4th — S.  O.  Spring,  Peoria. 


4th — Joseph  E.  Bidwill,  Chicago. 

5th — Adam  Wolf,  Chicago. 

6th— William  T.  Ball,  Chicago. 

7th — James  Pease,  Chicago. 

8th — Ira  C.  Copley,  Aurora. 

9th— H.  O.  Hilton,  Rockford. 
loth — James  McKinney,  Aledo. 
nth — Ralph  F.  Bradford,  Pontiac. 


1 5th — W.  H.  Hainline,  Macomb. 

i6th — Chas.  S.  Rannells,  Jacksonville. 

i/th — J.  R.  Smith,  Taylorville. 

1 8th— Dr.  R.  F.  Bennett,  Litchfield. 

juth— C.  P.  Hitch,  Paris. 

2oth — John  H.  Miller,  McLeansboro. 

2 ist — W.  A.  Stoker,  Centralia. 

22c  — L.  T.  Linnell,  Cobden. 


At  Large — A.  W.  Berggren,  Galesburg;  I.  C.  Edwards,  Peoria;  John  A. 
Sterling,  Bloomington ;   E.  H.  Morris,  Chicago;   J.  C.  Buckner,  Chicago. 

STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE,   1898. 


District. 

ist — Thomas  N.  Jamieson.  Chicago. 

2d  — Charles  S.  Deneen.  Chicago. 

3d  — Ernest  J.  Magerstadt.  Chicago. 

4th — Joseph  E.  Bidwill,  Chicago. 

5th — Adam  Wolf,  Chicago. 

6th — Fred  A.  Busse,  Chicago. 

7th — James  Pease,  Chicago. 

8th — Luman  T.  Hoy,  Woodstock. 

qth — J.  R.  Cowley,  Freeport. 
loth — James  McKinney,  Aledo. 
nth — Ralph  F.  Bradford,  Pontiac. 

At  Large — John  Lambert,  Joliet ; 
J.  Johnson,  Chicago;  Joseph  Brucker, 

*Died,  succeeded  by  Charles  Partridge. 
**Resitftied,  succeeded  by  Dr.  T.  N.  Jamieson. 


District 

1 2th — Len  Small,  Kankakee. 

1 3th — Charles  G.  Eckhart,  Tuscola. 

I4ih — Isaac  C.  Edwards,  Peoria. 

[5th — J.  Mack  Sholl,  Carthage. 

t6th — Chas.  S.  Rannells,  Jacksonville. 

i7th — Clarence  R.  Paul,  Springfield. 

[8th— Dr.  R.  F.  Bennett,  Litchfield. 

I9th — Philip  W.  Barnes,  Lawrenceville. 

2oth — Basil  D.  Monroe,  Louisville. 

2 ist — James  A.  Willoughby,  Belleville. 

22d — John  M.  Herbert,  Murphysboro. 
Daniel  Hogan,  Mound  City ;  -Alexander 
Chicago ;  Edward  H.  Morris,  Chicago. 


240 


STATE  CENTRAL  COMMITTEE,  1900. 

District.  District, 

ist — Thomas  N.  Jamieson,  Chicago.     i2th — Len  Small,  Kankakee. 


2cl  — Charles  S.  Deneen,  Chicago. 

3d  — Ernest  J.  Magerstadt,  Chicago. 

4th — Joseph  E.  Bidwill,  Chicago. 

5th — William  J.  Moxley,  Chicago. 

6th — Fred  A.  Busse,  Chicago. 

7th — James  Pease,  Chicago. 

8th — Luman  T.  Hoy,  Woodstock. 

9th — J.  R.  Cowley,  Freeport. 
loth — James  McKinney,  Aledo. 
nth — Ralph  F.  Bradford,  Pontiac. 


1 3th — Charles  G.  Eckhart,  Tuscola. 
I4th — John  S.  Stevens,  Peoria. 
1 5th — J.  Mack  Sholl,  Carthage. 
1 6th— H.  D.  L.  Griggsby,  Pittsfield. 
17th — T.  M.  Harris,  Lincoln. 
1 8th — George  T.  Turner,  Vandalia. 
1 9th — Charles  P.  Hitch,  Paris. 
2oth — John  H.  Miller,  McLeansboro. 
2ist — George  F.  Mead,  Pinckneyville. 
22d  — Daniel  Hogan,  Mound  City. 

At  Large — Joseph  Robbins,  Quincy;  Charles  Bent,  Morrison;  S.  H.  Wat- 
son, Mount  Vernon ;  John  W.  Bunn,  Springfield ;  Edward  H.  Morris,  Chicago  ; 
Joseph  Brucker,  Chicago ;  G.  Bernhard  Anderson,  Chicago. 

Committees,  1900:  Executive — James  McKinney,  Chairman;  Charles  S. 
Deneen,  Fred  A.  Busse,  Len  Small,  Daniel  Hogan,  Charles  P.  Hitch,  Fred  H. 
Rome,  Thomas  N.  Jamieson,  John  S.  Stevens,  John  W.  Bunn,  Luman  T.  Hoy, 
H.  D.  L.  Griggsby,  Walter  Fieklhouse. 

Finance — John  W.  Bunn,  Chairman ;  James  McKinney,  Charles  S.  Deneen, 
Charles  G.  Eckhart,  E.  G.  Keith,  Wm.  J.  Moxley. 

Organization — Len  Small,  Chairman ;  James  Pease,  Thomas  N.  Jamieson, 
George  F.  Mead,  Charles  P.  Hitch,  Fred  A.  Busse,  H.  D.  L.  Griggsby,  Ralph  F. 
Bradford. 

Speakers — J.  Mack  Sholl,  Chairman ;  S.  H.  Watson,  Thomas  N.  Jamieson, 
H.  D.  L.  Griggsby,  Joseph  E.  Bidwill,  George  T.  Turner. 

Literature — Luman  T.  Hoy,  Chairman ;  Joseph  Brucker,  G.  Bernhard  An- 
derson, J.  Mack  Sholl,  Edward  H.  Morris,  T.  M.  Harris,  George  F.  Mead,  Chas, 
Bent.  J.  R.  Cowley. 

Transportation — James  Pease,  Chairman ;  Joseph  E.  Bidwill,  J.  Mack  Sholl, 
Wm.  J.  Moxley,  Geo.  F.  Mead,  John  H.  Miller. 

Press — J.  R.  Cowley,  Chairman ;  Charles  Bent,  S.  H.  Watson,  Charles  P. 
Hitch,  Joseph  Brucker,  T.  M.  Harris,  Luman  T.  Hoy. 

Detection  and  Prosecution  of  Fraud — Edward  H.  Morris,  Chairman ;  G. 
Bernhard  Anderson,  George  T.  Turner,  Ernest  J.  Magerstadt,  Joseph  Robbins, 
Ralph  F.  Bradford. 

Judiciary — John  S.  Stevens,  Chairman ;  Joseph  Robbins,  Charles  S.  De- 
neen, Geo.  T.  Turner,  Chas.  G.  Eckhart,  John  H.  Miller. 

CHAIRMEN  AND  SECRETARIES  OF  COUNTY  CENTRAL,   COMMITTEES,  1900. 


COUNTIBS. 

CHAIRMAN,  ADDRESS. 

SECRETARY,  ADDRESS. 

Adams  

Wm.  Summerville,  Quincy  
Walter  Warder  Cairo  . 

John  E.  Wall,  Quincy. 
Sidney  B.  Miller  Cairo 

Bond      .  .              

W.  W.  Lewis  Greenville 

Boone  
Brown  
Bureau  

R.  W.  Mclnnes,  Belvidere  
John  F.  Regan,  Mt.  Sterling  
E.  A.  Washburn,  Princeton  

Frank  T.  Moran,  Belvidere. 
C.  H.  Perry,  Mt.  Sterling. 
Joe  A.  Davis,  Princeton. 
Wm.  U.  Mortland,  Hardin 

Carroll  

J.  A.  Glenn.  Ashland  

R.  Lancaster,  Virginia. 

Champaign  :   .. 
Christian  
Clark  
Clay  
Clinton  
Coles  
Cook  
Crawford  
Cumberland  
De  Kalb  

OEias  Riley  ,  Champaign  
J.  E.  Harrison,  Taylorville  
Fenton  W.  Booth,  Marshall  
John  H.  Tolliver,  Louisville  
Wm.  H.  Norris,  Carlyle  
Fred  More,  Charleston  
William  LOTimer,  Chicago  
A.  H.  Jones,  Robinson  
A.  F.  Bussard,  Toledo  

Roval  Wright,  Urbana. 
Walter  Provine,  Taylorville. 
F.  J.  Bartlett,  Marshall. 
T.  S.  Williams,  Louisville. 
H.  H.  Beckemeyer,  Buxton. 
Bryan  H.  Tivnen,  Mattoon. 
E.  J.  Magerstadt,  Chicago. 
J.  A.  McHatton,  Robinson. 
J.  E.  Barr,  Toledo. 
A.  W.  Fisk,  De  Kalb. 

De  Witt  

E.  B.  Mitchell,  Clinton  

F.  C.  Davidson,  Clinton. 

Douglas  
Du  Page  
Edgar  
Edwards  
Effingham  
Fayette  
Ford          

James  Jones,  Tuscola  
E.  H.  McChesney,  Glen  Elly  n  
W.  H.  Clinton,  Paris  
N.  E.  Smith,  Albion  
J.  E.  Groves,  Altamont  
G.  T.  Turner,  Vandalia  
J.  P.  Middlecoff  Paxton  

Chas.  G.  Eckhart,  Tuscola. 
H.  H.  Goodrich,  Naperville. 
C.  O.  Chestnut,  Paris. 
Ben  L.  Mayne,  Blood. 
J.  L-  Mix,  Altamont. 
J.  A.  Meyers,  Vandalia. 
V.  G.  Way,  Proctor. 

Franklin  
Fulton  

Wm.  P.  Asa,  Benton  
Jas.  M.  Stewart,  Lewiston  

Harry  L.  Frier,  Benton. 
C.  E.  Snively,  Canton. 

241 


CHAIRMEN  AND  SECRETARIES  OF  COUNTY  CENTRAL  COMMITTEES,  1900. 


COUNTIES. 

CHAIRMAN,  ADDRESS. 

SECRETARY,  ADDRESS. 

Gallatin  

J.  H.  Grady,  New  Haven  
J.  G.  Pope,  Kane  

J.  R.  Loomis,  Shawneetown. 

Grundy  

C.  M.  Stephen,  Morris  
A.  M.  Wilson,  McLeansboro  

W.  L.  Sackett,  Morris. 

J.  Mack  Sholl,  Carthage  

Jas.  A.  Watson,  Elizabethtown  

Henderson  

E.  A.  Hail,  Oquawka  

Mahlon  Love,  Orion. 

Iroquois  

S.  C.  Rutherford,  Watseka  
James  A.  White,  Murphysboro  

E.  H.  Munsterman,  Watseka. 
John  W.  Miller,  Carbondale. 

C.  D.  Kendall,  Newton  

W.  F.  Johnson,  Newton. 

O.  P.  Nesmith,  Blnford  

G.  Gale  Gilbert,  Mt.  Vernon. 

Jersey  

J.  W.  Becker,  Jersey  ville  

Frank  Roden,  Fieldon. 

H.  C.  Gann,  Sr.,  Warren  

D.  B.  Blewitt,  Galena. 

Johnson  

Geo.  B.  Gillispie,  Vienna  

W.  H.  Gilliam,  Vienna. 

F.  G.  Hanchett,  Aurora  

J.  T.  Phelps,  Geneva. 

Kankakee  

E.  A.  Jeffers,  Kankakee  

L-  G.  Nutt,  Buckingham. 

Kendall  

W.  R.  Newton,  Yorkville.    ' 

J.  S.  Budd,  Millbrook. 

Knox  
Lake  

M.  O.  Williamson,  Galesburg  
Samuel  Blackler,  Lake  Forest  

A.  W.  Truesdon,  Galesburg. 
R.  D.  Wynn,  Waukegan. 

La  Salle  

Al.  F.  Schoch,  Ottawa... 

Geo.  M.  Trimble,  Ottawa. 

Lawrence  

Jas.  I.  Wagner,  Sumner  
M.  J.  McGowan,  Dixon.  . 

J.  E.  Lemons,  Lawrenceville. 
R.  H.  Scott,  Dixon. 

Livingston  

Ed  w.  O.  Reed,  Pontiac  
W.  R.  Baldwin,  Lincoln 

G.  W.  Lacy,  Pontiac. 

Macon  

E.  H.  Thomas,  Argenta  

Frank  S.  Dodd,  Decatur. 

James  E.  McClure,  Carlinville..  . 

H.  A.  David,  Carlinville. 

Madison  
Marion  

Jno.  A.  Cousley,  Alton  
C.  F.  Patterson,  Sandoval 

W.  R.  Crossman,  Edwardsv'lle. 
B.  Swartz,  Salem. 

Marshall  

Henry  Marshall,  Sparland  

James  Dillon,  Lacon. 

Mason  
Massac  

I.  R.  Brown,  Havana  
D.  W.  Helm,  Metropolis 

J.  J.  Cox,  Havana. 
J.  B.  McCrary,  Metropolis. 

McHenry  

L.  T.  Hoy,  Woodstock  .  . 

H.  C.  Mead,  West  McHenry. 

McLean  
Menard  
Mercer  

Jacob  A.  Bohrer,  Bloomington  
Edw.  H.  Golden,  Petersburg  
J.  A.  Cummins,  Aledo  

Homer  W.  Wall,  Bloomington. 
F.  E.  Blane,  Petersburg. 
L.   t>.  Kirkpatrick,  Keithsburg. 

Monroe  
Montgomery  
Morgan  

J.  S.  Schneider,  Harrisonville  
W.  L.  Seymour,  Raymond  
John  R.  Robertson,  Jacksonville. 

H.  C.  Voris,  Waterloo. 
W.  R.  Bateman,  Litchfield. 

Moultrie  

John  R.  Pogue,  Sullivan  

Geo.  A.  Sentel,  Sullivan. 

Ogle  
Peoria  
Perry  

Martin  E.  Schryver,  Polo  
P.  G.  Rennick,  Peoria  
Harry  B.  Ward,  Du  Quoin     

Jos.  Rice,  Mt.  Morris. 
A.  Judson  Boylan,  Peoria. 
Thos.  B.  Reagen,  Du  Quoin. 

Piatt  
Pike  

A.  C.  Dovle,  Cerro  Gordo  
W.W.Watson,  Barry  

Harvey  Fay,  Bement. 
Thos.  W.  Mayo,  Pittsfleld. 

Pope  
Pnlaski  

Jno.  Gilbert,  Jr.,  Golconda  
Chas.  M.  Gaunt,  Mound  City 

Barney  Phelps,  Golconda. 

Putnam  

J.  B.  Albert,  Florid  

Geo.  F.  Stanton,  Hennepin. 

Randolph  
Richland  
Rock  Island  

Thos.  Gant,  New  Palestine  
J.  F.  Jolly,  Olney  
B.  F.  Knox,  Rock  Island..   . 

S.  W.  McGuire,  Sparta. 
John  A.  Beaird,  Olney. 
W.  George  Heider,  Rock  Island. 

Saline  
Sangamon  
Schuy  ler  

Lewis  E.  York,  Harrisburg  
U.  G.  1  1  en  in  a  n  .  Springfield  
B.  O.  Willard,  Rushville  

J.  V.  Capel,  Harrisburg. 
John  Juneman,  Springfield. 
H.  B.  Soach,  Rushville. 

Scott  

S.  W.  Peak,  Winchester 

B.  T.  Bradley  Winchester. 

Shelby  

J.  C.  Westervelt,  Shelbyville 

H.  M.  Martin,  Shelbyville. 

Stark  

V.  G.  Fuller,  Toulon  

St.  Clair  
Stephenson  
Tazewell  
Union  
Vermilion  
Wabash  

Chas.  Becker,  Belleville  
Smith  D.  Atkins,  Freeport  
W.  R.  Curran,  Pekin  
H.  H.  Kohn,  Anna  
W.  R.  Jewel,  Danville  
Thos.  G.  Risley   Mt   Carmel 

H.  Semmelroth,  Belleville. 
R.  P.  Eckert,  Freeport. 
John  H.  Shade,  Pekin. 
W.  A.  Kelley,  Jonesboro. 
M.  W.  Thompson,  Danville. 
Chas.  Oldendorf,  Mt.  Carmel. 

Warren  
Washington  

F.  E.  Harding,  Monmouth  
William  Weise,  Nashville  

W.  H.  Sexton,  Monmouth. 

Wayne  
White  
Whiteside  
Will  
Williamson  

F.  VV.  Brook,  Fairfield  
C.  A.  Bainum,  Carmi  
Thos.  Diller,  Sterling  
H.  M.  Snapp,  Joliet  
W.  O.  Potter  Lake  Creek     ...         

L.  M.  Forth,  Wayne  City. 
W.  H.  Phipps,  Carmi. 
E.  G.  Mathias,  Prophetstown. 
John  T.  Clyne,  Joliet. 
R.  B.  Morton,  Carterville. 

Winnebago  
Woodford  

B.  F.  Lee,  Rockford  
C.  F.  Brown,  Roanoke  

F.  E.  Sterling,  Rockford. 
C.  T.  Swartz,  El  Paso. 

The  Republican  party  has  been  fortunate  in  the  selection  of  officers  for 
their  State  Central  Committee ;  they  were  all  men  of  high  character ;  possessed 
splendid  organizing  ability  and  performed  their  arduous  duties  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  their  party  friends.  Chairman  Judd  served  with  distinction  in 
Congress.  Horace  White  was  editor  of  the  "Chicago  Tribune,"  and  was  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  leading  newspaper  men  of  the  country,  and,  although  he  has 
since  drifted  away  from  the  Republican  party,  his  early  labors  for  its  success 
will  always  be  kindly  remembered.  Burton  C.  Cook  was  an  able  lawyer,  had  a 
long  and  successful  career  in  Congress  and  always  labored  for  the  success  of 
the  party.  Thomas  J.  Turner  was  a  distinguished  soldier  and  member  of  Con- 
gress. James  C.  Sloo  was  an  old  citizen  of  Southern  Illinois,  and  recognized 
as  a  wise  and  an  able  political  leader.  Colonel  Amos  C.  Babcock  was  an  Anti- 
Nebraska  member  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  and  helped  to  elect  Judge  Trum- 

242 


bull  to  the  Senate ;  served  with  high  credit  in  the  Union  army  and  was  a  splen- 
did political  organizer.  Charles  B.  Farwell  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  suc- 
cessful merchants  in  the  world;  served  with  great  credit  in  both  houses  of 
Congress,  and,  amidst  his  pressing  business  care,  performed  splendid  service  as 
chairman  for  the  Republican  party.  A.  M.  Jones  was  chairman  twelve  years. 
This  fact  alone  attests  his  ability,  popularity  and  success.  "Long  Jones"  was  a 
most  able  leader  and  chairman.  General  James  S.  Martin,  one  of  the  best  known 
citizens  of  Southern  Illinois,  soldier  and  Congressman,  performed  the  duties  as 
chairman  with  skill  and  ability.  James  H.  Clark  rendered  valuable  and  satis- 
factory services  during  a  campaign  which,  unfortunately,  went  against  his  party. 
Gov.  John  R.  Tanner  added  greatly  to  his  prestige  by  the  able  conduct  of  the 
successful  campaign  of  1894.  Dr.  Jamieson,  as  chairman  and  secretary,  demon- 
strated the  fact  that  he  is  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and  ability  as  a 
political  manager.  Charles  P.  Hitch  and  Charles  S.  Rannells,  leading  spirits  in 
their  own  sections  of  the  State,  added  greatly  to  their  political  standing  by  their 
splendid  management  of  the  campaign  of  1896  and  1898.  Fred  H.  Rowe,  chair- 
man, and  Walter  Fieldhouse,  secretary,  were,  in  1900,  for  the  first  time  identified 
with  the  State  Committee,  and  bid  fair  to  win  honors  in  this  important  field  of 
endeavor.  ,- 

James  P.  Root  was  secretary  for  eight  years.  He  assisted  in  the  notable 
campaigns  of  1864,  1866,  and  1868.  He  had  the  confidence  of  every  loyal  man 
of  the  State,  and  was  in  close  touch  with  President  Lincoln,  during  the  mem- 
orable campaign  of  1864.  Mr.  Root  was  succeeded  by  Daniel  Shepard,  who 
served  as  secretary  of  fhe  committee  for  eighteen  years.  Mr.  Shepard  was 
thoroughly  well  equipped  for  such  an  office  ;  he  was  a  man  of  excellent  judgment, 
infinite  patience,  and  agreeable  address.  He  knew  everybody,  had  the  confidence 
of  everybody,  and  was  a  great  political  organizer.  He  was  a  most  honest,  con- 
scientious, and  untiring  worker,  thoroughly  devoted  to  the  principles  af  the 
Republican  party,  and  tireless  in  his  efforts  for  its  success.  His  services  were 
such  that  his  name  deserves  an  enduring  place  in  the  records  of  the  Republican 
party  of  Illinois.  Charles  A.  Partridge  performed  the  duties  of  secretary  with 
ability  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  committee,  and  has  since  been  con- 
stantly identified  with  the  headquarters  of  the  Department  of  Illinois  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  James  R.  B.  Van  Cleve,  a  well  known  figure  in 
the  politics  of  the  State,  has  had  a  wide  experience  in  political  organization  and 
management.  He  performed  the  duties  of  secretary  for  four  years  with  great 
ability. 

Charles  A.  Stone,  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  connected  with  the  State  Central 
Committee  for  twenty  years ;  he  entered  upon  the  important  work  in  1876  and 
continued  up  to  and  including  the  campaign  of  1896.  At  times  he  acted  as  Sec- 
retary but  was  Assistant  Secretary  most  of  the  time.  He  became  well  known 
to  all  the  Republican  leaders  of  the  State  and  deservedly  had  the  confidence 
and  respect  of  all. 

During  the  past  forty  years  the  Republican  party  of  Illinois  has  sent  a  num- 
ber of  its  most  distinguished  citizens  to  represent  the  Sttete  in  Congress.  Ly- 
man  Trumbull,  Orville  H.  Browning,  Richard  Yates,  John  A.  Logfan,  Richard 
J.  Oglesby,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Charles  B.  Farwell  and  William  E.  Mason  are 
names  familiar  to  the  American  people.  David  Davis  and  John  M.  Palmer, 
although  at  the  time  of  their  election  to  the  Senate  not  in  harmony  with  the 
old  party  of  their  choice,  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the  party,  and  whatever 
differences  of  opinion  afterwards  arose,  their  long  and  able  'services  to  the* 
State  endear  them  to  the  people  and  to  the  Republican  party.  Senator  Trumbull 
was  twice  elected  to  the  Senate,  General  Logan  three  times,  and  Senator  Cullom 
is  now  serving  his  third  term.  In  the  House  of  Representatives,  Illinois  has  had 
a  long  list  of  able  men  to  aid  in  shaping  the  policy  of  the  government  by  the 
enactment  of  wise  and  just  laws.  The  Republicans  elected  to  Congress  since 
the  organization  of  the  party  are  as  follows,  the  names  being  given  in  alphabeti- 
cal order  and  not  in  the  order  of  service :  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  William  Aklrich, 
George  E.  Adams,  J.  Frank  Aldrich,  Henry  P.  H.  Brownsville,  John  Baker, 
Horatio  C.  Burchard,  John  L.  Beveridge,Granville  Barriere, Lorenzo  Brentano, 
Orlando  Burrell,  Hugh  Belknap,  Burton  C.  Cook,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Franklin 

243 


Corwin,  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Isaac  Clements,  Robert  A.  Childs,  William  Cullen, 
James  A.  Connelly,  Edward  Dpicke,  George  R.  Davis,  Ransom  W.  Durham, 
Reuben  Elwood,  John  F.  Farnsworth,  Charles  B.  Farweil,  Greenbury 
L.  Fort,  Benjamin  F.  Funk,  George  Edmund  Foss,  William  H.  Gest, 
Joseph  V.  Graff,  Abner  C.  Harding,  John  B.  Hawley,  John  B.  Hay,  Stephen  A. 
Hurlbut,  Thomas  J.  Henderson,  Philip  C.  Hayes,  Robert  M.  A.  Hawk,  Robert 
R.  Hitt,  Albert  J.  Hopkins,  Charles  A.  Hill,  W.  F.  S.  Hadley,  Eben  C.  Ingersoll, 
Norman  B.  Judd,  James  Knox,  William  Kellogg,  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall,  Owen 
Lovejoy,  John  A.  Logan,  John  V.  LaMoyne,  William  Lathrop,  John  L.  Lewis, 
William  Lorimer,  Samuel  W.  Moulton,  Jesse  H.  Moore,  John  McNulta,  James 
S.  Martin,  Benjamin  F.  Marsh,  William  E.  Mason,  Everett  J.  Murphy,  Daniel  W. 
Mills,  Jesse  O.  Norton,  Lewis  E.  Payson,  Ralph  Plumb,  Phillip  S.  Post,  George 
W.  Prince,  Green  B.  Raum,  John  B.  Rice,  Wm.  H.  Ray,  Jonathan  H.  Rowell, 
Frederick  Remann,  John  I.  Rinaker,  William  A.Rodenburg,  Walter  Reeves,  John 
T.  Stewart,  Bradford  N.  Stevens,  Henry  Snapp,  John  C.  Sherwin,  Dederich  C. 
Smith,  George  W.  Smith,  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  John  R.  Thomas,  Abner  Taylor, 
Elihu  B.  Washburne,  Jasper  D.  Ward,  Richard  H.  Whiting,  Hamilton  H. 
Wheeler,  Charles  W.  Woodman,  George  E.  White,  Vespasian  Warner  and 
Benson  Wood.  Many  of  those  men  brought  into  their  legislative  lives  experi- 
ences gained  in  long  military  service  during  the  Civil  War,  among  whom 
were  Logan,  Hurlbut,  Oglesby,  Palmer,  Beveridge,  Raum,  Henderson,  Moore, 
McNulta,  Martin,  Rinaker,  Marsh,  Fort,  Post,  Hawk,  Clements,  Connelly, 
Davis  and  Thomas.  Mr.  Washburne  entered  Congress  before  the  war  and  was 
re-elected  seven  times.  He  took  a  leading  part  in  all  the  important  legislation 
during  and  after  the  war,  and  was  afterwards  Minister  to  France.  Messrs.  Love- 
joy,  Ingersoll,  Adams,  Cook,  Fort,  and  Rowell  were  each  elected  four  times, 
Farnsworth,  seven  times,  and  Henderson  served  continuously  twenty  years.  The 
elder  Aldrich,  Davis,  Durham,  Hawley  and  Kellogg  were  elected  three  times 
and  Burchard  and  Thomas  each  served  for  ten  years.  General  Logan  was  elected 
four  times  to  the  House  and  three  times  to  the  Senate.  Mr.  Farweil  was  elected 
four  times  to  the  House  and  once  to  the  Senate.  Of  the  present  members  Mr. 
Mann  and  Mr.  Boutell  have  been  twice  elected.  Messrs.  Lorimer,  Foss,  Prince, 
Reeves,  Warner  and  Graff  are  serving  their  third  term,  while  George  W.  Smith 
is  serving  his  twelfth  year,  Col.  Marsh  his  fourteenth  year,  and  Mr.  Hopkins  his 
sixteenth  year;  Mr.  Hitt  is  now  serving  his  twentieth  year,  while  the  dean  of 
the  delegation,  Mr.  Cannon,  is  serving  his  twenty-fourth  year. 

Senator  Cullom  has  had  the  longest  and  most  varied  experience  in  public 
life.  He  served  three  terms  in  the  Illinois  Legislature,  was  elected  twice  as 
Governor,  three  times  to  the  Lower  House  of  Congress  and  three  times  to  the 
United  States  Senate.  He  has  devoted  fully  thirty-six  years  to  the  public  service, 
State  and  National.  The  people  fully  understand  that  the  experience  obtained 
from  long  service  is  of  great  importance  in  conducting  the  publrc  affairs.  Sena- 
tor Cullom  and  Representatives  Cannon,  Hitt,  Hopkins  and  Marsh  by  their  long 
service  have  gained  broad  knowledge  of  public  affairs,  and  have  a  standing 
second  to  none.  The  service  of  Senator  Cullom  at  the  head  of  the  Senate  Com- 
mittee of  Interstate  Commerce  has  been  invaluable  to  the  country,  while  upon 
the  Committee  upon  Appropriations  and  Foreign  Affairs  he  has  taken  a  leading 
part.  Few  men  in  the  history  of  the  government  have  acquired  greater  knowl- 
edge or  attained  a  higher  standing  in  connection  with  the  foreign  affairs  of  this 
government.  Mr.  Hopkins  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
country  in  regard  to  all  questions  coming  before  the  Ways  and  Means  Com- 
mittee, involving  the  tariff  and  the  internal  revenue.  Col.  Marsh  is  a  man  of 
recognized  ability  and  influence.  Mr.  Cannon's  long  connection  with  the  Ap- 
propriations Committee  has  enabled  him  to  obtain  a  clear  insight  into  the  opera- 
tions of  every  branch  of  the  public  service.  The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
annually  submits  to  Congress  the  detailed  estimate  of  expenses  for  the  support 
of  the  Government.  These  estimates  are  considered  item  by  item  by  the  Ap- 
propriation Committee,  and  prominent  men  from  each  department  and  bureau 
are  brought  before  the  committee  to  explain  the  necessity  for  each  item  of  ex- 
pense. Mr.  Cannon  has  participated  in  these  inquiries  for  so  many  years,  with 
so  much  care  and  zeal,  that  he  has  become  a  master  of  the  whole  subject  of  the 

244 


public  expenses.  There  was  a  time  when  a  number  of  the  appropriations  made 
for  the  support  of  various  branches  of  the  service  were  in  lump  sums,  and  this 
money,  to  a  certain  extent,  was  expended  in  the  employment  of  persons  in  the 
discretion  of  the  heads  of  departments  or  bureaus.  Mr.  Cannon  took  this  subject 
up  earnestly  and  in  good  time  the  various  positions  created  by  official  discretion 
were  brought  into  the  list  of  general  employment  of  the  departments,  and  pro- 
vided for  by  the  regular  appropriation  for  clerical  services.  Mr.  Cannon  is  en- 
titled to  just  praise  for  the  ability  that  he  has  displayed  on  this  committee.  He 
is  one  of  the  all-around  working  men  of  the  House,  and  is  well  posted  on  every 
subject  of  debate.  James  R.  Mann,  of  the  first  district,  is  by  profession  a  lawyer ; 
he  has  risen  rapidly  in  the  House.  His  position  on  the  Committee  of  Interstate 
and  Foreign  Commerce  is  important  for  Illinois,  as  the  subject  of  converting 
the  Drainage  Canal  into  a  ship  canal  will  certainly  be  urged  in  Congress.  Mr. 
Mann  is  a  hard  worker,  an  able  speaker,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the 
debates  upon  all  questions  growing  out  of  the  Spanish  War. 

William  Lorimer,  of  the  second  district,  has  not  only  shown  ability  as  a 
legislator,  but  has  developed  great  capacity  as  a  political  organizer  and  leader. 
As  chairman  of  the  Cook  County  Republican  Committee,  he  exerts  a  powerful 
influence,  not  only  in  Cook  County,  but  throughout  the  State. 

Henry  S.  Boutell,  of  the  sixth  district,  with  a  preliminary  experience  in  the 
Illinois  Legislature,  has  shown  marked  ability  in  Congress.  He  is  popular  in  his 
district  and  will,  no  doubt,  have  a  long  and  useful  career  in  public  life. 

George  E.  Foss,  serving  his  third  term,  is  now  practically  at  the  head  of 
the  House  Naval  Committee,  and  has  won  golden  opinions  as  to  his  knowledge 
of  naval  affairs  and  his  progressive  spirit  in  building  up  the  navy. 

George  W.  Prince,  of  Galesburg,  has  maintained  the  reputation  of  his  dis- 
trict, which  has  been  so  ably  represented  by  General  Philip  S.  Post,  who  had 
not  only  served  his  country  in  the  army  with  distinction,  but  added  to  his  repu- 
tation by  his  service  in  Congress. 

WTalter  Reeves,  of  Streator,  is  well  known  throughout  the  State  and  is  pop- 
ular wherever  known.  Able  in  counsel ;  eloquent  as  a  speaker ;  in  the  prime  of 
life,  he  has  a  splendid  field  before  him  for  political  preferment. 

Vespasian  Warner,  of  Clinton,  soldier,  lawyer,  statesman,  is  representing 
his  district  for  the  third  time.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid  ability  and  great  popu- 
larity. Joseph  V.  Graff,  of  Pekin,  now  representing  the  I4th  district  for  the 
third  time,  one  of  the  most  flourishing  districts  of  the  State,  a  leader  of  politics 
of  his  district,  his  service  in  Congress  has  given  great  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents. 

The  seventeenth  district  has  been  a  political  battle  ground  in  which  Major 
James  A.  Connolly,  of  Springfield,  has  been  twice  successful,  in  1884  and  in 
1886.  The  Republican  party  and  the  State  loses  an  able  man  in  his  retirement 
from  Congress.  The  nineteenth  Congressional  district,  now  ably  represented 
by  Joseph  B.  Crowley,  of  Robinson,  has  also  been  a  field  for  strong  political 
struggles,  where  Hon.  Benson  Wood,  of  Erringham,  a  sterling,  popular  Repub- 
lican, was  elected  in  1894. 

William  A.  Rodenberg,  of  East  St.  Louis,  redeemed  his  district  at  the 
election  of  1898.  The  district  is  naturally  Republican,  and  with  Mr.  Roden- 
berg's  known  'ability  and  popularity,  will,  no  doubt,  be  held  in  the  Republican 
column. 

George  W.  Smith,  of  Murphy sboro,  was  first  elected  to  Congress  in  1888 
from  the  Cairo  District.  He  has  maintained  his  hold  upon  the  people  against 
all  oppositiqri.  Mr.  Smith  represents  a  district,  which,  for  years  prior  to  the 
Civil  War,  was  strongly  Democratic.  It  has  been  represented  in  Democratic 
days  by  General  John  A.  McClernand,  Willis  Allen,  Samuel  S.  Marshall,  General 
John  A.  Logan  and  William  J.  Allen,  but  it  is  now  a  rock-ribbed  Republican 
district.  The  Republicans  of  Illinois  can  well  be  proud  of  the  entire  Republican 
delegation,  all  men  of  splendid  ability,  and  their  constituents  will  do  well  to  re- 
turn them  to  office,  as  longer  service  and  greater  experience  will  unquestionably 
give  them  a  standing  by  which  their  constituents  will  profit. 


245 


CHAPTER   XXXVII. 

THE  NATIONAL  DEPARTMENTAL  SERVICE.      ITS  PROGRESS  AND    DEVELOPMENT 
UNDER  REPUBLICAN  ADMINISTRATIONS. 

In  the  great  political  discussions  before  the  people  from  time  to  time,  public 
speakers  of  both  parties  confine  themselves  mainly  to  questions  of  finance,  the 
public  debt,  banking,  tariff,  internal  revenue,  the  silver  question,  imperialism, 
etc.,  and  upon  these  issues  the  result  of  elections  turn.  Neither  party  seem  to 
think  it  important  to  bring  to  the  attention  of  the  people  the  great  additions 
and  improvements  which  have  been  introduced  during  the  past  forty  years  into 
the  executive  administration  of  the  National  Government.  Every  department  of 
the  Government  has  had  important  new  features  added  to  it.  New  bureaus  and 
new  divisions  have  been  created  to  take  care  of  new  and  important  subjects  of 
administration.  This  work  began  as  soon  as  the  Republicans  found  themselves 
in  the  majority  in  Congress  in  1860. 

Prior  to  March,  1861,  the  Government  printing  was  done  by  contract.  The 
investigation  made  by  a  Congressional  Committee  known  as  the  "Covode  Com- 
mittee" established  the  fact  that  great  frauds  had  been  perpetrated  upon  the 
Government  through  the  contract  with  the  public  printer.  Republican  Con- 
gressmen decided  to  cut  the  opportunity  of  fraud  in  the  business  up  by  the 
roots  by  having  the  work  done  by  the  Government  itself.  By  the  Act  of 
March  4,  1861,  the  Government  printing  office  was  created,  and  has  done  and 
is  now  doing  the  printing  and  binding  required  by  Congress  and  the  various  De- 
partments. 

The  Government  printing  office  at  Washington  City  is  now  the  largest 
printing  establishment  in  the  world.  It  is  under  the  management  of  an  officer 
called  the  "Public  Printer."  The  employes  number  3,477  and  the  floor  space 
occupied  is  242,500  square  feet.  A  new  building,  now  being  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $2,000,000,  will  increase  the  above  area  377,200  square  feet.  There  are  127 
presses  in  use,  and  the  output  is  1,000,000  impressions  per  day.  of  eight  hours. 
Among  these  presses  is  one  capable  of  printing  cards  on  both  sides  from  a 
bristol  board  at  the  rate  of  65,000  per  hour.  There  are  also  two  envelope 
presses,  the  output  of  which  is  9,500  printed  envelopes  per  hour.  The  total 
horse-power  of  the  engines  is  900.  There  are  three  electric  generators  in  use 
with  an  aggregate  of  612  kilowatts.  There  are  219  electric  motors  in  use, 
having  an  aggregate  of  692  horse-power.  There  are  750  tons  of  type  in  use. 
Every  known  article  used  in  a  great  printing  establishment  is  consumed  in 
large  quantities  and  the  purchase  of  these  articles  is  made  upon  bids  and  in 
a  manner  to  secure  first-class  articles  at  the  lowest  market  price.  The  aggre- 
gate expenditures  of  the  office  per  year  are  $4,000,000,  nearly  three-fourths  of 
which  is  for  labor.  The.  office  has  a  circulating  library  for  the  use  of  its  em- 
ployes, containing  2,265  volumes,  consisting  of  historical,  biographical  and  poeti- 
cal works,  and  works  of  fiction.  The  cost  of  the  printing  and  binding  produced 
is  as  low  as  in  any  other  establishment  in  the  world,  and  a  degree  of  promptness 
is  secured  in  certain  branches  that  could  not  be  had  from  any  other  establish- 
ment. When  Congress  is  in  session,  the  Congressional  Record  is  placed  upon 
the  desks  of  the  members  each  morning,  containing  the  entire  proceedings  of 
the  day  previous.  A  striking  illustration  of  the  capacity  of  the  office  to  execute 
hurried  orders  was  the  printing  of  the  message  of  the  President  transmitting  the 
report  of  the  Naval  Court  of  Inquiry  upon  the  destruction  of  the  United  States 
battleship  "Maine."  This  publication  consisted  of  284  pages  of  text,  twenty- 
four  full  page  engravings  and  one  lithograph  in  colors ;  although  the  originals 
of  the  illustrations  were  not  in  the  possession  of  the  office  until  3  P.  M.  of 

246 


March  28,  and  the  manuscript  of  the  discussion  was  not  received  until  6  P.  M. 
of  the  same  day,  complete  printed  copies  in  paper  covers  were  placed  upon  the 
desks  of  Senators  and  Representatives  by  10  A.  M.  the  following  day.  No  one 
would  now  presume  to  suggest  the  abandonment  of  this  system  of  performing 
the  public  printing  and  go  back  to  the  old  Democratic  system  of  letting  the  work 
by  contract  to  private  parties. 

The  Government  Printing  Office  is  now  managed  by  Hon.  F.  W.  Palmer,  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a  man  of  great  experience ;  he  served  in  Congress ;  was 
editor  of  the  Chicago  Inter  Ocean;  and  was  Postmaster  at  Chicago  for  four 
years.  He  was  four  years  Public  Printer  under  President  Harrison  and  was  re- 
appointed  by  President  McKinley.  He  is  a  man  of  great  executive  ability,  be- 
sides being  an  able  public  speaker. 

While  Congress  had  done  something  in  the  interest  of  agriculture  by  the 
establishment  of  a  division  of  Agriculture  of  the  Interior  Department,"  it  was 
not  until  the  Republican  party  were  in  control  of  the  Government  that  this 
subject  was  taken  up  in  earnest.  By  the  Act  of  May  15,  1862,  the  Agricultural 
Department  was  established,  and  on  July  i,  1862,  Hon.  Isaac  Newton  was  ap- 
pointed commissioner.  All  the  papers,  property  and  effects  of  the  old  division 
was  transferred  to  Commissioner  Newton,  and  the  business  of  this  new  depart- 
ment was  conducted  independently  of  the  Department  of  the  Interior.  General 
Horace  Capron  of  Illinois,  Judge  Frederick  Watts  of  Pennsylvania,  Hon.  G. 
Le  Due  of  Minnesota,  Hon.  Geo.  B.  Loring  of  Massachusetts  were  Republican 
successors  of  Mr.  Newton,  and  Norman  J.  Colman  of  Missouri  was  commis- 
sioner under  President  Cleveland.  The  business  of  this  Department  extended 
with  the  progressive  development  of  the  agriculture  of  the  nation,  and  it  became 
so  important  that  by  the  Act  of  February  9,  1888,  the  Department  was  raised  to 
the  first  rank  as  an  Executive  branch  of  the  Government  and  Gen.  Jeremiah  M. 
Rusk  was  appointed  Secretary  of  Agriculture  March  7,  1889,  by  President  Har- 
rison. General  Rusk  was  a  farmer,  a  man  of  splendid  sense  and  judgment,  and 
thoroughly  devoted  to  the  cause  of  promoting  the  interests  of  farmers.  He  insti- 
tuted the  "Farmer's  Bulletins"  which  placed  the  information  gathered  by  the 
Department  more  generally  in  the  possession  of  farmers.  He  began  the  inves- 
tigation of  foreign  markets  for  our  products.  He  established  the  inspection  of 
American  meats  for  foreign  markets  under  the  management  of  the  Bureau  of  An- 
imal Industry.  Pleuro-pneumonia  was  substantially  eradicated.  He  inaugurated 
a  system  of  inspection  of  American  cattle  by  American  inspectors  stationed  in 
Great  Britain.  He  caused  to  be  enacted  the  law  of  March  3,  1891,  for  the  im- 
provement in  transportation  of  cattle  by  sea.  His  department  made  the  dis- 
covery that  the  Texas  fever  in  cattle  was  produced  by  ticks ;  the  cause  having 
been  found,  remedies  were  instituted  and  the  disease  was  eradicated.  J.  Sterling 
Morton,  of  Nebraska,  was  Secretary  of  Agriculture  under  President  Cleveland 
and  James  Wilson,  of  Iowa,  under  President  McKinley. 

Perhaps  the  most  important  addition  to  the  executive  department  is  the 
establishment  of  the  Weather  Bureau.  The  study  of  the  weather  and  of  storms 
engaged  the  attention  of  many  prominent  men  in  the  early  history  of  America ; 
Benjamin  Franklin,  Thomas  Jefferson,  James  Madison,  and  others,  gave  the 
subject  considerable  attention.  It  was  conceived  that  by  proper  observations  in 
various  parts  of  the  world,  the  laws  of  storms  and  changes  of  the  weather  might 
be  learned.  Scientific  men  took  this  subject  up  in  many  countries,  and  meteorol- 
ogy became  a  subject  of  careful  study.  In  1845  ^  was  earnestly  taken  up  in  this 
country,  and  for  twenty  years  Professors  Espey  and  Henry  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution ;  Maury  on  behalf  of  the  Navy ;  General  Reynalds  on  behalf  of  the 
Army  Engineer  Corps ;  Major  Lachlan  on  behalf  of  the  American  Association 
for  the  Advancement  of  Science ;  and  Commissioners  Newton  and  Watts  on 
behalf  of  the  Department  of  Agriculture  pressed  the  subject  upon  the  attention 
of  Congress,  but  that  body  left  the  matter  unacted  upon  until  1869. 

Commissioner  Newton  took  the  lead  in  urging  Congress  to  authorize  the 
establishment  of  signal  stations.  At  last  General  A.  J.  Myer  prepared  a  scheme 
of  weather  warning,  suitable  for  execution  by  the  signal  corps.  The  matter  was 
again  brought  to  the  attention  of  Congress,  under  the  leadership  of  General 
Halbert  E.  Payne,  and  a  joint  resolution  was  passed  February  9,  1870,  requiring 

247 


the  Secretary  of  War  to  take  meteorological  observations  at  the  military  stations 
and  at  other  points  in  the  United  States,  for  giving  notice  to  the  northern  lakes 
and  on  the  sea-coast,  by  telegraph  and  signals,  of  the  approach  and  force  of 
storms.  This  was  the  beginning,  but  in  1871-2,  the  purposes  for  which  these 
signals  were  designed  were  enlarged  and  declared  to  be  for  the  benefit  of  com- 
merce and  agriculture.  From  this  small  beginning  in  1870,  the  present  Weather 
Bureau  sprang.  In  good  time  it  became  clear  that  the  service  had  gone  beyond 
the  advantage  of  army  control,  as  the  science  of  meteorology  was  apart  from 
ordinary  military  instruction  and  required  special  training.  Under  an  act  of 
Congress  the  Bureau  was  transferred  from  the  war  department  to  the  agricul- 
tural department. 

This  bureau  has  been  thoroughly  systematized ;  the  employes  connected  with 
the  service  have  had  special  training ;  stations  have  been  established  in  all  parts 
of  the  United  States  and  in  the  West  Indies,  so  that  the  condition  of  the  weather 
can  be  made  known  to  the  distant  points  from  the  central  station  at  Washington 
City  and  predictions  of  the  weather  can  be  made  with  great  accuracy.  Farmers 
have  warnings  of  coming  frost  and  of  cold  waves.  The  state  of  the  rivers  is 
watched  and  warning  of  floods  given.  So  important  has  the  work  of  this  bureau 
become  that  the  daily  reports  are  watched  with  interest  all  over  the  country 
and  prove  of  inestimable  value  to  agriculture  and  commerce.  The  warnings 
and  records  of  the  course  of  the  terrible  storm  which  visited  and  destroyed  the 
city  of  Galveston  demonstrated  the  accuracy  with  which  this  well  organized 
bureau  can  make  predictions  concerning  the  weather  and  storms.  This  is  a 
bureau  that  has  secured  a  permanent  place  in  the  executive  branch  of  the  Gov- 
ernment under  Republican  legislation. 

The  extension  of  the  foreign  commerce  of  the  United  States  is  a  subject 
which  has  called  forth  the  best  efforts  of  Republican  statesmen.  Honorable 
William  M.  Evarts,  of  New  York,  while  Secretary  of  State,  during  the  admin- 
istration of  President  Hayes,  conceived  and  established  the  present  system  of 
Consular  Reports  upon  the  state  of  foreign  trade.  Mr.  Evarts  prepared  the 
necessary  orders  governing  this  subject  and  required  the  Consuls  of  the  United 
States  in  foreign  countries  to  make  a  careful  study  of  the  production  and  trade 
in  their  respective  districts  and  to  make  periodical  reports  upon  the  same,  the 
object  being  to  gather  from  all  parts  of  the  world  information  as  to  the  state  of 
the  trade  of  the  world,  so  that  the  people  of  the  United  States  could  success- 
fully enter  those  markets  with  their  products.  Mr.  Evarts  made  provision  for 
these  reports  to  be  published  monthly,  and  a  consolidated  report  at  the  end 
of  each  year  giving  full  details  of  the  information  gained  by  American  Consuls 
throughout  the  world.  These  reports  were  freely  distributed,  and  their  import- 
ant contents  were  printed  in  the  leading  newspapers.  The  Consular  reports 
have  been  published  daily  since  January  i,  1898.  No  other  government  pub- 
lishes Consular  reports  daily. 

The  reports  of  our  Consuls  cover  almost  every  subject  which  is  of  interest 
to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  in  connection  with  production  and  trade  of 
other  countries.  As  an  illustration  of  the  varieties  of  the  subjects  treated,  a 
few  headings  are  given  from  the  Consular  Reports  of  September,  1900: 

Changing  Conditions  in  the  German  Iron  and  Coal  Markets ;  Special  Taxa- 
tion of  Department  Stores  in  Germany ;  Elbe-Trave  Canal ;  New  German  Pro- 
cess of  Welding  Pipes;  Americanizing  German  Shoe  Trade;  The  Utilization 
of  Fruit  in  Germany ;  German  Stone-Ware  Factory ;  Chemical  Foods  in  Ger- 
many ;  Municipal  Ownership  of  Street  Railways  in  Halle ;  Railroad  Accommo- 
dations in  Central  Europe ;  Traveling  Rates  on  Scotch  Railroads ;  Freight  and 
Insurance  Rates  in  Foreign  Trade ;  Transportation  Taxes  in  Spain ;  Electric 
Tramways  in  Valencia;  Tanning  Machinery  in  Spain;  American  Wheat  in 
Valencia ;  Extension  of  the  United  States  Trade  with  Spain ;  Antwerp  Ivory 
Market ;  American  Trade  in  Scotland ;  American  Clover  Seed ;  French  Silk  In- 
dustry ;  New  Automatic  Shuttle  in  France ;  German  Sample  Room  in  Constanti- 
nople ;  The  Liquor  Traffic  in  Russia ;  Farm  Laborers'  Wages  in  Sweden ;  Amer- 
ican Products  in  Siberia ;  Flour  in  Japan ;  Camphor  Monopoly  in  Formosa  ; 
Australia  Butter  Packing;  Electric  Works  in  Bombay;  United  States  Locomo- 
tives in  Egypt ;  Farm  Life  in  Brazil ;  Mineral  Resources  of  Hayti  Railways. 

248 


It  is  fully  recognized  that  the  Consular  Reports  of  foreign  trade  has  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  success  of  American  merchants  and  manufacturers  intro- 
ducing American  products  abroad,  and  the  enterprise  of  American  Consuls  in 
obtaining  and  communicating  important  information  has  placed  the  Consular 
service  of  the  United  States  in  the  lead  of  all  other  nations. 

The  Treasury  Department,  more  than  all  other  departments  at  Washington, 
has  had  important  additions  made  to  it.  The  Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue,  with 
the  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue  at  its  head,  was  organized  in  1862,  and 
its  large  force  of  collectors  and  their  subordinates  throughout  the  United  Stales 
has  collected  the  internal  revenue  taxes  for  the  last  thirty-eight  years.  This 
system,  created  as  a  means  of  raising  revenue  to  carry  on  the  war,  has  become 
a  permanent  system  of  raising  revenue,  and  its  affairs  have  been  conducted  with 
such  ability  and  prudence  that  these  revenues  are  collected  without  serious  fric- 
tion and  at  a  very  small  percentage  of  expense. 

The  Comptroller  of  the  Currency  has  the  supervision  of  the  National  Banks. 
This  bureau  was  organized  by  the  Act  of  June  3,  1864.  It  is  part  of 
the  Republican  system  for  giving  to  the  country  a  stable  paper  currency,  and  is 
a  branch  of  the  Government  which  has  proved  itself  to  be  of  immense  value  to 
the  country. 

The  office  of  Commissioner  of  Navigation  was  created  by  Act  of  July  5, 
1884,  and  has  charge  of  the  general  superintendence  of  the  commercial  marine 
and  merchant  seamen  of  the  United  States,  and  is  also  charged  with  the  decision 
of  all  questions  relating  to  the  issuing  of  registers,  enrolling,  licensing  of  ves- 
sels, etc. 

In  1898  there  were  inspected  8,649  steam  vessels  and  58  sailing  vessels. 
The  efficiency  of  this  service  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  there  has  been  a  steady 
reduction  in  the  annual  loss  of  life  by  accidents  to  machinery.  This  bureau, 
under  the  Supervising  Inspector  General  of  Steam  Vessels,  superintends  the 
administration  of  the  steam  boat  inspection  laws  and  the  examination  of  engi- 
neers, pilots,  etc.,  and  the  issuing  of  licenses  to  the  same. 

By  the  Act  of  June  29,  1870,  amended  by  the  Act  of  March  3,  1875,  tne 
Marine  Hospital  Service  was  re-organized  and  the  supervising  surgeon  general 
given  general  charge  of  the  service,  including  the  supervision  of  marine  hos- 
pitals and  relief  stations.  A  most  important  addition  was  made  by  the  Act  of 
February,  1893,  for  the  prevention  of  contagious  diseases  and  their  spread,  also 
the  conduct  of  the  quarantine  service  of  the  United  States  and  the  prevention 
of  the  introduction  of  diseases  from  one  state  to  another. 

The  Bureau  of  Immigration,  created  by  Act  of  March  3,  1891,  has  general 
charge  of  the  subject  of  immigration  and  the  enforcement  of  the  Alien  Con- 
tract Laws. 

The  Bureau  of  Engraving  and  Printing  is  the  outgrowth  of  the  establish- 
ment of  the  Republican  system  of  finances  and  paper  currency.  The  bureau 
designs,  engraves,  prints  and  finishes  all  of  the  securities  issued  by  the  Govern- 
ment, embracing  United  States  notes,  bonds,  and  certificates,  national  bank 
notes,  internal  revenue,  postage,  and  custom  stamps,  treasury  drafts  and  checks, 
disbursing  officers'  checks,  licenses,  commissions,  patent  and  pension  certifi- 
cates, and  portraits  authorized  by  law.  It  is,  no  doubt,  the  greatest  bureau  of 
the  kind  in  the  world.  All  its  work  is  of  superior  quality  and  produced  at  the 
lowest  possible  cost.  In  June,  1899,  there  were  1,904  employes,  and  during 
that  year  the  number  of  sheets  printed  was  over  one  hundred  and  twenty  mil- 
lions, produced  at  an  average  of  $16.80  per  thousand  sheets. 

Sporadic  attempts  had  been  made  for  establishing  a  Government  Life  Sav- 
ing Service,  but  without  much  interest  being  taken  in  the  subject,  until  the  ad- 
ministration of  General  Grant.  An  appropriation  of  $200,000  was  made  April 
7,  1871,  and  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  was  authorized  to  employ  crews  of 
surf  men  at  such  stations  as  he  might  deem  necessary  for  a  life  saving  service.  In 
1878  Congress  provided  for  the  present  bureau  of  the  Treasury  Department  with 
a  general  superintendent  in  charge.  This  is  the  only  exclusively  governmental 
establishment  of  the  kind  in  the  world,  the  life  saving  institutions  abroad  being 
all  voluntary  societies  supported  by  donations  of  benevolent  persons.  To  a 
Republican  President  and  a  Republican  Congress  is  due  the  credit  of  having 

249 


organized  an  elaborate  system  of  relief  for  seafarers,  wrecked  upon  our  coasts, 
backed  by  the  means  and  energies  of  the  Government.  On  June  30,  1899,  there 
were  265  stations:  193  on  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts,  56  on  the  coasts  of 
the  Great  Lakes,  15  on  the  Pacific  coast,  and  one  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio 
River.  The  total  number  of  disasters  to  vessels  during  that  fiscal  year  was 
722,  the  number  of  persons  involved,  4,574 ;  lives  lost,  63 ;  vessels  lost,  72.  The 
value  of  property  involved  was  $8,243,000  and  the  value  of  property  'saved, 
$6,391,000;  lives  saved,  4,511.  The  total  cost  of  the  service  for  the  year,  $1,419,- 
ooo.  Since  organization  the  total  number  of  disasters  has  been  11,170;  value 
of  vessels,  $119,540,000;  value  of  cargoes,  $49,888,000;  value  of  property  saved, 
$132,000,000;  lives  saved,  85,008;  lives  lost,  908.  The  wisdom  of  establishing 
this  bureau  is  borne  out  by  the  extraordinary  results  that  have  followed. 

No  department  of  the  Government  has  had  such  phenomenal  growth  since 
the  Republican  party  took  charge  of  the  Government  in  1861,  as  the  Post-Office 
Department,  with  its  immense  service.  This  cannot  be  more  clearly  illustrated 
than  by  a  comparison  of  the  gross  revenues  during  the  fiscal  year,  1860,  the  last 
year  of  President  Buchanan's  administration,  and  the  fiscal  year,  1899:  Gross 
receipts  for  1860,  $8,518,067;  gross  receipts  for  1899,  $95,021,384. 

The  difference  of  the  management  of  the  Post-Office  Department  is  illus- 
trated by  a  comparison  of  the  expenditures  for  the  same  periods :  Expenditures 
for  1860,  $19,170,609;  expenditures  for  1899,  $101,632,160.  Deficiency  in  1860, 
$10,851,542;  deficiency  in  1899,  $6,610,676.  While  the  deficiency  in  the  one  case 
was  1 20  per  cent  of  the  receipts,  the  deficiency  in  the  other  was  about  seven 
per  cent  of  the  receipts.  Besides,  the  rate  of  letter  postage  in  1860  was  three 
cents,  whik  in  1899  it  was  two  cents;  the  weight  of  a  single  letter  in  1860  was 
limited  to  one-half  an  ounce,  while  the  weight  of  a  letter  in  1899  was  limited 
to  one  ounce. 

To  illustrate  the  phenomenal  growth  of  the  post-office  service  in  some  of 
the  great  cities  of  the  Union,  Chicago  may  be  taken  as  an  example.  In  1880 
the  receipts  at  Chicago  were  $1,234,921,  while  in  1899  the  receipts  were  $6,149,- 
420;  in  1893  the  collections  of  mail  were  570  per  day,  while  in  1900  they  were 
2,051  per  day;  the  number  of  employes  in  1893  was  996,  in  1900  the  number 
was  1,516;  the  number  of  carriers  in  1893  was  935,  in  1900  the  service  required 
1,289;  the  pieces  of  mail  handled  in  1895,  700,000,000,  had  increased  to  933,330,- 
ooo  in  1899. 

Three  important  improvements  have  been  made  in  the  mail  service,  namely : 
the  Railway  Mail  Service,  the  free  delivery  system,  and  the  Rural  Free  delivery 
The  Railway  Mail  Service,  which  was  instituted  in  1864,  provides  for  the  receipt 
of  mail  matter  on  the  cars,  its  classification  and  distribution,  and  delivery  along 
the  line  of  the  railroad  at  the  various  stations.  This  system  took  the  place  of 
the  old  plan  of  distributing  post-offices,  to  which  mail  matter  was  sent  from 
the  outlying  post-offices  for  assortment  and  distribution.  In  1900  the  railway 
mail  service  is  conducted  upon  176,000  miles  of  railway.  There  are  729  railway 
mail  cars  in  use ;  3,658  cars  in  which  there  are  apartments  for  this  service ;  25 
apartments  in  the  electric  and  cable  street  cars ;  72  apartments  on  steam  boats ; 
and  8,840  persons  are  employed.  This  service  by  its  prompt  and  certain  deliv- 
eries has  revolutionized  the  postal  service  of  the  United  States. 

The  Free  Delivery  Service  is  an  important  branch  of  the  post-office  service, 
established  July  I,  1863.  It  has  been  extended  to  835  cities;  15,550  regular  and 
4,000  substitute  carriers  are  employed.  As  a  means  of  stimulating  correspond- 
ence, the  rate  of  postage  was  reduced  from  three  cents  to  two  cents  October  i, 
1883,  and  the  weight  of  a  single  letter  was  increased  from  one-half  ounce  to  one 
ounce,  July  I,  1885.  The  growth  of  the  postal  service  was  so  rapid,  and  the 
volume  of  mails  at  important  centers  became  so  large,  that  it  became  almost 
an  impossibility  to  make  the  deliveries  from  windows  of  a  post-office.  The  free 
delivery  of  mails  is  simply  the  outgrowth  of  the  great  development  of  the  postal 
service  and  has  been  extended  to  its  present  dimensions  to  the  great  convenience 
of  the  public  and  without  any  increase  in  expenditure  as  compared  with  receipts, 
for  it  is  a  law  of  the  postal  service  that  increased  facilities  increases  receipts. 

The  Rural  Free  Delivery  is  the  last  and  most  unique  improvement  in  the 
postal  service  brought  into  active  operation  by  a  Republican  administration. 

250 


The  subject  of  Rural  Free  Delivery  of  the  mails  had  attracted  the  attention  of 
Congress  as  early  as  1894,  and  $10,000  had  been  appropriated  to  make  an  experi- 
ment in  this  line.  The  subject,  however,  met  no  encouragement  at  the  hands 
of  the  Democratic  administration.  In  the  House,  Mr.  Henderson,  Chairman 
of  the  Committee  on  Post-Offices  and  Post-Roads,  believed  the  scheme  impos- 
sible of  execution,  and  "would  require  an  appropriation  of  at  least  twenty  mil- 
lions to  inaugurate  it."  First  Assistant  Postmaster-General  Jones  stated  that 
the  department  would  not  be  warranted  in  burdening  the  people  with  such  ex- 
pense ;  and  Postmaster-General  Bissell  stated  that  the  proposed  plan  of  rural 
delivery,  if  adopted,  would  result  in  an  additional  cost  to  the  people  of  about 
twenty  million  dollars  for  the  first  year,  and  he  opposed  the  scheme.  Congress 
increased  the  appropriation  to  $20,000  in  1895,  and  Postmaster-General  Wilson, 
while  expressing  the  opinion  that  the  plan  of  establishing  a  rural  free  delivery 
system  was  wholly  impracticable,  decided  to  make  a  test,  and  the  appropriation 
of  $20,000  was  made  available  in  1896.  Twenty-three  routes  were  established 
in  a  number  of  states,  and  the  cost  in  the  delivery  of  the  mails  over  the  various 
routes  established  bore  out  the  unfavorable  opinions  cited.  The  cost  of  delivering 
each  piece  of  mail  ranged  from  4.09  cents  to  2.64  cents.  This  was  the  state  of  the 
service  when  the  Republican  administration  took  charge.  The  subject  was  taken 
up  by  First  Assistant  Postmaster-General  Heath  and  H.  Conquest  Clarke, 
Special  Agent,  and  in  a  short  time  the  rural  free  delivery  service  was  put  in 
successful  operation  from  383  distributing  points  radiating  over  40  states  and 
one  territory.  The  intelligence  and  care  in  laying  out  the  various  free  delivery 
routes,  and  the  enthusiasm  with  which  farmers  and  others  accept  this  service, 
has  demonstrated  the  fact  that  it  can  be  indefinitely  extended  without  any  ma- 
terial increase  of  expenditure.  One  of  the  unique  experiments  noted  with  the 
free  delivery  service  has  been  the  establishment  of  the  "Westminster  Rural 
Wagon  Route,"  in  the  state  of  Maryland,  and  conducted  upon  the  same  prin- 
ciple as  the  Railway  Mail  Service,  the  mail  wagon  being  fitted  up  somewhat  like 
a  postal  car  and  having  a  driver  and  a  postal  clerk. 

It  has  been  shown  by  this  free  delivery  service  that  the  accommodations 
which  will  be  afforded  to  the  agricultural  population  will  result  in  the  saving  of 
an  immense  amount  of  valuable  time  in  going  to  and  from  the  post-offices  from 
which  they  have  heretofore  received  their  mails.  This  is  certainly  an  interesting 
and  promising  development  of  a  great  department  by  a  progressive  Republican 
administration. 

Other  important  improvements  in  the  public  service  might  well  be  named, 
but  three  others  will  suffice.  The  establishment  of  United  States  Depositories  in 
all  the  large  cities  and  at  all  the  important  tax-paying  centers  has  greatly  added 
to  the  convenience  of  transacting  financial  business  with  the  Government.  The 
funds  deposited  by  the  Government  are  secured  by  the  deposit  of  United  States 
bonds  with  the  Treasurer  of  the  United  States,  and  these  funds  are  held  subject 
to  the  immediate  draft  of  the  Treasurer.  During  the  Democratic  regime,  up  to 
1861,  there  were  no  places  of  deposit  for  Government  funds  except  here  and 
there  where  Assistant  Treasurers  were  located. 

Another  important  improvement  in  the  public  service  is  the  almost  universal 
custom  of  disbursing  officers  making  their  payments  by  checks  instead  of  in 
cash,  thus  relieving  those  officers  from  the  responsibility  and  care  of  handling 
money,  leaving  the  actual  payment  of  the  cash  to  the  Assistant  Treasurers  and 
bonded  depositories.  The  third  improvement  is  the  present  thorough  system 
of  inspections  by  competent  agents  of  the  various  departments,  whereby  the 
various  collectors  and  other  officers  throughout  the  country  having  financial  re- 
sponsibilities have  their  offices  and  books  regularly  examined  by  expert  ac- 
countants. The  result  of  these  careful  business  methods  has  secured  to  the 
government  the  strictest  accountability  for  public  funds,  defalcations  being  now 
almost  unknown.  It  is  obvious  that  civil  government  is  a  great  progressive 
science,  and  that  the  Republican  party  is  the  leader  in  carefully  and  wisely  ad- 
vancing that  science. 

When  the  Republican  party  took  possession  of  the  National  Government, 
March  4,  1861,  with  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President,  it  found  eleven  states  had 
renounced  their  allegiance  to  the  Union ;  had  organized  the  Confederate  gov- 

251 


ernment  and  had  raised  an  army  to  overthrow  the  Union.  It  found  a  bankrupt 
treasury ;  the  national  credit  impaired ;  and  a  paper  circulation  composed  of  the 
notes  of  broken  and  suspended  banks ;  gold  and  silver  coin  had  practically  dis- 
appeared from  circulation.  Forts,  arsenals,  custom  houses,  mint,  money  and 
public  property  had  been  seized.  The  army  and  navy  had  been  scattered  by 
order  of  the  retiring  Democratic  administration.  Forty-one  days  later  the 
National  flag  had  been  fired  upon,  Fort  Sumpter  was  forced  to  surrender  and  civil 
war  was  precipitated  upon  the  country. 

The  Republican  administration  on  behalf  of  the  Nation  accepted  the  chal- 
lenge to  battle ;  enacted  laws  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union ;  raised  armies ; 
created  a  navy ;  levied  taxes ;  created  a  national  paper  currency  composed  of 
legal  tender  notes  and  National  Bank  notes ;  established  public  credit ;  issued 
bonds ;  borrowed  money ;  raised  more7than  two  million  and  a  half  of  soldiers ; 
fought  battles ;  overcame  the  rebellion  and  saved  the  Union ;  freed  four  million 
slaves,  made  them  citizens,  guaranteed  them  civil  rights  and  gave  them  the  bal- 
lot ;  paid  off  and  disbanded  an  army  of  a  million  men ;  pensioned  its  disabled  sol- 
diers, and  the  widows  and  orphans ;  maintained  the  honor  of  the  country  at  home 
and  abroad  and  forgave  its  enemies.  It  aided  the  construction  of  Pacific  rail- 
roads ;  granted  homesteads  to  settlers  on  the  public  lands ;  organized  territorial 
governments ;  admitted  new  states ;  maintained  the  system  of  a  protective  tariff 
and  thereby  encouraged  enterprise  and  industry ;  reduced  expenses ;  reduced 
taxes ;  preserved  the  public  credit ;  reduced  the  public  debt ;  refunded  the  debt 
at  a  lower  rate  of  interest,  and  resumed  specie  payments,  giving  to  the  country 
a  sound  circulation  of  gold,  silver  and  paper,  every  dollar  being  of  equal  value. 
The  foreign  policy  of  the  United  States  under  Republican  management  has  been 
fr.ank  and  sincere.  The  interests  of  peace  have  been  advancd  by  the  introduc- 
tion of  arbitration.  The  Hawaiian  Islands  have  been  added  to  our  territory 
by  peaceful  negotiation.  A  just  and  successful  war  has  been  prosecuted  against 
the  Kingdom  of  Spain,  and  the  authority  of  that  nation  at  last  eliminated  from 
the  Western  Hemisphere.  Cuba,  released  from  tyranny,  oppression  and  cruelty 
will  be  made  free.  Porto  Rico,  the  Philippines  and  Guam,  are  now  territory 
of  the  United  States  and  will  be  lifted  up  into  the  sunlight  of  freedom.  In  the 
unhappy  controversy  with  China  American  statesmanship  has  led  the  way; 
American  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  have  borne  a  conspicuous  part  in  the  res- 
cue of  the  diplomats  of  all  nations  from  the  treacherous  hands  of  the  Chinese 
government.  During  the  mighty  epoch  in  the  history  of  the  Republic  from 
March,  1861,  to  the  present  hour,  Republican  statesmen  of  wisdom  and  experi- 
ence have  prepared,  enacted  and  administered  the  laws  which  have  advanced  the 
interests  and  prosperity  of  the  people,  and  encouraged  the  development  of  the 
resources  and  industries  of  the  country.  In  population,  freedom,  progressive 
intelligence,  productive  industries,  wealth  and  general  prosperity,  this  Republic 
stands  unequaled.  Its  national  progress  has  been  phenomenal,  but  this  has  been 
equaled  by  its  influence  for  good  government  among  the  people  of  the  whole 
world. 

Among  the  nations  of  the  earth  the  United  States  occupies  the  van  in  the 
great  march  of  human  rights  and  human  progress.  The  duty  of  conducting  this 
Nation  on  the  line  of  its  great  mission  must  devolve  upon  the  Republican  party ; 
it  is  the  only  party  fitted  by  its  antecedents  and  high  moral  principles  for  this 
work. 


252 


ABRAHAMn  LINCOLN. 

The  name  of  Abraham  Lincoln  is  imperishable.  His  brief  public  career  of 
four  years  and  twenty-one  days  as  the  leader  of  the  cause  of  the  preservation 
of  the  Union  brought  him  conspicuously  before  the  world.  His  plea  for  peace 
upon  taking  the  oath  of  office  of  President  was  a  noble  effort  to  push  aside  the 
threatened  scourge  of  war.  When  war  came  his  appeal  to  arms  rallied  the  loyal 
sentiment  of  the  country,  and  during  the  whole  of  the  struggle  he  became  dearer 
and  more  near  to  the  hearts  of  the  people,  until  the  Northland  resounded  with 
the  anthem,  "We  are  coming,  Father  Abraham,  six  hundred  thousand  more." 

With  wisdom,  courage,  fortitude,  patience  and  kindness  he  led  the  country 
through  the  dark  clouds  of  war;  the  greatest  followed  him  as  a  natural  leader, 
and  those  who  fought  to  overthrow  the  government  learned  to  revere  his  name 
and  look  upon  his  character  as  without  flaw  or  blemish. 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  born  in  Hardin,  Larue  county,  Kentucky,  February 
12,  1809.  His  ancestors  were  Quakers  from  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania. 
When  eight  years  old  he  went  with  his  father  and  mother  to  Spencer  county, 
Indiana.  At  nineteen  he  went  down  the  Mississippi  river  on  a  flatboat,  receiv- 
ing ten  dollars  a  month  for  his  wages.  At  twenty-one  he  migrated  with  his 
father's  family  to  Illinois  and  split  rails  to  fence  the  new  homestead.  At  twenty- 
three  he  was  a  Captain  of  Volunteers  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  kept  a  store. 
He  learned  surveying.  At  twenty-five  he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature 
and  was  re-elected  three  times.  At  twenty-seven  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 

In  1837  he  removed  to  Springfield.  In  1846  he  was  elected  to  Congress  as 
a  Whig.  In  1849  he  sought  unsuccessfully  to  be  appointed  Commissioner  of 
the  General  Land  Office,  and  declined  an  appointment  which  required  residence 
in  Oregon.  In  1854  he  was  a  'candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate  as  the 
unanimous  choice  of  the  Anti-Nebraska  Whigs,  who  were  a  minority  in  the 
Legislature.  His  influence  induced  his  supporters  to  vote  for  Judge  Trumbull, 
an  Anti-Nebraska  Democrat,  who  was  elected. 

In  1858  he  was  the  nominee  of  the  Republican  State  Convention  for  United 
States  Senator,  with  Stephen  A.  Douglas  as  his  rival.  These  two  great  men 
had  a  joint  debate  which  attracted  the  attention  of  the  whole  country.  Douglas 
was  re-elected;  Lincoln  was  defeated,  but  from  that  hour  he  was  recognized  as 
a  great  exponent  of  Republican  doctrine. 

In  1860  he  was  elected  President  and  inaugurated  March  4,  1861.  His 
writings  and  speeches  constitute  a  part  of  the  classic  literature  of  the  country. 

Following  is  his  address  delivered  at  the  dedication  of  Gettysburg  Ceme- 
tery, November  19,  1863 : 

"Four  score  and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth  upon  this  coun- 
try a  new  nation,  conceived  in  liberty  and  dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all 
men  are  created  equal. 

"Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  civil  war,  testing  whether  that  nation,  or 
any  nation  so  conceived  and  so  dedicated,  can  long  endure.  We  are  met  on 
a  great  battlefield  of  that  war.  We  have  come  to  dedicate  a  portion  of  that 
field,  as  a  final  resting  place  for  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that  that  nation 
might  live.  It  is  altogether  fitting  and  proper  that  we  should  do  this. 

"But,  in  a  larger  sense,  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  consecrate,  we  cannot 
hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men  living  and  dead  who  struggled  here  have 
consecrated  it,  far  above  our  poor  power  to  add  or  detract.  The  world  will  little 
note,  nor  long  remember  what  we  say  here,  but  it  can  never  forget  what  they 
did  here.  It  is  for  us  the  living,  rather,  to  be  dedicated  here  to  the  unfinished 
work  which  they  who  fought  here  have  thus  far  so  nobly  advanced.  It  is  rather 
for  us  to  be  here  dedicated  to  the  great  task  remaining  before  us — that  from 

233 


these  honored  dead  we  take  increased  devotion  to  that  cause  for  which  they 
gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion ;  that  we  here  highly  resolve  that  these 
dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain ;  that  this  nation,  under  God,  shall  have  a  new 
birth  of  freedom,  and  that  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the 
people,  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth." 

Abraham  Lincoln  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Todd,  who  was  a  descendant 
of  a  prominent  Kentucky  family.  He  died  April  15,  1865,  by  the  hand  of  the 
assassin,  J.  Wilkes  Booth.  His  body  rests  in  the  monument  erected  to  his 
memory  at  Springfield,  111.  Mrs.  Lincoln  died  July  16,  1882. 

Their  son,  Robert  T.  Lincoln,  of  Chicago,  is  their  only  surviving  descendant. 


STEPHEN  ARNOLD  DOUGLAS- 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  born  in  Brandon,  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  April 
23,  1813.  He  died  at  Chicago,  June  3,  1861. 

He  worked  at  cabinet-making ;  studied  at  an  academy  at  Canandaigua  three 
years;  studied  law;  settled  in  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  March,  1834;  was  an  auc- 
tioneer's clerk ;  taught  school ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  soon  had  a  lucrative 
practice ;  became  active  in  politics  as  a  Democratic  orator ;  had  the  title  of  "The 
Little  Giant."  Attorney-General  of  the  State ;  member  of  the  Legislature  of 
1835.  Appointed  Register  of  the  Land  Office  at  Springfield  in  1837.  Secretary 
of  State  December,  1840.  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  1841-1843.  Served 
in  lower  House  of  Congress,  1843-1847,  and  was  prominent  in  the  Oregon  con- 
troversy. Advocated  the  annexation  of  Texas ;  as  chairman  of  House  Com- 
mittee on  Territories  reported  joint  resolution  declaring  Texas  to  be  one  of  the 
United  States.  Favored  the  Mexican  War.  Elected  United  States  Senator 
and  served  from  1847  to  1861.  Supported  Clay's  Compromise  Measures  of  1850. 
Maintained  that  the  people  of  each  territory  should  be  permitted  to  decide  for 
themselves  whether  it  should  be  a  free  or  a  slave  State. 

Senator  Douglas  was  the  author  of  the  popular  sovereignty  doctrine.  Was 
a  candidate  for  Democratic  nomination  for  the  Presidency  in  1856.  James 
Buchanan  received  168  votes  and  Douglas  121.  It  required  193  votes  to  nomi- 
nate. Mr.  Douglas  telegraphed  his  friends  to  vote  for  Buchanan,  and  he  was 
nominated.  In  1857  he  vigorously  opposed  the  admission  of  Kansas  as  a  slave 
State  under  the  Lecompton  Constitution;  this  involved  him  in  a  serious  contro- 
versy with  Buchanan's  administration  and  Southern  Democratic  leaders. 

In  1859,  after  the  memorable  and  exciting  contest  with  Abraham  Lincoln 
for  the  United  States  Senatorship,  during  which  the  great  joint  debate  was  had, 
he  was  re-elected  United  States  Senator. 

In  1860  he  was  candidate  for  the  Democratic  nomination  for  President. 
The  Southern  wing  of  the  party  bolted,  held  another  convention  and  nominated 
John  C.  Breckenridge.  The  regular  convention  took  a  recess  at  Charleston 
to  meet  later  at  Baltimore,  where  Mr.  Douglas  was  nominated.  His  popular 
vote  was  1,374,664,  while  he  secured  only  twelve  electoral  votes.  Abraham 
Lincoln  was  elected  President. 

Senator  Douglas  performed  a  service  for  Illinois,  and  the  States  on  both 
sides  of  the  Mississippi  river  below  Cairo,  of  such  enduring  importance  that  his 
name  should  be  forever  cherished  by  the  people  of  this  and  those  other  states. 
Senator  Douglas  took  the  lead  in  securing  a  grant  of  land  from  the  National 
Government  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from  Cairo  northward,  with 
two  branches,  one  to  Chicago,  the  other  to  Galena;  and  similar  grants  to  aid  in 
building  railroads  from  points  opposite  Cairo — one  to  Fulton  on  the  Texas  line, 
the  other  to  New  Orleans. 

Mr.  Douglas  advocated  the  acquisition  of  Cuba,  whenever  that  island  could 
be  honorably  obtained  from  Spain.  He  did  all  in  his  power  to  appease  the 
clamor  in  the  South  for  secession  upon  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  But 
his  greatest  act,  and  one  which  entitles  him  to  everlasting  fame,  was  the  prompt 
and  courageous  stand  for  the  Union  when  Fort  Sumpter  was  fired  upon.  His 
prompt  cry  to  arm  was  a  clarion  note  heard  and  responded  to  throughout  the 
land. 

254 


ULYSSES  SIMPSON  GRANT. 

General  Ulysses  Simpson  Grant  was  born  April  27,  1822,  at  Point  Pleasant, 
Ohio,  and  died  in  New  York  State,  at  Mount  McGregor,  July  23,  1885.  His 
body  rests  in  the  splendid  tomb  erected  to  his  memory  on  the  banks  of  the 
Hudson  in  Riverside  Park,  New  York  City. 

His  family  was  American  in  all  its  branches.  Matthew  Grant,  the  founder 
of  the  American  branch  of  which  General  Grant  was  a  descendant,  emigrated 
to  this  country  and  settled  at  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  in  May,  1630.  General 
Grant  was  the  eighth  generation  from  Matthew  Grant.  Noah  Grant,  the  grand- 
father of  the  General,  enlisted  in  the  Continental  Army  and  was  in  the  Battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  He  served  during  the  entire  Revolutionary  War  and  was  at 
the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown.  He  first  emigrated  to  Penn- 
sylvania, and  later  to  Ohio,  where  he  raised  a  family.  Jesse  R.  Grant,  the  father 
of  the  General,  was  one  of  these. 

General  Grant  received  a  preliminary  education  in  the  schools  of  Ohio  and 
graduated  from  West  Point,  entering  the  Fourth  Infantry.  He  joined  General 
Taylor  on  the  Rio  Grande  in  1846,  and  was  in  the  battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Resaca 
de  la  Palma  and  Monterey.  He  joined  General  Scott  at  Vera  Cruz  and  took 
part  in  all  of  the  engagements  between  that  city  and  Mexico ;  was  breveted  first 
lieutenant  and  captain;  was  promoted  to  captain,  August,  1853,  while  serving 
in  Oregon;  resigned  July  31,  1854,  and  settled  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  married 
Miss  Dent.  He  removed  to  Galena,  where  he  lived  when  the  Civil  War  began ; 
was  one  of  the  first  to  offer  his  services  to  his  country ;  was  commissioned  by 
Governor  Yates  as  Colonel  of  the  Twenty-first  Illinois  Volunteers ;  commis- 
sioned Brigadier-General  May  17,  1861 ;  assigned  in  August  to  the  command 
at  Cairo ;  fought  the  battle  of  Belmont  in  Missouri ;  captured  Paducah,  Ken- 
tucky; February  6,  1862,  captured  Fort  Henry  on  the  Tennessee  river,  and  at 
once  moved  against  Fort  Donelson  on  the  Cumberland,  by  land  and  water, 
and  captured  that  place  and  a  large  part  of  the  garrison.  He  moved  his  army 
to  Pittsburgh  Landing,  on  the  Tennessee  river. 

April  6,  his  army  was  attacked  by  Confederate  forces  under  Generals  Albert 
Sydney  Johnson  and  Beauregard.  The  two  days'  battle  of  Shiloh  was  fought 
and  won,  being  one  of  the  bloodiest  battles  of  the  war.  In  September,  1862, 
was  assigned  to  command  the  district  of  West  Tennessee,  with  headquarters 
at  Jackson.  The  battles  of  luka  and  Corinth  were  fought  by  troops  in  his  dis- 
trict, and  while  not  present  at  the  latter  battle,  he  made  the  general  plans  of 
the  engagement.  At  the  battle  of  Corinth  the  Confederates,  with  a  force  of 
thirty-six  thousand  men,  were  repulsed  with  great  slaughter  by  a  Union  force 
of  eighteen  thousand  men.  He  was  commissioned  Major-General  of  Volun- 
teers. He  planned  and  executed  the  campaign  and  siege  of  Vicksburg,  one  of 
the  most  brilliant  military  achievements  of  any  age.  Leaving  his  base  of  sup- 
plies, he  crossed  the  Mississippi  river  May  i,  1863,  and  in  nineteen  days  had 
fought  and  won  six  battles  and  laid  siege  to  Vicksburg.  The  siege  continued 
forty-six  days,  when  the  garrison  of  31,500  surrendered.  For  this  achievement 
he  was  made  Major-General  of  the  United  States  Army,  July  4,  1863.  Was 
immediately  assigned  to  command  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi, 
composed  of  the  departments  of  the  Tennessee,  Cumberland  and  Ohio.  He 
proceeded  to  Chattanooga  and  assumed  command  of  the  army,  which  was  then 
besieged  by  General  Bragg,  who  had  but  recently  gained  a  great  victory  at 
Chickamauga. 

Chattanooga  was  re-enforced  by  two  army  corps  under  General  Hooker, 
and  one  army  corps,  the  Fifteenth,  under  General  Sherman,  from  Vicksburg. 
General  Sherman  reached  Chattanooga,  November  23,  1863 ;  that  evening  the 
great  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge  and  Lookout  Mountain  opened.  General 
Sherman  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  above  Chattanooga  that  night,  and  on 
the  24th  attacked  Braggs'  right  wing,  while  General  Hooker  moved  against 
Lookout  Mountain,  from  which  he  dislodged  the  enemy.  On  the  25111  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  on  the  right  wing,  the  Armies  of  the  Cumberland  and  Ohio 

255 


in  the  center,  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  on  the  left  wing,  attacked  and 
defeated  the  Confederate  forces  on  Missionary  Ridge,  where,  four  hundred  feet 
above  the  plain,  they  were  strongly  entrenched.  General  Grant  was  commis- 
sioned Lieutenant-General  for  his  achievements  on  this  field  and  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Armies  of  the  United  States,  March  7,  1864.  He  at  once 
entered  upon  the  task  of  organizing  armies  for  a  great  combined  movement  in 
the  spring  of  1864.  The  campaign  opened  May  4;  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General  Meade,  but  under  the  direction  of 
General  Grant,  moved  against  General  Lee's  Army  in  the  Wilderness  in  Vir- 
ginia. General  Sherman,  with  an  army  one  hundred  thousand  strong,  with 
Thomas,  Hooker  and  McPherson  in  command  of  the  three  great  armies,  opened 
the  Atlanta  campaign,  while  other  forces  in  different  parts  of  the  country  moved 
against  the  Confederate  armies.  The  military  operations  of  1864  in  Virginia 
and  Georgia  attracted  the  attention  of  the  world.  The  destiny  of  the  American 
Republic  hung  upon  the  result  of  that  campaign.  President  Lincoln  and  Edwin 
M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War,  rendered  every  possible  assistance  to  strengthen 
the  army ;  the  people  of  the  North,  and  the  people  of  the  South,  wrought  up  to 
the  highest  pitch  of  devotion  for  their  respective  armies,  gave  every  encourage- 
ment possible  to  the  contending  forces  on  both  sides,  but  General  Grant's  con- 
summate military  skill  and  his  unflinching  determination  to  succeed  enabled  the 
Union  forces  to  push  back  the  Confederate  forces  until  they  took  refuge  finally 
in  Richmond  and  Petersburg;  while  Sherman  for  one  hundred  days  carried 
forward  his  campaign  through  battle  and  siege  until  Atlanta  fell ;  then,  dividing 
his  army,  leaving  Thomas  to  cope  with  Hood,  he  marched  down  to  the  Sea  and 
captured  Savannah. 

All  the  armies  that  year  had  great  leaders,  but  it  was  the  genius  of  Grant 
that  secured  a  combined  and  co-operative  movement  along  the  whole  line  of 
military  operations.  The  great  campaign  of  1865  was  but  a  continuation  of 
the  plans  of  the  previous  year.  Sherman  turned  the  head  of  his  column  north- 
ward through  South  Carolina  to  North  Carolina,  the  Confederate  forces  finding 
it  impossible  to  resist  his  impetuous  march.  It  was  obvious  that  the  last  hour 
of  the  Confederacy  was  at  hand.  Grant  put  his  great  army  in  motion,  with 
the  intrepid  Sheridan  in  advance.  Lee  withdrew  from  Richmond,  hoping  to 
escape.  His  efforts  proved  to  be  vain;  his  army  was  brought  to  bay  at  Appo- 
mattox,  Virginia,  where,  on  April  9,  1865,  General  Lee  surrendered  his  army 
to  General  Grant,  accepting  the  most  generous  terms  ever  offered  to  a  defeated 
foe.  Here  the  war  was  practically  ended,  and  the  United  States  and  the  world 
accorded  the  honor  to  General  Grant  of  being  the  great  military  leader  who 
saved  his  country. 

In  1868  the  Republican  party  turned  to  General  Grant  as  the  man  then 
best  fitted  for  the  Presidential  office.  He  was  elected  that  year  and  again  in 
1872,  and  for  eight  years,  with  distinguished  ability,  presided  over  the  affairs 
of  this  country.  While  being  the  most  successful  man  in  time  of  war,  he  now 
became  the  most  earnest  man  in  the  country  for  peace. 

The  administration  of  General  Grant  was  distinguished  for  two  very  im- 
portant acts — one  relating  to  the  finances  of  the  government,  where  he  declined 
to  approve  a  law  for  the  expansion  of  paper  currency  and  insisted  on  the  resump- 
tion of  specie  payments,  and  the  other  the  settlement  of  the  outstanding  contro- 
versies of  Great  Britain,  involving  the  Northwest  Boundary  and  the  Alabama 
Claims,  both  of  which,  upon  the  suggestion  of  President  Grant,  were  settled  by 
arbitration,  establishing  a  precedent  which  has  been  taken  up  by  the  govern- 
ments of  the  world  and  is  now  recognized  as  the  wisest  and  most  humane 
method  of  settling  international  controversies. 

General  Grant  made  a  tour  of  the  world,  and  in  every  country  was  received 
by  crowned  head  and  peasant  with  every  evidence  of  honor  and  affection.  He 
was  a  plain,  unaffected  man,  of  great  kindness  of  heart,  true  to  his  friends,  of 
extraordinary  soundness  of  judgment  and  firmness  of  purpose,  inspiring  all  who 
met  him  with  the  possession  of  native  good  sense.  His  name,  by  the  side  of 
Lincoln's,  will  be  honored  as  long  as  civil  government  lasts. 


256 


JOHN  ALEXANDER  LOGAN. 

Major-General  John  A.  Logan  was  born  in  Jackson  county,  Illinois,  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1826,  and  died  at  Washington  City,  D.  C.,  December  26,  1886,  while 
serving  as  a  senator  of  the  United  States.  The  respect  and  affection  in  which 
he  was  held  were  shown  by  his  public  funeral,  which  was  attended  by  many 
thousand  persons,  including  the  most  distinguished  of  the  land.  His  body 
reposes  in  a  tomb  erected  to  receive  it  on  Meridian  Hill,  Washington,  D.  C. 

General  Logan  received  a  common  school  education  and  graduated  from 
the  Louisville  College  in  1852;  but  he  had  already  served  in  the  First  Illinois 
Regiment  in  the  Mexican  War,  rising  from  the  ranks  to  be  Lieutenant  and 
quartermaster.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1852,  and  was  elected  Prosecut- 
ing Attorney  for  the  Third  Judicial  Circuit.  Was  elected  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature in  1856  and  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1858;  he  was  in  that  notable 
Congress  which  preceded  the  Civil  War.  He  exerted  his  best  influence  for  the 
preservation  of  peace,  and  declared  himself  inflexibly  in  favor  of  maintaining  the 
Union.  After  the  Civil  WTar  began,  he  attended  the  special  session  of  Congress 
and  voted  for  supplies  of  men  and  money  to  carry  on  the  war.  As  a  private 
citizen  he  was  on  the  field  of  Bull  Run,  July  21,  1861,  and  fought  as  a  private 
soldier  in  a  Michigan  regiment. 

Upon  the  adjournment  of  Congress  he  returned  home  and  raised  the  Thirty- 
first  Illinois  Volunteers ;  was  commissioned  Colonel  in  August ;  was  at  the 
Battle  of  Belmont,  and  also  at  the  Battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  where  he  was 
severely  wounded;  was  commissioned  Brigadier-General  March  i,  1862,  and 
had  a  command  under  General  Grant  at  Jackson,  Tennessee.  He  was  commis- 
sioned Major-General  November  29,  1862,  and  assigned  to  the  Third  Division, 
Seventeenth  Army  Corps.  He  commanded  this  division  during  the  campaign 
against  Vicksburg,  and  at  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  pushed  his  works  so  near  the 
enemy's  outer  fort  that  he  mined  and  blew  it  up  on  June  25.  This  aggressive 
and  determined  movement  undoubtedly  hastened  the  surrender,  which  occurred 
July  4,  1863.  General  Logan  was  at  once  placed  in  command  of  the  forces 
occupying  the  city  of  Vicksburg.  He  was  in  the  campaign  in  February,  1864, 
against  Meridian,  Miss.,  and  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Fifteenth  Army 
Corps,  which,  in  November,  1863,  had  marched  to  the  relief  of  Chattanooga. 
The  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  was  composed  of  four  divisions,  and  was  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  greatest  military  organizations  of  its  size  that  ever  engaged  an  enemy, 
and  he,  as  its  leader,  gave  it  an  inspiration  that  made  it  invincible. 

General  Logan  was  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  figures  in  the  Atlanta 
campaign  of  1864.  When  General  McPherson  fell  during  the  battle  of  July  22, 
when  Hood,  leaving  his  entrenchments  around  Atlanta,  moved  out  in  the  night 
and  attacked  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  General  Logan  assumed  command  of 
the  army  in  the  midst  of  that  battle,  when  the  advantages  at  the  time  were  all 
with  the  Confederate  forces ;  but  his  presence  along  the  line  inspired  universal 
enthusiasm  amongst  the  Union  troops,  so  that  they  closed  up  the  intervals 
between  their  columns  and  met  and  vanquished  the  Confederate  forces.  The 
battle  of  July  22,  1864,  waged  and  won  by  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  resulted 
in  one  of  the  most  splendid  victories  of  the  war.  General  Logan  on  that  day 
exhibited  high  faculties  of  command,  and  it  was  supposed  by  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee  that  he  would  be  continued  in  its  command,  but  six  days  later  he  was 
superseded  by  General  O.  O.  Howard,  a  graduate  of  West  Point.  General 
Howard  came  west  in  command  of  the  Eleventh  Corps,  under  General  Hooker. 
He  is  a  man  of  admirable  character,  and  a  true  soldier,  and  was  well  worthy  of 
the  assignment,  but  his  selection  gave  serious  offense  to  General  Hooker,  who, 
ranking  General  Howard,  felt  that  he  shoufd  have  been  preferred ;  and  to  Generaf 
Logan,  who  had  served  with  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  from  the  beginning, 
and  whose  successful  career  placed  him  conspicuously  at  the  head  of  all  volun- 
teer officers  of  the  American  army.  He  felt  that  he  had  earned  and  was  entitled 
to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and  his  friends  in  the  army  and 
at  home  were  in  full  accord  with  this  sentiment;  but  General  Sherman,  whose 
good  intentions  cannot  be  called  in  question,  was  of  opinion  that  it  was  safer 
to  have  an  officer  in  command  of  that  great  army  who  had  received  his  educa- 

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tion  at  West  Point ;  so  upon  his  recommendation,  President  Lincoln  assigned 
General  Howard  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

Returning  home  on  a  leave  of  absence  in  the  fall  of  1864,  after  the  capture 
of  Atlanta,  General  Logan  at  once  entered  actively  into  the  political  campaign, 
advocating  the  re-election  of  President  Lincoln.  He  addressed  great  meetings 
in  all  parts  of  the  State,  and  delivered  some  of  the  most  eloquent  and  able 
speeches  of  that  year.  His  speech,  delivered  in  Chicago,  was  a  masterpiece  of 
argument  and  oratory  in  favor  of  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  neces- 
sary means  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  and  civil  government  in  the  United 
States.  His  engagements  in  this  political  campaign  prevented  him  from  accom- 
panying the  Army  of  Georgia  on  its  great  march  to  the  Sea,  but  he  came  to 
Savannah  in  January,  1865,  and  assumed  command  of  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps. 
General  Logan  commanded  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  in  the  great  campaign 
through  the  Carolinas,  participated  in  the  battles  of  that  campaign,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston.  He  marched  with  his 
troops  to  Washington  City  and  participated  in  the  great  review  in  May,  1865. 
He  was  then  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and 
proceeded  with  that  army  to  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Upon  the  restoration  of 
peace  he  left  the  service  as  a  Major-General  of  Volunteers. 

In  1866  he  was  nominated  and  elected  as  Congressman-at-large  in  the  State 
of  Illinois,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in  1868  and  again  in  1870. 
He  was  three  times  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate — first  in  1871,  again  in 
1879,  and  for  the  third  time  in  1885.  In  1884  he  was  supported  in  the  National 
Republican  Convention  for  the  office  of  President.  Honorable  James  G.  Elaine 
was,  however,  nominated  for  President  and  General  Logan  was  nominated  for 
Vice-President.  During  the  progress  of  that  campaign  General  Logan  deliv- 
ered a  number  of  speeches  throughout  the  country  and  added  to  his  reputation 
and  popularity  as  a  public  speaker.  The  Republican  party  was  defeated.  Gen- 
eral Logan  was  undoubtedly  one  of  the  greatest  men  who  ever  lived  in  the 
State  of  Illinois.  His  achievements  in  every  field  of  endeavor  marked  him  as 
a  man  of  extraordinary  ability.  He  was  a  lawyer,  a  soldier  of  great  renown,  a 
statesman  of  recognized  ability  and  a  popular  orator.  He  was  the  recognized 
leader  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois,  and  exerted  a  powerful  influence  with 
the  Republican  party  throughout  the  country.  He  had  the  friendship  and  the 
confidence  of  the  most  distinguished  men  of  both  parties,  but  his  friendships 
were  not  confined  to  the  great — the  poor  arid  the  humble  were  welcome  in 
his  house.  He  was  the  devoted  friend  of  the  Union  Soldiers,  and  to  him  more 
than  to  any  man  during  his  service  in  Congress  is  due  the  securing  to  the  men 
who  saved  the  Union  a  proper  recognition  by  law  for  their  services. 

General  John  A.  Logan  married  Mary  S.  Cunningham,  daughter  of  Captain 
John  M.  Cunningham,  of  Williamson  county,  Illinois,  who  had  a  distinguished 
service  in  civil  life  as  well  as  in  the  Mexican  war.  Mrs.  Logan  was  a  suitable 
companion  for  her  husband.  She  was  in  full  sympathy  with  all  his  aspirations, 
and  her  wide  acquaintance  and  popularity  no  doubt  added  much  to  his  success. 
They  had  two  children — Major  John  A.  Logan,  Jr.,  who  fell  in  the  Philippine 
Islands  gallantly  leading  his  command,  and  Mary  Logan,  wife  of  Major  Tucker, 
Paymaster  of  the  United  States  Army. 


HAMILTON  CLUB. 

The  Hamilton  Club,  of  Chicago,  essentially  a  young  man's  club  and  the 
largest  of  its  kind  in  the  West,  was  organized  April  9,  1890,  the  twenty-fifth 
anniversary  of  the  surrender  at  Appomattox.  The  purposes  of  the  club  is  the 
advancement  of  political  science,  the  promotion  of  good  government — local, 
state  and  national — and  the  development  of  patriotism  and  Republican  princi- 
ples. While  partisan  in  its  organization,  it  aims  to  inculcate  the  highest  ideas  of 
citizenship  and  makes  a  feature  of  addreses  by  public  men  not  limited  to  partisan 
views.  It  seeks,  through  discussions  of  political  questions  and  kindred  subjects, 
to  encourage  that  independence  of  thought  which  is  the  product  of  an  educated 
and  intelligent  citizenship.  At  the  same  time  it  is  an  earnest  supporter  of  the 

258 


Republican  ticket  in  local  as  well  as  national  campaigns,  although  its  by-laws 
prohibit  it  from  taking  any  action  prior  to  the  conventions.  So  far  is  this  idea 
of  avoiding  entangling  alliances  with  any  party  faction  carried  that  holders  of 
elective  offices  or  employes  of  public  corporations  are  not  permitted  to  vote  at 
the  club  elections.  The  experience  of  similar  organizations  that  have  adopted 
no  such  restrictions  made  this  provision  seem  necessary.  With  these  safeguards 
the  club  has  pursued  its  course  without  friction,  and  as  a  result  is  able  to  take 
part  in  a  campaign  with  a  will  and  determination  which  make  it  a  power. 

The  influence  of  the  club  has  been  felt  most  forcibly,  however,  during 
Presidential  campaigns.  In  the  contest  of  1896,  the  club  speakers  addressed  over 
a  hundred  workingmen's  meetings,  promoted  by  the  political  action  committee 
of  the  club,  on  the  financial  issues  of  that  contest.  This  was  one  of  the  most 
effective  agencies  of  that  struggle.  During  the  campaigns  the  club  has  con- 
ducted a  number  of  large  mass  meetings,  perhaps  the  most  notable  of  which 
was  that  of  October  20,  1894.  At  this  meeting  the  main  part  of  the  audience 
was  assembled  in  the  First  Regiment  Armory  and  the  overflow  in  a  large  build- 
ing near  by.  Thomas  B.  Reed  addressed  the  seventeen  thousand  people  present 
at  these  meetings.  Subsequently  Mr.  Reed  was  elected  an  honorary  member 
of  the  club,  and  in  December,  1895,  on  the  occasion  of  his  election  as  Speaker 
of  the  House  of  Representatives,  the  club  presented  him  with  a  handsome  and 
most  artistic  gavel,  made,  in  part,  of  wood  from  the  farm  of  Henry  Clay, 
wrought  with  gold  and  silver  ornamentations  and  bearing  Hamilton's  famous 
words:  "As  too  much  power  leads  to  despotism,  too  little  leads  to  anarchy." 

The  club  devoted  great  energy  to  securing  the  passage  of  the  local  civil 
service  law,  and  its  membership  was  especially  active  in  advocating  its  adoption 
by  the  voters  of  Chicago,  which  was  accomplished  at  the  April  election  in  1895. 
About  this  time  the  club  made  belief  in  civil  service  reform  for  city,  State  and 
Nation  a  requisite  for  membership.  Since  the  adoption  of  the  law  the  club  has 
created  a  standing  committee  whose  duty  it  is  to  report  infractions  of  the  law 
and  recommendations  as  to  its  proper  enforcement. 

At  the  Legislative  session  of  1895  the  club  interested  itself  in  changing  the 
compensation  of  members  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  from  five  dol- 
lars a  day,  which  they  were  then  receiving,  to  the  present  sum  of  one  thousand 
dollars  for  the  session.  It  was  believed  that  this  change  would  shorten  the 
sessions  of  the  Legislature,  and  thus  attract  a  better  class  of  citizens  to  that 
important  service.  The  Hamilton  Club  is  entitled  to  the  credit  for  the  passage 
of  this  law,  having  alone  championed  it  from  its  introduction  to  its  final  passage. 

In  1899  the  club  prepared  an  elaborate  draft  of  a  "Corrupt  Practices  Act" 
and  submitted  it  to  the  General  Assembly,  but  too  late  for  favorable  action. 
The  purpose,  however,  was  largely  educational,  and  that  was  accomplished. 
That  body  is  now  familiar  in  general  with  this  legislation,  which  is  upon  the 
Statute  books  of  most  of  the  States. 

During  the  first  eight  years  of  its  existence  the  club  was  confined  in  its 
active  membership  to  the  South  Side  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  its  field  of 
operations  was  correspondingly  restricted,  but  in  March,  1898,  in  deference  to 
the  prevailing  sentiment  of  the  members,  it  secured  a  central  location  in  the 
heart  of  the  city,  with  all  the  facilities  of  the  modern  city  club,  actively  entered 
into  club  life,  began  the  publication  of  a  newspaper,  organized  a  whist  team, 
made  billiards  a  popular  feature,  and  in  a  number  of  ways  added  to  the  attract- 
iveness of  the  club.  Its  scope  being  thus  extended  to  the  whole  city,  and 
through  a  large  non-resident  list  to  the  State,  and  in  fact  to  the  whole  country, 
its  membership  has  immensely  increased  and  at  this  writing  numbers  a  thou- 
sand. Owing  to  this  increase  in  facilities  and  membership,  the  club  has  since 
been  able  to  take  even  a  more  active  and  effective  part  in  party  affairs  in  the  city, 
State  and  country.  Particularly  is  this  true  in  the  department  of  public  speak- 
ing. The  reputation  of  the  club  along  this  line  is  such  that  it  is  called  upon 
repeatedly  to  furnish  speakers  for  public  occasions  in  Chicago  and  elsewhere." 

The  club  is  endeavoring  to  make  a  complete  collection  of  Hamiltoniana. 
It  possesses  the  famous  limited  edition  of  Hamilton's  works,  edited  by  Senator 
Lodge ;  numerous  biographies,  the  prize  orations  delivered  for  a  generation 
at  Hamilton  College,  his  autograph  and  all  of  the  notable  pictures  of  him, 
including  a  print  of  his  famous  portrait  now  in  the  New  York  Chamber  of 

259 


Commerce,  and  photographs  of  the  various  Hamilton  monuments,  his  tomb  and 
the  famous  thirteen  elms  planted  by  him  in  front  of  his  homestead.  On  January 
nth  of  each  year  the  club  celebrates  the  birthday  of  its  patron  saint  by  a  public 
address  upon  his  life  and  character.  There  are  upon  the  walls  of  the  club  rooms 
likenesses  of  most  of  the  prominent  Republicans  of  the  past  and  present,  and 
the  club  library  includes  enough  on  political  and  economic  subjects  to  satisfy 
the  wants  of  the  ordinary  investigator  along  those  lines. 

Perhaps  the  most  notable  feature  of  the  club's  history  has  been  its  banquets, 
commencing  in  1891,  at  which  the  club  has  entertained  such  men  as  Governor 
Roosevelt,  ex-Governor  Hoard,  Professor  Booker  T.  Washington,  ex-Speaker 
Reed,  Senators  Depew,  Davis,  Lodge,  Foraker  and  Dolliver,  Postmaster-Gen- 
eral Smith  and  our  own  Senators.  These  have  been  among  the  great  political 
banquets  of  the  country ;  they  have  J^een  of  the  highest  character,  and  have 
brought  forth  some  of  the  best  and  brightest  political  thought.  The  addresses 
on  these  occasions  are  a  substantial  contribution  to  the  political  literature  of  the 
day,  and  are  printed  and  widely  distributed.  The  club  also  publishes,  from 
time  to  time,  the  best  of  the  addresses  delivered  before  it  on  other  occasions  and 
original  articles  on  public  questions  written  by  its  members. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  club  has  cRosen  many  speakers  from  the  South.  It 
has  been  the  aim  to  have  the  Sovith  represented  at  each  banquet,  as  a  matter  of 
patriotism.  This  feature  led  up  to  the  most  celebrated  of  the  banquets,  given 
on  the  club  anniversary  in  1899,  in  recognition  of  the  tide  of  Americanism 
which  had  its  rise  in  the  Spanish  war  -and  hastened  the  obliteration  of  all  sec- 
tional feeling  in  this  country.  The  Auditorium  Theater  was  filled — the  par- 
quet by  banqueters  and  the  rest  by  spectators.  The  occasion  was  non-polit- 
ical and  purely  patriotic.  The  growing  feeling  of  brotherhood  between  North 
and  South  was  the  theme,  and  the  toasts,  "Grant,"  "Lee"  and  "The  Union," 
Appomattox  Day  being  celebrated  as  "The  First  Day  of  Peace." 

The  presidents  of  the  organization  have  been  the  following:  Robert  Mc- 
Murdy,  Frederick  A.  Smith,  Robert  Mather,  Edward  J.  Judd,  Arthur  Dixon, 
Samuel  W.  Allerton,  Frank  I.  Moulton,  Jesse  Holdom,  Hope  Reed  Cody, 
George  W.  Miller  and  Fred  A.  Bangs  (1900). 


JOHN  R1LEY  TANNER. 

Hon.  John  R.  Tanner,  Governor  of  Illinois,  was  born  April  4,  1844,  in 
Warwick  County,  Indiana.  His  ancestors  emigrated  to  this  country  at  an  early 
date.  His  great-grandfather,  John  Tanner,  was  a  soldier  during  the  Revolu- 
tionary war  from  Virginia,  and  his  grandfather,  John  Tanner,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  war  of  1812,  from  Boone  County,  Kentucky,  and  died  of  wounds  received 
in  the  battle  of  Lake  Champlain.  His  father  married  Eliza  V.  Downs,  daughter 
of  the  famous  Baptist  preacher  commonly  known  as  Tom  Downs. 

Governor  Tanner  began  life  in  a  log  house  on  his  father's  farm,  three  miles 
from  Booneville,  Indiana.  He  was  taught  to  work,  learning  the  business  of 
farming,  for  which  he  had  a  fondness.  He  obtained  his  education  at  the  com- 
mon school.  The  teachers  of  that  period  insisted  upon  laying  a  solid  founda- 
tion of  preliminary  education  upon  which  the  superstructure  of  knowledge  could 
be  erected ;  they  taught  their  pupils  spelling,  reading,  writing,  arithmetic,  gram- 
mar, geography  and  history.  When  an  intelligent,  studious  boy  passed  through 
the  various  classes  of  the  common  school  of  that  day,  he  was  well  fitted  for  the 
business  of  life,  and  possessed  such  an  education  as  enabled  him  by  study  to 
master  the  great  problems.  It  was  in  such  a  school  as  this  Governor  Tanner 
was  educated.  His  father  was  unable  to  afford  him  a  collegiate  course. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  the  Tanner  family  consisted  of  eight 
members — father,  mother,  four  brothers  and  two  sisters.  The  mother  died 
during  the  war,  at  Carbondale,  111.,  in  1863;  and  neither  of  the  sisters  now  sur- 
vive. The  male  members  of  the  family,  five  in  number,  all  entered  the  Union 
army.  The  father  enlisted  in  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  was  captured  and 
died  in  a  rebel  prison-pen  at  Columbus,  Miss.  His  grave  is  unmarked  and 

260 


261 


unknown.  Albert  Tanner,  one  of  the  brothers,  volunteered  in  the  Twenty-sixth 
Kentucky  Infantry ;  was  severely  wounded  in  battle  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
in  1863.  The  youngest  brother,  Frederick,  enlisted  in  the  Eighteenth  Illinois 
Infantry  and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  in  September,  1864.  The 
two  survivors,  J.  M.  Tanner  and  John  R.  Tanner,  enlisted  in  the  service,  the 
former  in  the  Thirteenth  Illinois  Cavalry  and  the  latter  in  the  Ninety-eighth 
Illinois  Infantry,  having  enlisted  in  Company  "A"  in  1863,  serving  with  that 
regiment  until  June,  1865,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Company  "B"  of  the 
Sixty-first  Illinois  Infantry,  being  finally  mustered  out  in  September,  1865.  He 
served  with  Sherman's  army  in  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Alabama  and  Georgia,  his 
regiment  forming  a  part  of  what  is  commonly  known  as  Wilder's  Brigade.  No 
better  body  of  troops  fought  under  the  flag.  The  comrades  of  John  R.  Tanner 
bear  testimony  that  he  was  a  true  solclier,  performing  every  duty  with  alacrity 
and  courage.  The  military  record  of  this  family  of  farmers  is  a  proud  heritage 
for  their  descendants. 

Returning  to  his  adopted  State  of  Illinois  after  the  war,  his  family  and  home 
broken  up,  Mr.  Tanner  purchased  a  small  farm  of  sixty  acres  in  Clay  county 
and  began  farming  for  a  living.  He  married  Loretta  Ingraham  in  December, 
1866.  He  continued  farming  and  selling  fruit  trees  until  1870,  when  he  was 
elected  sheriff  of  Clay  county.  His  term  of  sheriff  was  followed  by  a  term  as 
Circuit  clerk,  at  the  close  of  which  he  again  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  real 
estate  business.  In  1880  he  was  nominated  State  Senator  for  the  Forty-fourth 
District,  and  for  the  first  time  redeemed  it  from  Democracy.  During  his  term 
of  Senator  he  was  engaged  in  saw-milling  with  his  brother,  and  continued  in 
that  business  until  1886,  when  he  was  elected  State  Treasurer  of  Illinois.  In 
1887  Mr.  Tanner  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife,  and  being  left  a  widower 
with  two  children,  his  first  thought  was  to  their  education,  that  they  might  be 
properly  fitted  for  the  duties  of  life.  His  daughter,  Lucinda  J.,  finished  school- 
ing at  Mrs.  Summers'  Academy,  Washington,  D.  C.  His  son,  J.  Mack  Tanner, 
graduated  from  Knox  College,  at  Galesburg,  111.,  with  the  class  of  1891. 

Mr.  Tanner  was  for  about  one  year  United  States  Marshal  of  the  Southern 
District  by  appointment  of  President  Arthur.  He  served  for  a  few  months  of 
Governor  Fifer's  term  as  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioner.  Resigning 
this  office,  he  was  shortly  thereafter  made  Assistant  United  States  Treasurer 
at  Chicago,  which  place  he  held  until  President  Cleveland's  administration.  In 
1894  he  became  Chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee,  and 
effected  the  most  complete  organization  knowrn  in  Illinois  politics ;  the  phenom- 
inal  majority  of  1894  was,  no  doubt,  due  to  his  excellent  management  of  that 
campaign.  In  1896  he  received  the  nomination  for  Governor  and  was  elected 
by  a  majority  of  more  than  113,000.  Before  his  inauguration  he  was  married 
for  the  second  time  to  Cora  Edith  English  of  Springfield,  111. 

As  Governor  he  has  had  more  than  the  usual  amount  of  public  duties  to 
contend  with.  The  coal  strikes  at  Virden,  Pana  and  Carterville  offered  serious 
problems  for  solution,  but  peace  and  harmony  were  re-established  with  slight 
loss  of  life  and  with  general  satisfaction  to  the  conflicting  interests.  In  the  war 
with  Spain  Governor  Tanner  was  the  first  to  tender  the  material  and  moral 
support  of  this  State  to  the  Nation,  and  he  mobilized  within  forty-eight  hours 
from  the  call  ten  thousand  troops ;  and  through  his  efforts  a  regiment  of  Illinois 
soldiers  was  the  first  mustered  into  the  volunteer  service.  Perhaps  no  more 
serious  problem  confronted  the  Governor  than  the  financial  embarrassment  of 
the  State  when  he  entered  upon  office.  There  were  deficiencies  in  nearly  all  of 
the  institutions  and  no  money  in  the  treasury  with  which  to  pay  outstanding  bills 
or  current  expenses.  He  made  arrangements  with  business  firms  to  furnish 
supplies  needed  at  their  wholesale  rates  with  the  understanding  that  they  were 
to  wait  until  there  was  funds  with  which  to  pay  their  bills.  He  also  secured  a 
loan  of  $250,000  at  2.6  per  cent  interest  rate,  and  by  careful  and  judicious  man- 
agement has  brought  the  State  out  of  this  difficulty,  restoring  its  credit,  and 
having  at  the  present  time  a  handsome  surplus  in  the  treasury. 

His  knowledge  of  men,  his  broad  views  upon  public  questions,  his  close 
acquaintance  with  the  public  affairs  of  the  State,  together  with  his  sleepless 

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vigilance  and  devotion  to  public  duties,  have  made  his  administration  a  most 
successful  one.  The  career  of  Governor  Tanner  from  his  youth  to  the  present 
time  marks  him  as  a  man  of  great  natural  ability;  in  every  official  relation  he 
has  risen  to  the  requirements  of  the  occasion,  and  has  performed  every  duty 
with  wisdom  and  fidelity,  demonstrating  always  the  possession  of  a  strong 
reserve  force  for  any  emergency.  In  his  messages  to  the  Legislature  the  Gov- 
ernor has  shown  a  complete  grasp  of  all  important  public  questions.  As  a  public 
speaker  he  is  clear,  forcible  and  convincing.  His  treatment  of  the  political 
questions  at  issue  in  the  campaign  of  1900  was  very  able,  his  arraignment  of  the 
Democratic  party  for  its  disloyalty,  its  incapacity  and  misgovernment  was  with- 
ering in  its  denunciation  and  sarcasm,  while  his  allusion  to  the  splendid  record 
of  the  Republican  party  brought  to  view  the  important  achievements  of  the 
country  during  the  past  forty  years. 


WILLIAM  A.  NORTHCOTT. 

Lieutenant-Governor  William  A.  Northcott  was  born  in  Murfreesboro, 
Tennessee,  January  28,  1854.  His  father,  General  R.  S.  Northcott,  a  prominent 
citizen  of  Tennessee,  was — like  Andrew  Johnson,  Parson  Brownlow,  Horace 
Maynard,  Emerson  Etheridge,  and  many  other  leading  citizens  of  the  State — 
earnestly  opposed  to  secession;  he  was  a  Union  man  heart  and  soul,  but  the 
tide  of  public  opinion  in  Tennessee  went  against  him,  and  the  State  of  Tennessee, 
under  the  influence  of  Governor  Harris  and  others,  was  placed  in  the  attitude 
of  rebellion  against  the  authority  and  laws  of  the  United  States.  General 
Northcott  decided  to  move  with  his  family  from  Tennessee  to  West  Virginia, 
taking  his  son  William  with  him. 

General  Northcott  at  once  identified  himself  with  the  Union  sentiment  of 
West  Virginia,  and  co-operated  in  the  movement  of  separating  West  Virginia 
from  the  old  mother  State  and  having  it  recognized  and  admitted  into  the  Union 
as  an  independent  State.  He  also  raised  a  regiment  of  West  Virginia  Volun- 
teers, and  was  commissioned  as  Lieutenant-Colonel.  He  served  with  distinction 
during  the  war,  suffering  for  nine  months  of  the  time  as  a  prisoner  of  war  in 
Libby  Prison.  In  due  time  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  Brigadier-General, 
which  position  he  held  when  he  retired  from  the  service. 

General  Northcott  married  Mary  C.  Cunningham,  who  was  the  daughter 
of  Dr.  James  Cunningham.  Mrs.  Northcott  was  in  full  sympathy  with  her  hus- 
band's sentiments  in  regard  to  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  While  her  hus- 
band was  at  the  front  fighting  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union  she  kept  her 
family  together  and  attended  to  the  education  of  her  children. 

William  A.  Northcott  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  was  suitably  prepared  to  enter  the  United  States  Naval  Academy 
at  Annapolis,  in  September,  1869.  He  was  appointed  a  cadet  to  this  school, 
where  he  received  his  education.  After  leaving  Annapolis  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  law,  and  from  time  to  time  while  studying  for  this  profession  he  taught 
school.  In  the  year  1877  Mr.  Northcott  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1879  Mr. 
Northcott  removed  to  Illinois  and  began  the  practice  of  law.  In  the  year  1880 
President  Hayes  appointed  him  Supervisor  of  the  Census  of  the  Seventh  District 
of  Illinois.  He  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  with  ability  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  Department.  Mr.  Northcott  was  nominated  to  the  office  of 
State's  Attorney  for  Bond  county  in  1882,  and  held  that  office  for  eleven  years, 
being  elected  by  the  people  for  the  second  and  third  terms.  Mr.  Northcott 
made  a  good  prosecuting  officer;  he  was  not  a  vindictive  man,  but  his  ability 
as  a  lawyer  and  his  power  before  court  and  jury  made  him  the  dread  of  evil- 
doers. During  this  period  Mr.  Northcott  increased  his  acquaintance  through- 
out the  State  and  took  part  in  the  great  political  movements  of  that  period. 
As  a  political  speaker  he  drew  large  crowds,  and  was  recognized  as  an  interest- 
ing and  forceful  speaker.  In  1890  President  Harrison  appointed  Mr.  Northcott 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Visitors  to  the  United  States  Naval  Academy  at 

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Annapolis,  and  he  was  selected  by  the  Board  to  deliver  the  oration  to  the 
graduating  class.  In  1888  Mr.  Northcott  became  a  member  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  This  is  a  fraternal  insurance  society  with  a  membership 
of  500,000.  In  November,  1890,  he  was  elected  head  consul  of  this  association, 
and  has  been  four  times  unanimously  re-elected  to  the  same  position,  and  now 
fills  that  important  office.  Mr.  Northcott  has  brought  to  the  performance  of 
the  important  duties  connected  with  this  office  the  very  highest  order  of  execu- 
tive ability. 

Although  Mr.  Northcott  was  deeply  engrossed  in  the  duties  of  head  consul 
of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  he  did  not  at  all  lose  his  interest  in  politics, 
for  in  1892  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  as  a  candidate  for  Con- 
gress in  the  old  Eighteenth,  or  Morrison  Congressional  District,  which  contains 
the  cities  of  East  St.  Louis,  Belleville  and  Alton.  Mr.  Northcott  made  a  brilliant 
campaign  in  the  district,  but  the  political  fates  that  year  were  against  the  Repub- 
lican party  and  he  was  defeated,  but  the  energy  and  ability  displayed  by  Mr. 
Northcott  in  this  campaign  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure  among  the  leading 
Republicans  of  the  State.  It  was  only  necessary  for  him  to  bide  his  time.  In  1896 
the  great  Republican  Convention,  held  at  Springfield  in  June,  took  Mr.  North- 
cott up  and  nominated  him  as  the  candidate  of  the  Republican  party  for  Lieu- 
tenant-Governor  on  the  ticket  with  Hon.  John  R.  Tanner.  This  was  a  great 
year  in  the  Republican  politics  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Four  years  before  the 
State  had  gone  Democratic;  Grover  Cleveland  had  been  elected  President,  and 
John  P.  Altgeld  had  been  elected  Governor.  The  Democrats  had  William  J. 
Bryan  as  their  great  national  leader  this  year  and  the  Republican  party  had  for 
its  great  leader  William  McKinley.  Governor  Northcott  entered  this  political 
campaign  determined  to  do  his  part  to  carry  the  State  for  the  Republican  can- 
didates, and  he  delivered  addresses  in  nearly  every  county  in  the  State.  He 
aroused  enthusiasm  wherever  he  went,  and  was  elected  Lieutenant-Governor  of 
the  great  State  of  Illinois  over  Hon.  Monroe  C.  Crawford,  the  Democratic 
candidate,  by  a  majority  of  over  137,000  votes.  Governor  Northcott  has  per- 
formed the  duties  of  this  office  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  people  of  the  State. 
As  a  presiding  officer  of  the  Senate  he  exhibited  the  ability  and  tact  so  essential 
to  success  in  a  position  of  that  kind.  In  the  absence  of  Governor  Tanner,  Gov- 
ernor Northcott  has  been  required  to  perform  the  duties  of  Governor,  and  those 
who  have  met  him  in  the  executive  office  have  recognized  in  him  a  man  fully 
capable  of  performing  the  duties  of  the  office  of  Governor  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

On  March  31,  1880,  Governor  Northcott  married  Julia  Dressor,  daughter 
of  State  Senator  Dressor.  Mrs.  Northcott  died  in  1881,  leaving  a  son,  Nathaniel 
Dressor  Northcott.  He  has  since  married  Ada  Stoutzenberg  of  Marine,  Illinois, 
and  they  have  one  daughter,  Amy  Northcott. 


JAMES   ALEXANDER  ROSE. 

Hon.  James  A.  Rose  of  Golconda,  Pope  county,  Illinois,  was  born  October 
13,  1850,  in  the  county  of  his  residence.  He  is  descended  from  a  pioneer  family, 
his  grandfather  being  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Southern  Illinois.  His 
father,  John  D.  Rose,  married  Sarah  Sutherland.  Mr.  Rose  became  a  merchant 
and  carried  on  this  business  for  a  number  of  years,  supporting  his  family  in 
comfort.  In  tracing  the  geneology  of  this  family  it  is  found  that  they  originally 
came  from  Scotland,  and  it  is  believed  that  most  persons  by  the  name  of  Rose 
living  in  the  United  States  are  descendants  of  one  general  family  who  emigrated 
to  America  at  an  early  date.  James  A.  Rose  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Pope  county  and  in  the  State  Normal  School  at  Normal,  Illinois. 

After  leaving  school  he  decided  to  study  law,  but  taught  school  as  a  means 
of  self-support  and  as  an  interesting  field  of  study  of  human  nature.  He  was 
a  good  teacher ;  he  devoted  himself  to  this  business  with  energy  and  enthusiasm, 
and  inspired  his  students  with  the  same  spirit.  So  favorable  was  the  impression 

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made  by  him  as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  that  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  23, 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction  of  Pope 
county.  He  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  with  rare  ability,  and  adding  to 
the  work  of  his  predecessor  in  that  office,  who  was  an  able  man,  he  brought 
the  schools  of  Pope  County  up  to  a  standard  equal  to  that  of  any  county  in  the 
State. 

Mr.  Rose  earnestly  pursued  the  study  of  law,  and  in  1880  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  In  May,  1881,  a  vacancy  occurring 
in  the  office  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  of  Pope  county,  he  became  a  candidate  for 
election  to  this  office,  was  duly  elected  and  resigned  the  office  of  School  Super- 
intendent. Mr.  Rose  entered  upon  the  general  practice  of  law  at  Golconda. 
He  filled  the  office  of  Prosecuting  Attorney  for  seven  years  and  a  half,  and  in 
1888  declined  a  third  nomination.  , 

This  was  an  important  period  in  Mr.  Rose's  life ;  his  continued  study  and 
practice  of  the  law  established  his  character  as  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  of 
Southern  Illinois.  Gifted  by  nature  with  a  fine  voice,  an  impressive  and  eloquent 
delivery  of  speech,  and  well  versed  in  the  art  of  the  trial  of  cases,  he  became  one 
of  the  best  trial  lawyers  in  the  courts.  But  Mr.  Rose  did  not  confine  himself 
to  the  study  of  law.  When  a  boy  ten  years  old,  in  1860,  he  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Republican  party.  As  a  youth  he  was  deeply  interested  in  the  great 
struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  in  his  manhood  he  studied  the 
politics  of  his  country,  and  soon  became  an  effective  and  popular  speaker  upon 
political  questions.  He  was  chosen  Chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Com- 
mittee of  Pope  county,  and  thoroughly  organized  the  party  in  every  precinct. 
He  took  part  in  every  political  campaign,  and  soon  every  precinct  in  the  county 
was  carried  by  the  Republican  party. 

In  1889  Governor  Fifer  appointed  Mr.  Rose  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
Pontiac  Reform  School,  and  held  this  position  for  about  a  year,  when  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Fifer  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Southern  Illinois 
Penitentiary  at  Chester.  He  held  this  position  until  the  beginning  of  the  admin- 
istration of  Governor  Altgeld,  when  he  gave  way  for  the  appointment  of  a 
Democrat.  Mr.  Rose  filled  the  positions  to  which  he  was  appointed  by  Gov- 
ernor Fifer  with  intelligence  and  fidelity.  In  these  positions,  as  in  those  which 
he  had  previously  held,  he  demonstrated  the  fact  that  he  possessed  a  high  order 
of  executive  ability. 

In  1896  Mr.  Rose  became  a  candidate  for  nomination  by  the  Republican 
party  for  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State.  He  secured  the  nomination,  and  was 
elected,  as  was  the  entire  state  ticket,  bv  an  overwhelming  majority.  Mr.  Rose 
has  now  held  the  office  of  Secretary  of  State  for  three  years.  The  fact  is  recog- 
nized throughout  the  State  that  he  is  a  thoroughly  capable  man  for  the  place. 
In  his  office  he  is  accessible  to  all  comers.  He  has  surrounded  himself  with 
intelligent  and  faithful  men,  and  the  immense  business  of  the  office  is  transacted 
without  friction.  In  times  past  much  of  the  important  work  of  the  Secretary's 
office  had  fallen  behind,  but  during  Mr.  Rose's  administration  all  the  work  is 
being  brought  up  to  date  in  a  methodical  and  systematic  manner. 

Mr.  Rose  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  has  been  an  elder 
in  the  church  for  more  than  twenty  years.  He  has  been  three  times  elected  as 
a  delegate  to  the  General  Assembly.  Mr.  Rose  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Fraternity;  he  has  attained  to  the  Knight  Templar  degree.  He  has  served  for 
a  number  of  years  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Masons,  and  was  for  some  time  Dis- 
trict Deputy  Grand  Master  of  the  order.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton 
Club  of  Chicago. 

As  Secretary  of  State  Mr.  Rose's  residence  is  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  where 
he  lives  with  his  family.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  M.  Young,  July  27,  1874. 
Mrs.  Rose  was  born  in  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  and  came  to  this  country  with  her 
father  and  mother  when  she  was  eleven  years  of  age.  They  have  had  four  chil- 
dren, namely:  Jessie  Josephine,  Helen  Elizabeth,  Charles  Roscoe  and  James 
A.  Rose.  All  living  except  the  last,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rose 
are  hospitable  people,  and  enjoy  the  society  of  friends.  Their  home  has  always 
been  a  delightful  meeting  place  for  young  and  old. 

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FLOYD    K.   WHITTEMORE. 

Hon.  Floyd  K.  Whittemore  of  Springfield,  111.,  is  a  descendant  from  Colo- 
nial parentage.  His  ancestors  came  from  England  to  America  in  1630,  a  period 
when  families  left  the  old  world  to  find  political  and  religions  freedom  in  the 
new.  Mr.  Whittemore  was  born  in  New  York  State,  but  at  an  early  age  was 
brought  to  Illinois  by  his  parents,  who  settled  at  Sycamore,  DeKalb  County, 
where  he  received  his  education  at  the  High  School.  In  i86s  voting  Whitte- 
more accepted  the  position  of  Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  State,  under  James  H. 
Beveridge  of  Sycamore,  who  was  elected  State  Treasurer  in  1864.  This  step 
changed  his  whole  plan  of  life ;  he  had  intended  to  become  a  lawyer.  While 
filling  his  position  at  the  State  Treasury  Mr.  Whittemore  made  the  acquaintance 
of  Jacob  Bunn  of  Springfield,  then  orfe  of  the  greatest  bankers  of  the  State,  and 
accepted  the  position  of  cashier  of  his  bank.  He  filled  this  position  with  great 
ability  and  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  Mr.  Bunn.  When  the  State  National 
Bank  of  Springfield  was  organized,  Mr.  Whittemore  was  made  its  cashier, 
which  position  he  held  continuously  for  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Whittemore  was  made  acting  Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  United  States 
at  Chicago  by  President  Harrison.  In  this  position  his  responsibilities  were 
great.  The  receipts  and  payments  made  by  him  during  that  period  were  more 
than  five  hundred  million  dollars.  In  1895  he  became  Assistant  State  Treasurer. 
While  holding  this  position  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  State  Con- 
vention of  1898  as  a  candidate  for  State  Treasurer,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority 
of  43,450  votes  over  M.  F.  Dunlap,  the  Democratic  candidate.  It  will  be  seen 
that  Mr.  Whittemore  has,  for  the  past  thirty-five  years,  been  intimately  identified 
with  great  financial  affairs  in  connection  with  banks,  the  State  Government  and 
the  National  Government.  His  financial  experience  has  been  equaled  by  few 
and  surpassed  by  no  man  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  has  made  financial  sub- 
jects a  careful  study,  and  has  always  been  an  earnest  advocate  of  sound  money. 

In  politics  Mr.  Whittemore  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  a  resident  of 
the  Capital  of  the  State,  where  men  from  all  parts  of  the  State  assemble,  his 
acquaintance  became  large ;  he  knows  every  leading  man  in  the  State  and  has  a 
wide  circle  of  friends.  He  had  no  competitor  for  the  nomination  in  1898,  and 
was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  State  Treasurer  by  acclamation.  Mr.  Whitte- 
more is  a  man  of  enterprise,  and  has  always  been  successful  in  his  under- 
takings. He  has,  for  a  number  of  years,  been  largely  engaged  in  farming  in 
Sangamon  and  Madison  counties.  He  is  socially  an  agreeable  man,  and  his 
friendships  are  firm  and  steadfast. 


JAMES  R.  B.  VAN  CLEAVE. 

There  is  no  man  in  public  life  who  can  number  a  greater  host  of  friends  and 
acquaintances  that  James  R.  B.  Van  Cleave  of  Illinois.  He  was  born  October 
9,  1853,  at  Knoxville,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  at  that  time  the  headquarters  of 
what  was  known  as  the  "underground  railroad  system,"  where  fugitive  slaves 
were  guided  by  sympathetic  friends  to  the  land  of  freedom.  Thus  the  very 
atmosphere  and  environment  surrounding  his  youth  was  one  of  liberty.  Mr. 
Van  Cleave  was  educated  at  Knox  College,  Galesburg,  an  institution  which  has 
for  fifty  years  been  foremost  in  the  educational  annals  of  this  country.  After 
leaving  college,  he  engaged  with  the  New  York  Herald  and  the  Chicago  Times 
as  traveling  correspondent  through  the  South  during  the  Hayes-Tilden  electoral 
contest.  This  brought  him  in  contact  with  the  leading  men  in  public  life  and 
disclosed  a  field  for  his  own  activities  and  energies,  which  he  has  occupied  ever 
since. 

He  helped  to  organize  and  was  secretary  of  the  original  Elaine  Club  of 
Chicago  in  1880,  and  after  the  nomination  of  General  Garfield  the  nominee 
invited  Mr.  Van  Cleave  to  take  charge  of  the  records  and  act  as  his  secretary 
at  Mentor  until  the  permanent  officers,  Gen.  Swaim  and  Col.  Rockwell,  could 

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assume  their  duties.  Mr.  Van  Cleave  was  an  enrolling  and  engrossing  clerk  in 
the  Thirty-second  General  Assembly,  and  acted  as  private  secretary  to  the  late 
Senator  W.  J.  Campbell.  Later  he  was  private  secretary  and  chief  clerk  of  the 
Custom  House  of  Chicago  under  Collectors  Smith,  Spalding  and  Seeberger. 
tti  1887  he  was  appointed  Deputy  City  Clerk  of  Chicago  under  D.  W.  Nickerson 
and  was  reappointed  by  City  Clerk  Amberg.  In  1891  he  was  elected  City  Clerk, 
running  10,000  votes  ahead  of  his  ticket.  In  1893,  though  defeated  for  re- 
election, he  polled  13,000  more  votes  than  any  other  candidate  on  the  ticket. 
In  1895  he  was  again  elected  City  Clerk  by  a  majority  of  45,000,  a  figure  never 
before  reached  by  a  candidate  for  this  position. 

During  his  tenure  as  City  Clerk  Mr.  Van  Cleave  introduced  the  most  perfect 
system  of  caring  for  the  records  which  the  city  had  known,  taking  all  documents 
and  ordinances  from  the  time  of  the -Are  and  properly  indexing  and  filing  the 
same.  For  more  than  twenty  years  Mr.  Van  Cleave  has  participated  in  every 
Republican  convention  held  in  this  State,  and,  including  the  National  Convention 
of  1876,  which  nominated  President  Hayes,  he  has  held  official  positions  in  all. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  First  Ward  Republican  Club  of  Chicago  since 
1876,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  Cook  County  Central  Committee  and  secre- 
tary of  the  Republican  State  Conventions  for  many  years,  as  well  as  the  Repub- 
lican county  conventions  held  in  Cook  county.  In  the  campaign  of  1896  he 
was  secretary  of  the  State  Central  Committee  and  a  member  of  the  Executive 
Committee.  The  result  of  that  election. shows  conclusively  the  great  labor  per- 
formed that  year.  At  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  a  victory  seemed  doubtful, 
as  only  predictions  of  failure  and  defeat  were  made,  but  he  closed  his  books  on 
the  6th  of  November  with  a  success  for  his  party  the  most  conspicuous  and 
stupendous  since  its  organization.  James  R.  B.  Van  Cleave  carries  with  him 
the  qualities  of  victory — skill,  method,  confidence  and  experience — and  draws 
upon  them  for  success  when  the  occasion  permits.  His  administration  of  the 
Insurance  Department  of  Illinois,  of  which  he  has  been  superintendent  since 
May  6,  1897,  has  been  eminently  satisfactory,  his  treatment  of  the  difficult 
problems  involved  in  State  supervision  of  the  great  interests  connected  with  his 
department  has  been  uniformly  fair  and  just  to  ail.  He  was  Inspector-General 
of  the  Illinois  National  Guard  from  1897  to  1899,  and  was  a  conspicuous  success. 
His  aid  in  mobilizing  the  Illinois  troops  for  immediate  service  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war  was  timely  and  efficient. 

Mr.  Van  Cleave  was  married  in  1882  to  Josephine  Helen  Schweich  of  Rich- 
mond, Mo.  They  have  three  children — Helen  Farwell,  aged  14;  Bruce,  aged  5, 
and  Wallace,  nearly  4  years  old.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar,  Mystic  Shriner, 
Knight  of  Pythias,  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum,  A.  O.  U.  W.,  and  the 
National  Union.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  Chicago  Athletic,  Mar- 
quette,  Hamilton,  Miltona,  Sangamo,  Cumberland  and  Eagle  River  Clubs.  He 
is  in  the  prime  of  usefulness  and  vigor,  and  bids  fair  to  enjoy  a  long  lease  of 
activity,  which  is  the  hope  of  a  multitude  of  friends. 


JASPER   NEWTON  REECE. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  present  officials  of  the  State  is  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  at  Abingdon,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  April  30,  1841. 
His  parents  were  David  and  Priscilla  (Nichols)  Reece,  the  former  of  whom  was 
born  in  the  city  of  London,  England,  and  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years.  The  parents  were  married  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Illinois  in 
1836,  settling  at  Abingdon,  where  six  children  were  born  to  them.  Gen.  Jasper 
N.  Reece  was  educated  at  Hedding  College,  taking  the  scientific  course,  and 
was  duly  graduated.  He  engaged  in  business  and  was  thus  employed  when  the 
war  broke  out  in  1861.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  and  was  sent  to  the  front  and 
saw  many  trying  and  arduous  services  and  experiences.  Later  he  enlisted  in 
another  regiment  and  continued  to  serve,  receiving  one  promotion  after  another, 
until  October,  1864,  when  he  was  mustered  out  as  captain  of  his  company.  He 

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participated  in  many  severe  campaigns  in  the  Southwest,  fighting  the  bush- 
whackers and  guerrillas,  remaining  often  in  the  saddle  for  days  at  a  time,  and 
undergoing  many  hardships  and  passing  through  many  imminent  dangers. 

Upon  leaving  the  army  he  engaged  in  business  in  Monmouth,  Illinois,  farm- 
ing and  merchandising,  at  which  he  was  quite  successful.  In  1876  he  became 
a  member  of  Battery  B,  Illinois  National  Guard,  and  in  July,  1877,  was  appointed 
Assistant  Adjutant-General  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  E.  N.  Bates,  then  commanding 
the  Second  Brigade,  I.  N.  G.  He  was  immediately  ordered  to  East  St.  Louis 
with  the  brigade  to  quell  the  riots  in  that  city.  In  the  November  following, 
General  Bates  having  resigned,  he  was  appointed  commander  of  the  Second 
Brigade  to  succeed  him.  He  was  sent  to  East  St.  Louis  in  1886  to  quell  the 
railroad  riots  there,  and  was  on  duty  for  a  period  of  six  weeks.  He  remained 
in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade  until  1891,  when  he  was  appointed  Adjutant- 
General  of  Illinois  by  Governor  Fifer,  and  held  the  position  until  1893.  In 
February,  1897,  he  was  appointed  Adjutant-General  of  the  State  by  Governor 
Tanner,  and  is  now  officiating  in  that  position.  The  General  is  a  man  who  has 
traveled  widely,  and  is  well  informed  on  a  great  variety  of  subjects.  He  has 
been  connected  with  many  important  public  enterprises,  and  in  all  things  has 
carried  the  responsibilities  of  citizenship  worthily  and  honorably.  He  was 
brought  up  a  Methodist,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  having  reached  the  thirty-second  degree ; 
is  also  a  director  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  is  president  of  the 
Interstate  National  Guard  Association.  He  is  prominent  in  many  other  benevo- 
lent and  secret  organizations.  He  was  married  in  1861  to  Mary  J.  Allen  of 
Abingdon,  whose  family  was  among  the  earliest  settlers,  coming  to  Illinois  in 
1833.  To  them  were  born  six  children,  of  whom  three  are  now  living — Captain 
E.  A.  Reece,  Major  R.  R.  Reece,  and  a  daughter,  Cora,  yet  living  at  home. 

His  first  connection  with  politics  was  with  the  Republican  party  as  a  boy  of 
fifteen  years  during  the  Fremont  campaign  in  1856.  In  his  enthusiasm  he 
parted  his  hair  in  the  middle  in  imitation  of  Colonel  Fremont.  In  1860  he  went 
to  Chicago  and  took  part  in  the  demonstration  made  by  the  friends  of  Mr. 
Lincoln,  and  on  that  occasion  carried  a  rail  through  the  muddy  streets  of  the 
city.  At  this  time  he  was  a  member  of  an  organization  that  was  controlled  by 
the  leaders  who  were  present  in  the  interests  of  Mr.  Lincoln  and  came  to  Chi- 
cago a  week  before  the  assembling  of  the  National  Republican  Convention.  It 
was  his  good  fortune  to  stand  within  ten  feet  of  the  platform  during  the  taking 
of  the  ballot  for  President.  He  considers  the  excitement  and  enthusiasm  of 
that  historic  occasion  one  of  the  most  important  and  memorable  events  in  his 
life.  After  the  convention  he  returned  home  and  organized  a  company  of  ''Wide 
Awakes."  Since  the  war  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every  Republican  cam- 
paign down  to  the  present.  He  was  president  of  the  Lincoln  Guard  of  Honor 
which  had  charge  of  the  remains  of  Abraham  Lincoln  after  the  attempt  to  steal 
his  body,  and  on  the  twenty-second  anniversary  of  his  death  the  body  was  turned 
over  by  the  Lincoln  Guard  of  Honor  to  the  Lincoln  Monument  Association,  and 
during  this  ceremony  General  Reece  was  the  last  to  gaze  upon  the  face  of  the 
martyred  President. 


EDWARD  C.  AKIN. 

Fortunate  environments  encompass  nearly  every  man  at  some  stage  of  his 
]f  thosf:  who  claim  that  fortune  has  favored  certain  individuals  above  others  will 
career,  but  the  strong  man  and  the  successful  is  he  who  realizes  that  the  proper 
moment  has  come,  that  the  present  and  not  the  future  holds  his  opportunities, 
but  investigate  the  cause  of  success  or  failure,  it  will  be  found  that  the  former 
is  largely  due  to  the  improvement  of  opportunity,  the  latter  to  the  neglect  of  it. 
It  is  this  quality  of  improving  every  opportunity  that  has  made  Edward  C.  Akin 
a  leader  in  thought  and  action.  He  was  born  in  Lockport  township,  Will  county, 

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Illinois,  July  19,  1852,  and  now  resides  in  Springfield,  Illinois.  He  is  a  son  of 
Edward  H.  and  Sophronia  C.  Akin.  In  the  public  schools  of  Joliet,  and  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  Mr.  Akin  received  a  thorough  education.  From  1871  to  1875 
he  was  paying  and  receiving  teller  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Joliet,  where 
he  acquired  an  extensive  acquaintance  throughout  Will  county.  In  the  fall  of 
1878  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  has  been  in  active  practice  ever  since. 

He  has  ever  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1887  he  was 
elected  city  attorney  of  Joliet.  Although  the  city  was  at  that  time  Democratic 
from  500  to  600,  he  defeated  the  Democratic  nominee  by  a  majority  of  716.  In 
1888  he  was  nominated  for  State's  Attorney  of  Will  county,  and  at  the  ensuing 
election  led  the  entire  State  and  county  ticket  by  800  votes.  In  1892  he  was 
renominated  and  again  led  his  ticket  J)y  hundreds  of  votes,  and  is  credited  by 
the  leaders  of  both  political  parties  with  having  saved  the  county  ticket  from 
defeat.  His  most  brilliant  political  victory  was  achieved  in  the  Spring  of  1895, 
when  he  ran  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Joliet. 
Although  opposed  by  a  Citizens'  ticket  led  by  a  Republican,  he  defeated  the 
Democratic  nominee  by  a  majority  of  260  votes,  receiving  nearly  as  many 
votes  as  both  of  his  opponents  combined.  In  1897  he  was  elected  Attorney- 
General  of  Illinois,  a  position  he  has  filled  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner.  As 
a  lawyer  Mr.  Akin  stands  among  the  leaders  of  the  Illinois  bar.  As  a  public 
prosecutor  he  had  no  superior  in  the  State,  and  his  conduct  of  municipal  affairs 
won  for  him  the  admiration  of  all  good  citizens,  regardless  of  party  affiliations. 
He  is  a  man  of  high  character  and  sterling  integrity,  and  although  he  has  been 
prominently  before  the  people  of  his  State  and  county  for  the  past  thirteen  years, 
no  breath  of  suspicion  has  ever  been  cast  upon  his  private  life  or  official  acts. 
Being  a  man  of  fine  appearance  and  pleasing  address  he  has  won  an  enviable 
reputation  throughout  the  state  as  a  public  speaker.  Mr.  Akin  selected  his  wife 
in  the  person  of  Louise  M.  McRoberts,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Josiah  McRoberts, 
of  Joliet,  and  their  union  was  celebrated  in  1877. 


WILLIAM  ERNEST  MASON. 

Hon.  William  E.  Mason  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  July  7,  1850,  in 
Franklinville,  Cattaragus  county,  New  York.  His  father,  Lewis  J.  Mason,  mar- 
ried Nancy  Winslow.  Mr.  Mason  was  a  man  of  high  character  and  standing, 
and  well  respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  His  business  was  that  of  merchant. 
Anti-slavery  in  sentiment,  he  identified  himself  with  the  Abolition  party,  but, 
being  conscious  that  there  was  no  prospect  for  success  for  Abolition  candidates, 
in  1856  he  united  with  the  Republican  party,  and  supported  John  C.  Fremont 
for  the  presidency.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Mason  removed  with  his  family  to 
Bentonsport,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  until  his  death  in  1865.  The  father  had 
been  anxious  to  afford  his  son  William  every  advantage  possible  for  acquiring 
an  education,  and  had  sent  him  to  the  public  schools  at  Franklinville  and  Ben- 
tonsport, and  two  years  before  his  death  had  placed  him  at  Birmingham  College, 
where  William  was  studying  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  By  the  death 
of  Mr.  Mason  the  burden  of  self-support  was  thrown  upon  his  son  William  E. 
Mason,  who  faced  the  situation  with  courage  and  confidence.  He  soon  secured 
employment  as  a  school  teacher,  and  for  three  years  devoted  himself  earnestly 
to  this  work,  carrying  on  his  studies  at  the  same  time.  In  1869  he  was  employed 
as  a  teacher  in  the  public  schools  of  Des  Moines,  continuing  this  employment 
for  two  years  more. 

The  time  had  now  come  when  he  was  to  carry  out  a  long-cherished  plan — 
that  of  studying  law.  He  entered,  as  a  student,  the  law  office  of  Hon.  Thomas 
H.  Withrow,  a  gentleman  of  high  standing  in  the  profession,  and  eminent  as  a 
corporation  lawyer.  Soon  after  Mr.  Mason  entered  the  office  Mr.  Withrow  was 
appointed  General  Solicitor  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  and  Pacific  Railroad, 
and  removed  to  Chicago,  whither  Mr.  Mason  accompanied  him.  After  remain- 

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275 


ing  one  year  with  Mr.  Withrow,  Mr.  Mason  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  John 
M.  Jewett,  where  he  finished  his  preparatory  studies  for  admission  to  the  bar. 
He  remained  several  years  in  the  law  office  of  Mr.  Jewett,  but  in  1877  he  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  Judge  M.  R.  M.  Wallace,  and  began  the  practice  of  law 
on  his  own  account.  The  firm  secured  a  large  practice,  which  brought  Mr. 
Mason  prominently  before  the  courts  and  the  public.  He  soon  established  the 
reputation  of  being  safe  in  counsel,  a  good  lawyer  in  the  preparation  and  trial 
of  a  case,  and  an  advocate  of  great  eloquence  and  ability.  Later  Mr.  Mason 
established  the  law  firm  of  Mason  &  Ennis.  He  has  been  engaged  in  the  prose- 
cution and  the  defense  of  many  important  lawsuits,  and  his  reputation  as  a  most 
competent  and  forceful  lawyer  is  well  known  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Mason  has  been  a  Republican  "in  politics  since  his  boyhood.  He  iden- 
tified himself  with  the  party  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  manhood.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  before  he  was  thirty  years  of  age.  In 
1882  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  Ninth  Senatorial  District. 
During  his  service  in  the  Illinois  Legislature  he  familiarized  himself  thoroughly 
with  the  business  of  legislation,  with  the  public  affairs  of  the  State,  and  particu- 
larly the  interests  of  Chicago,  taking  a  leading  part  in  connection  with  all 
important  legislation.  In  1888  Mr.  Mason  was  elected  to  Congress  in  the  old 
Third  Congressional  District.  He  at  once  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in  that 
body  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  debates  of  the  House.  His  speeches  were 
able,  eloquent,  often  humorous  and  witty.  He  showed  himself  to  be  so  thor- 
oughly familiar  with  public  affairs,  that,  although  a  young  member  of  the  House, 
with  a  short  experience  in  National  legislation,  he  was  capable  of  sustaining 
himself  in  a  running  debate  with  the  most  experienced  members,  or  in  an  ex- 
tended speech  upon  any  subject  which  he  might  choose  to  discuss.  In  quick 
retort  and  humorous  repartee  Mr.  Mason  was  soon  regarded  as  a  dangerous 
antagonist.  He  was  re-elected  to  Congress  in  1890,  and  1892  he  was  again 
nominated  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  but  in  the  great  political  landslide  of 
that  year,  caused  by  the  temporary  reaction  of  public  opinion  as  to  the  wisdom 
of  the  McKinley  Tariff  Law,  Mr.  Mason,  like  many  other  Republican  candidates, 
for  Congress,  was  defeated. 

For  many  years  Mr.  Mason  had  participated  in  all  the  political  campaigns 
of  the  State,  was  recognized  everywhere  as  an  able  orator,  received  a  hearty 
welcome  wherever  he  appeared,  and  became  one  of  the  best-known  and  most 
popular  men  in  the  State.  In  1894  Mr.  Mason  was  a  candidate  before  the  Illi- 
nois Legislature  f6r  election  to  the  United  States  Senate,  and,  although  he  had 
an  enthusiastic  following,  was  defeated;  but  his  ambition  for  that  high  place  was 
not  cooled  by  defeat.  In  1896  a  Legislature  was  to  be  elected  whose  duty  it 
would  be  to  choose  a  United  States  Senator.  With  characteristic  energy  and 
enthusiasm  Mr.  Mason  went  before  the  people,  declaring  himself  as  a  candidate 
for  the  Senate,  and  as  a  result  of  his  canvass-a  Legislature  was  elected  a  large 
majority  of  whom  were  his  warm  supporters.  In  January,  1897,  Mr.  Mason 
was  elected  to  the  Senate,  receiving  125  votes  on  joint  ballot,  his  opponent,  Hon. 
John  P.  Altgeld,  the  Democratic  candidate,  receiving  78  votes.  This  was  a 
great  personal  triumph  of  Mr.  Mason's  and  demonstrated  the  fact  that  he  had 
a  strong  hold  upon  the  people.  Senator  Mason  took  his  seat  in  the  United 
States  Senate,  March  4,  1897 ;  his  term  of  service  will  expire  March  3,  1903.  Soon 
after  Senator  Mason  took  his  seat  in  the  Senate  he  made  a  determined  attack 
on  an  old  rule  of  the  Senate,  which  enables  a  minority,  by  continued  discussion 
and  objections,  to  so  obstruct  business  that  no  measure  can  be  brought  to  a 
vote  except  practically  by  unanimous  consent.  Mr.  Mason  insisted,  and  as  the 
public  believed  rightfully  insisted,  that  that  rule  should  be  changed  so  that  a 
majority  could  control  the  business  and  bring  the  Senate  to  a  vote  upon  any 
question  on  a  certain  day  and  hour,  as  is  done  in  the  House  of  Representatives. 

Mr.  Mason  was  earnestly  in  favor  of  declaring  and  prosecuting  a  war  against 
Spain  for  the  liberation  of  Cuba,  but  he  was  unalterably  opposed  to  the  policy 
of  the  National  administration  for  the  acquisition  of  the  Philippine  Islands  by 

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the  government,  and  by  military  array  overcoming  the  resistance  offered  by  the 
Filipinos  against  the  authority  of  the  United  States.  The  Senator  insisted  that 
these  people  were  fighting  for  independence,  that  they  were  justly  entitled  to  it, 
and  that  it  was  inconsistent  with  our  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  our  sys- 
tem of  government  to  subject  them  to  the  authority  of  the  United  States  with- 
out their  consent.  In  the  war  in  South  Africa  between  Great  Britain  and  the 
Boer  Republics,  Senator  Mason  has  been  outspoken  in  his  sympathy  for  the 
Boers;  he  has  made  a  number  of  public  speeches  upon  this  subject,  and  has 
eloquently  plead  the  cause  of  the  South  African  Republics. 

In  1873  William  E.  Mason  was  married  to  Edith  J.  White,  daughter  of 
George  White,  a  prominent  citizen  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  They  have  a  large 
and  interesting  family  of  children. 


WILLIAM  A.  RODENBERG. 

This  gentleman,  though  comparatively  young,  is  one  of  the  most  prominent 
Republicans,  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  promising  politicians  of  the  State.  He 
resides  at  East  St.  Louis.  His  birth  occurred  in  Randolph  county,  Illinois, 
October  30,  1865,  his  father  being  Rev.  Charles  Rodenberg  and  his  mother 
formerly  Anna  C.  Walters.  The  father  has  been  active  in  the  ministry  for  about 
forty  years  as  a  member  of  the  German  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  During 
his  long  and  eventful  career  in  the  ministry  he  has  served  as  pastor  of  some  of 
the  most  important  appointments  in  the  State.  He  possesses  high  oratorical 
powers  and  a  strong  individuality,  which  together  with  his  earnest  and  consistent 
piety,  account  for  his  popularity  as  a  pulpit  orator  and  his  success  in  the  cause 
of  the  church.  At  present  he  is  stationed  at  Decatur,  Illinois,  where  he  has  a 
large,  appreciative  and  intelligent  congregation. 

William  A.  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Nashville  and  Belleville, 
Illinois,  and  later  entered  Central  Wesleyan  College  at  Warrenton,  Mo.,  select- 
ing the  classical  course,  and  was  duly  graduated  in  1884  with  the  degree  of  A.  B. 
Succeeding  that  event  he  attended  the  law  school  of  Washington  University,  St. 
Louis,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  In  1887  Central  Wesleyan  College 
conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts.  From  his  youth  he  evinced 
a  strong  tendency  for  literature,  took  great  pleasure  in  study  and  was  specially 
fond  of  historical  research.  Much  of  the  means  to  secure  his  education  was 
obtained  from  teaching  school.  He  taught  in  St.  Clair  county  in  1884  and  1885, 
and  at  Staunton,  Illinois,  in  1885  and  1886.  From  1886  to  1891  he  served  as 
principal  of  the  Mount  Olive  schools,  Macoupin  county.  Previous  to  attending 
law  school  he  had  first  read  law  for  a  period  in  the  law  office  of  Hon.  M.  W. 
Weir  of  Belleville,  Illinois.  He  is  six  feet  in. height,  weighs  200  pounds,  has 
dark  complexion  and  is  sociable  and  magnetic  by  nature.  He  is  an  easy  and 
persuasive  speaker,  and  has  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a  stump  orator, 
second  to  few  if  any  others  in  this  part  of  the  State? 

He  has  been  a  Republican  since  boyhood,  and  at  all  times  has  proved  his 
faith  in  that  party  by  upholding  its  principles  with  vigor  and  ability.  Recog- 
nizing his  fitness  for  the  position,  and  having  confidence  in  his  personality, 
oratorical  capacity  and  skill  as  an  organizer  and  manager,  his  party  in  the 
Twenty-first  District  nominated  him  for  Congress  in  1898,  and,  after  an  inter- 
esting and  instructive  campaign,  he  was  triumphantly  elected  in  a  district  which 
had  a  normal  Democratic  majority  of  3,500.  The  wisdom  of  his  nomination 
was  thus  conclusively  proved.  His  popularity  carried  him  through,  the  vote 
being  as  follows:  Rodenburg,  20,461 ;  Fred  J.  Kern  (Democrat),  19,956.  Pre- 
vious to  this  he  had  taken  an  active  part  in  politics,  serving  as  secretary  of  the 
St.  Clair  County  Central  Committee  and  chairman  of  the  judicial  committee 
for  the  First  Judicial  District  of  Illinois.  He  had  also  run  for  County  Super- 
intendent of  Schools  of  Macoupin  county  in  1890,  suffering  a  defeat  by  about 
700,  when  the  county  gave  a  general  Democratic  majority  of  2,400.  He  is  now 

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recognized  as  one  of  the  strongest  of  the  young  .leaders  of  the  Republican  party 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  and  has  been  renominated  for  Congress  in  the 
Twenty-first  District. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  of  the  following  fraternal 
societies :  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Court  of  Honor, 
Eastern  Star,  Knights  of  Khorassan  and  the  Fraternal  Mystic  Circle.  From 
1892  to  1898  he  was  State  Deputy  Head  Consul  for  Illinois  of  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  in  which  capacity  he  had  occasion  to  deliver  addresses 
in  almost  every  county  in  the  State.  He  is  president  of  the  Fraternal  Mutual 
Indemnity  Association  and  vice-president  of  the  Illinois  Trust  and  Investment 
Company. 


WALTER  REEVES. 

Among  those  men  who  have  distinguished  themselves  in  the  practice  of 
law,  and  who  have  exalted  and  dignified  that  profession  in  this  State,  is  Hon. 
Walter  Reeves  of  Streator,  Illinois.  From  his  earliest  experience  his  tastes  and 
inclinations  ran  in  the  direction  of  the  legal  profession,  and  even  as  a  boy  he 
began  those  elementary  studies  which  pave  the  way  for  a  profound  knowledge 
of  law  and  equity.  He  was  born  September  25,  1848,  near  Brownsville,  Penn- 
sylvania. His  early  education  was  received  at  the  common  schools,  but  he 
succeeded  in  acquiring,  in  addition  thereto,  by  diligent  study,  a  wide  acquaint- 
ance with  science  and  literature.  His  parents  were  Harrison  and  Maria  (Leon- 
ard) Reeves,  highly  respected  citizens  of  the  Keystone  State.  The  ancestors  of 
Mr.  Reeves  on  his  father's  side  came  from  Scotland  and  England ;  on  his 
mother's  side  the  ancestry  is  Welsh  and  German.  Mr.  Reeves,  therefore,  pos- 
sesses the  blended  and  excellent  traits  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race.  During  his 
early  life  he  passed  through  many  severe  experiences,  not  only  in  securing  his 
education,  but  also  at  hard  work  upon  his  father's  farm.  It  should  be  empha- 
sized that  the  bulk  of  his  education  was  obtained  by  his  own  unaided  efforts, 
under  many  difficulties,  but  with  a  determination  and  success  that  rounded  out 
and  polished  his  literary  acquirements.  After  leaving  school,  while  still  a  com- 
paratively young  man,  he  became  a  teacher,  and  so  continued  during  a  consid- 
erable portion  of  the  succeeding  seven  or  eight  years.  The  primary  purpose  of 
his  course  as  a  school  teacher  was  to  secure  means  to  promote  still  further  his 
education,  particularly  in  law,  and  to  fit  himself  in  all  respects  for  a  useful  and 
honorable  career  before  the  bar  of  this  State.  In  due  time  he  entered  an  office 
and  continued  his  legal  studies,  and  in  1875  was  licensed  to  practice  law.  He 
established  an  office  at  Streator,  Illinois,  and  immediately  entered  upon  the 
active  work  of  his  profession.  Within  a  short  time  he  had  a  profitable  clientage, 
and  had  become  interested  and  identified  with  many  of  the  most  important  cases 
in  that  section  of  the  State.  Steadily  his  practice  grew,  and  now  it  may  be 
stated  that  few  lawyers  in  the  State,  outside  of  Chicago,  enjoy  a  larger  clientage. 

From  childhood  up  he  has  been  a  consistent  and  unfaltering  Republican, 
deeply  interested  in  the  success  of  his  party,  and  proud  of  his  patriotism.  His 
prominence  as  a  member  of  his  party,  his  strength  as  a  public  speaker  and  his 
well-known  integrity  were  the  elements  recognized  by  his  numerous  friends  when 
he  was  brought  forward  as  a  candidate  for  the  Fifty-fourth  Congress.  After  a 
spirited  campaign,  during  which  he  displayed  unusual  skill  and  ability  in  the 
field  of  politics,  he  was  triumphantly  elected.  He  was  re-elected  for  the  Fifty- 
fifth  Congress  and  again  for  the  Fifty-sixth  Congress,  and  has  been  renominated 
for  the  Fifty-seventh  Congress.  In  1900  his  friends  brought  him  prominently 
before  the  people  of  the  State  as  a  candidate  for  the  governorship  of  Illinois. 
Mr.  Reeves  has  been  identified  with  all  the  worthy  public  enterprises  of  his 
community.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  is  a  great  reader 
of  current  literature.  He  was  married  June  27,  1876,  to  Marietta  M.  Cogswell. 

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DAVID  DAVIS. 

Hon.  David  Davis  was  born  in  Cecil  County,  Maryland,  March  9,  1815. 
His  ancestors  settled  in  this  country  at  an  early  date,  some  of  them  emigrating 
from  Wales.  By  the  death  of  his  father  he  was  left  an  orphan  while  quite  young. 
His  education  was  begun  in  the  public  schools  of  Maryland ;  having  something 
of  an  income  at  his  command  he  decided  to  take  a  collegiate  course,  and  attended 
Kenyon  College,  Ohio.  Having  the  acquaintance  and  friendship  of  Judge  Henry 
W.  Bishop,  of  Lenox,  Mass.,  he  read  law  in  his  office,  and  later  took  the  legal 
course  in  the  New  Haven  Law  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1835.  The 
expenses  incident  to  his  education  had  absorbed  his  small  estate,  and  he  was 
at  once  thrown  upon  his  personal  efforts  to  make  headway  in  the  world.  He 
removed  to  Illinois,  and  in  1835  settled 'at  Pekin.  The  following  year  he  changed 
his  residence  to  Bloomington,  which  became  his  permanent  home.  He  was 
well  received  at  Bloomington,  made  many  friends,  and  soon  established  a  good 
practice  of  the  law.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  In  1840,  at  the  earnest  solici- 
tation of  his  political  friends,  he  became  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate  on 
the  Whig  ticket.  He  made  an  able  canvass  of  the  district,  and  drew  out  the  full 
vote  of  the  Whig  party,  but  failed  of  election.  He  was  beaten  by  Governor 
John  Moore,  a  popular  Democratic  leader  of  great  experience.  In  1844  he  was 
again  a  candidate,  and  was  elected  to  the  lower  house  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  Illinois.  His  record  in  the  Legislature  was  highly  satisfactory  to  his  con- 
stituents, in  fact,  he  had  now  established  the  reputation  of  being  a  man  of  ex- 
cellent judgment,  a  first-class  lawyer,  a  sincere  friend  and  an  honest  man.  So 
in  1847  his  friends  made  him  a  candidate  as  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Con- 
vention, which  framed  the  constitution  of  1848.  As  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  Mr.  Davis  performed  a  great  work  for  the  State  in  his  labors 
to  establish  a  more  uniform  judiciary  system. 

Upon  the  adoption  of  the  new  constitution,  he  was  elected  one  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Judges  of  the  State  without  opposition.  This  action  of  the  people  brought 
him  into  his  true  field  of  labor.  His  circuit  was  composed  of  fourteen  counties, 
and  covered  one  of  the  richest  and  most  rapidly  growing  sections  of  the  State. 
The  duties  of  this  office,  begun  at  a  time  when  there  were  no  railroad  facilities, 
involved  a  great  deal  of  time  and  labor  in  going  from  county  to  county  and  in 
holding  the  courts.  David  Davis  was  one  of  the  best  Circuit  Judges  of  the 
State.  The  attorneys  who  practiced  in  his  courts  were  among  the  most  able  and 
most  distinguished  men  of  Illinois.  Lincoln,  Douglas,  Baker,  Trumbull,  Hardin, 
Judge  Logan  and  many  other  prominent  .men  appeared  before  him.  Judge 
Davis  occupied  the  position  of  Circuit  Judge  for  fourteen  years,  rendering  decis- 
ions in  many  important  cases  but  few  of  which  were  ever  reversed.  While  Judge 
Davis  occupied  the  bench  he  did  not  undertake  to  participate  in  active  partisan 
politics,  but  he  kept  fully  informed  of  the  great  current  of  political  events  in  the 
country,  and  the  threatening  aspect  of  the  slavery  question.  He  was  in  full  ac- 
cord with  the  leading  Whigs  of  the  State  in  opposition  to  the  repeal  of  the 
Missouri  Compromise  and  the  enactment  of  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill.  He 
was  a  close  personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  felt  great  interest  in  the 
debate  of  1858  between  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Senator  Douglas.  Two  years  later, 
when  Mr.  Lincoln  became  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  at  his  earnest  solici- 
tation Judge  Davis  broke  over  his  settled  rule  in  regard  to  politics,  and  accepted 
the  appointment  by  the  State  Convention  of  delegate  at  large  to  the  Repub- 
lican National  Convention  at  Chicago.  Judge  Davis  labored  in  that  convention 
for  the  nomination  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  did  as  much  perhaps  as  any  other  dele- 
gate to  secure  that  result.  When  the  nomination  was  made  and  the  convention 
adjourned  Judge  Davis  returned  to  his  duties  on  the  bench  and  left  to  others 
the  active  work  of  conducting  the  campaign.  In  1861  General  Fremont  was 
assigned  to  duty  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  with  authority  to  organize  and  equip  an 
army  to  operate  against  General  Sterling  Price  and  other  Confederate  generals 
in  Missouri.  The  exigencies  of  the  service  demanded  prompt  action  in  the 
purchase  and  accumulation  of  all  kinds  of  quartermaster's  stores,  horses,  mules, 
wagons,  harness,  tents,  blankets,  corn,  oats,  hay,  etc.,  and  the  great  bulk  of 
these  articles  was  bought  on  credit,  quartermaster's  certificates  being  issued  in 
payment  in  lieu  of  cash.  The  haste  with  which  this  business  was  done,  the  want 

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283 


of  proper  system,  and  the  loose  manner  in  which  the  purchases  were  made,  soon 
brought  the  whole  business  into  disorder,  and  suspicion  was  thrown  upon  the 
integrity  of  many  of  the  contracts.  To  straighten  out  this  bad  condition  of 
affairs,  President  Grant  appointed  a  commission  consisting  of  Judge  Davis, 
General  Holt,  and  Mr.  Campbell,  of  St.  Louis,  to  investigate  and  to  adjudicate 
the  numerous  claims  against  the  quartermaster's  department  of  Missouri.  This 
was  a  heavy  task,  involving  great  labor  and  the  exercise  of  business  knowledge 
as  well  as  legal  talent.  The  work  was  done  in  a  most  satisfactory  manner  and 
the  findings  of  the  commission  stood  the  test  of  the  courts.  This  was  the  first 
introduction  of  Judge  Davis  to  business  connected  with  the  United  States 
Government. 

President  Lincoln  had  unlimited  confidence  in  the  good  judgment,  ability 
and  the  integrity  of  Judge  Davis,  ami  he  was  glad  to  avail  himself  in  so  im- 
portant an  affair  of  so  experienced  a  man.  In  November,  1862,  a  vacancy  oc- 
curred in  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  The  President  appointed  Judge 
David  Davis  to  fill  that  vacancy.  This  appointment  was  made  during  the  sec- 
ond year  of  the  civil  war;  many  new  and  important  questions  were  pressing 
upon  the  attention  of  that  court  of  last  resort,  and  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  Judge 
Davis  to  consider  and  pass  upon  some  of  the  most  momentous  issues  ever  de- 
cided by  a  court  in  this  country.  One  of  the  most  important  questions  passed 
upon  was  the  constitutionality  of  the  legal  tender  acts  of  1862-3.  The  necessities 
of  the  war  imposed  upon  Congress  the  duty  of  providing  a  circulating  medium 
for  the  transaction  of  the  business  and  the  government  of  the  people  during 
the  war.  The  State  bank  issues  were  either  worthless  or  greatly  depreciated ; 
gold  and  silver  absolutely  disappeared  from  circulation.  The  war  could  not  be 
conducted  to  a  successful  issue  without  the  use  of  large  sums  of  money.  To 
remedy  the  then  existing  evils  Congress  authorized  the  issuing  of  $300,000,000 
of  treasury  notes,  and  made  them  a  legal  tender,  in  payment  of  all  debts,  public 
and  private.  The  constitutionality  of  this  law  was  called  into  question,  the  case 
of  Hepburn  against  Griswold  involving  that  question  was  taken  by  appeal  to 
the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  The  case  was  ably  argued,  and  with 
a  divided  court  the  act  was  declared  to  be  unconstitutional.  Judge  Davis  was 
of  the  minority,  and  joined  Mr.  Justice  Miller  and  others  in  a  dissenting  opinion 
which  for  clearness  and  power  of  statement  has  never  been  surpassed  by  an 
opinion  rendered  by  that  court.  In  due  course  of  time  this  question  was 
again  brought  before  the  court  and  the  constitutionality  of  the  law  was  upheld. 
Judge  Davis  united  with  the  majority  of  the  court  in  holding  that  "the  acts  of 
Congress  known  as  the  legal  tender  acts  are  constitutional  when  applied  to 
contracts  made  before  their  passage,  and  are  also  applicable  to  contracts  made 
since."  This  decision  firmly  establishing  the  proposition  that  Congress  has 
constitutional  power  to  authorize  the  issuing  of  a  legal  tender  currency  resulted 
in  giving  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  the  best  circulating  medium  that 
the  world  has  ever  seen.  This  is  only  one  of  many  important  cases  upon  which 
Judge  Davis  was  called  to  bring  to  bear  his  sound  judgment  and  great  judicial 
experience. 

In  1872  many  prominent  statesmen  and  politicians  opposed  the  renomi- 
nation  of  General  Grant  to  be  President,  and  the  leaders  of  this  so-called  liberal 
movement  were  casting  about  for  a  suitable  candidate  for  President.  The 
Labor  Reformers  also  essayed  to  bring  a  Presidential  candidate  into  the  field 
with  the  hope  and  expectation  that  all  the  elements  opposed  to  the  regular 
Republican  organization  would  concentrate  on  their  candidate.  Judge  Davis 
was  regarded  as  a  Presidential  possibility;  he  was  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  the  country,  and  a  Labor  Reform  party  holding  an  early  conven- 
tion nominated  him  as  a  candidate  for  President.  The  liberal  movement,  includ- 
ing Mr.  Sumner,  Mr.  Greeley,  and  many  other  Republican  leaders,  was  encour- 
aged by  the  Democratic  party.  At  the  convention  held  in  May.  1872,  the  names 
of  Judge  Davis  and  Senator  Trumbull  were  brought  before  the  convention, 
but  Horace  Greeley,  of  New  York,  was  nominated ;  this  nomination  was  ratified 
by  the  Democratic  party,  and  Mr.  Greeley  became  the  candidate  for  President 
of  these  elements  in  1872.  Judge  Davis  had  maintained  his  residence  at  Bloom- 
ington,  during  all  the  years  of  his  service  on  the  Supreme  bench  of  the  United 
States.  He  had  lost  none  of  his  popularity  in  the  State,  so  that  when  the  Illinois 

284 


Legislature  at  its  January  session  in  1877  found  an  opposition  majority  on  joint 
ballot  against  the  Republican  party,  and  there  was  a  two  months'  struggle  on  the 
question  of  selecting  a  United  States  senator  to  succeed  John  A.  Logan,  a 
majority  of  the  Legislature  united  upon  Judge  Davis;  he  was  elected  to  the 
United  States  Senate  for  a  term  of  six  years  from  March  4,  1877,  and  he  ac- 
cepted the  position. 

Judge  Davis  had  passed  twenty-nine  years  of  his  life  upon  the  bench,  four- 
teen years  as  a  Circuit  Judge  in  Illinois,  and  fifteen  years  as  a  Judge  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States.  It  was  a  noble  record.  His  retirement  from 
the  bench,  and  his  withdrawal  from  the  association  of  the  men  with  whom  he 
had  been  so  long,  was  impressive,  and  the  step  was  taken  with  a  certain  degree 
of  reluctance.  His  letter  to  the  court  announcing  his  retirement  and  their  reply 
shows  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  members  of  that  august  tri- 
bunal. 

While  Judge  Davis  had  had  but  little  experience  in  a  legislative  body,  his 
long  and  able  career  on  the  bench  gave  him  a  standing  in  the  Senate  that  is 
rarely  ever  accorded  to  a  new  member.  He  was  assigned  to  the  Committee  on 
the  Judiciary,  and  sat  with  Conkling,  Carpenter,  Edmunds,  Thurman,  and  other 
distinguished  men,  and  performed  the  duties  of  his  position  with  marked  ability. 
So  highly  respected  was  he  by  the  Senate  that  he  was  selected  as  presiding  offi- 
cer, and  filled  the  position  of  acting  Vice-President  for  nearly  two  years.  When 
the  Senatorial  term  of  Judge  Davis  expired  he  returned  to  his  old  home  at 
Bloomington  and  devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  the  care  and  management 
of  his  large  estate. 

Judge  David  Davis  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  the  mother  of  his 
children,  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  died  at  her  old  home  in  that  State  in 
November,  1879.  In  March,  1883,  Judge  Davis  married  Adaline  Burr,  of  Fay- 
etteville,  N.  C.  Judge  Davis  died  June  26,  1886;  his  surviving  children  were 
George  Perrin  Davis  and  Mrs.  Sarah  B.  Swayne. 


ISAAC   FUNK. 

Hon.  Isaac  Funk  was  born  Nov.  17,  1797,  on  a  farm  in  Clark  County,  Ken- 
tucky. He  died,  after  a  brief  illness,  in  the  home  of  his  son  Duncan,  in  Bloom- 
ington, 111.,  Jan.  29,  1865.  Of  Mr.  Funk's  remoter  ancestry,  we  have  but  little 
knowledge.  The  name  is  German ;  his  grandfather,  Adam  Funk,  was  born  in 
Germany,  but  in  what  place  we  do  not  know.  He  came  to  America  about  1750 
and  probably  settled  first  in  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Funk's  father,  whose  name 
also  was  Adam,  was  reared  in  Virginia ;  his  wife's  name  was  Sarah  Moore,  and 
she  was  of  German  descent.  They  had  nine  children,  six  boys  and  three  girls, 
Isaac  being  the  fourth  son.  In  about  the  year  1790  the  family  removed  to 
Kentucky,  where  Isaac  was  born ;  the  first  ten  years  of  his  life  were  spent  there. 
In  1807  the  family  removed  to  Fayette  County,  Ohio;  sixteen  years  of  Mr. 
Funk's  life  were  spent  at  this  place. 

We  learn  that  Isaac  attended  school,  all  told,  parts  of  but  three  winters, 
this  when  he  was  ten  to  thirteen  years  old.  We  know  nothing  of  the  character 
of  his  teacher ;  all  we  know  is  that  he  was  renowned  as  a  very  severe  discipli- 
narian, even  for  that  day ;  Mr.  Funk  often  alluded  to  the  frequent  and  fearful 
thrashings  that  he  gave  his  pupils ;  all  remembrance  of  the  other  qualifications 
of  the  teacher,  if  he  had  any,  seem  to  have  faded  from  his  mind.  We,  who  now 
know  all  about  schooling,  smile  at  the  old-time  methods,  and  yet  there  must 
have  been  some  kind  of  virtue  in  those  backwoods  schools,  otherwise  how  can 
we  explain  the  fact  that  so  many  boys  of  those  days  with  so  little  schooling,  ac- 
complished so  much,  while  now  so  many  with  so  much  schooling  accomplish  so 
little?  In  1823  Mr.  Funk  started  for  Illinois;  in  May  of  the  following  year  he 
pitched  his  camp  on  the  east  side,  just  at  the  edge  of  what  is  now  known  as 
Funk's  Grove ;  on  this  spot,  or  very  near  it,  he  lived  the  balance  of  his  life-time. 

Mr.  Funk  was  married  in  June,  1826,  at  Peoria,  to  Cassandra  Sharp.  The 
pair  returned  immediately  after  their  marriage  to  the  Funk's  Grove  home.  In 
partnership  with  his  older  brother  Absalom,  Mr.  Funk  began  to  farm  a  little  with 

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such  rude  implements  as  could  be  procured  at  that  time,  in  the  new  country.  As 
the  settlement  increased,  the  Funk  Brothers,  Isaac  and  Absalom,  began  to  buy 
the  surplus  stock  of  the  region  and  drive  it  to  such  markets  as  they  could  find ; 
first  to  Peoria,  later  to  eastern  markets  and  to  Chicago.  This  business  of 
handling  cattle  and  hogs  grew  to  vast  proportions.  The  brothers  learned  their 
business  well ;  they  were  alert,  worked  very  hard,  dealt  fairly  with  everybody, 
and  thus  gained  a  pretty  complete  monopoly  of  the  stock  buying  business  of  all 
their  region.  With  the  profits  of  their  business  they  bought  land.  About  1840 
the  partnership  was  dissolved,  Isaac  continuing  alone,  still  extending  his  live 
stock  operations,  still  putting  the  profits  into  land.  The  fertility  and  value  of 
the  prairie  lands  of  Central  Illinois  was  not  generally  known  to  the  first  settlers, 
but  Mr.  Funk  evidently  discovered  very  early  after  his  arrival  the  matchless  fer- 
tility of  the  prairie  land,  and  no  doubt  in  the  very  first  years  of  his  residence 
here,  conceived  the  purpose  of  acquiring  all  he  could  of  the  land  in  and  around 
Funk's  Grove ;  to  accomplish  this  purpose  he  worked  by  day  and  by  night.  He 
pursued  it  with  tremendous  energy  and  splendid  daring. 

When  the  Illinois  Central  and  Chicago  &  Alton  railways  were  projected  and 
partly  built,  he  foresaw  that  lands  would  rapidly  rise  in  value,  and  about  that 
time,  in  the  short  space  of  three  or  four  years,  he  bought  more  than  twelve 
thousand  acres  of  land  and  sent  himself  $80,000  in  debt.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  owned  in  McLean  County  25,000  acres  of  land,  20,000  of  it  being  in  one 
body  in  and  around  Funk's  Grove.  We  do  not  know  that  any  other  man  in 
the  United  States  has,  by  his  own  unaided  efforts,  acquired  as  much  land  equally 
valuable  and  fertile  as  there  is  in  the  Funk's  Grove  tract,  all  bought  and  paid 
for  by  Mr.  Funk  in  his  life-time. 

Mr.  Funk  was  a  powerful  man  physically ;  he  was  five  feet  ten  and  one-half 
inches  in  height ;  normal  weight  two  hundred  pounds ;  stout  but  not  obese  ;  finely 
proportioned;  compactly  built;  black  hair,  inclined  to  curl;  Roman  nose;  long, 
strong  upper  lip ;  mouth  wide,  closing  firmly  in  handsome  lines ;  complexion 
ruddy  to  dark ;  eyes  dark  brown,  clear,  penetrating  and  steady,  but  flashing  with 
fire  and  power  when  aroused.  In  politics,  Mr.  Funk  was  a  Whig  while  that 
party  was  still  in  existence.  In  1840  he  was  elected  to  the  lower-house  of  the 
State  legislature.  While  always  taking  an  active  part  and  having  an  intelligent 
interest  in  public  affairs,  Mr.  Funk  was  in  no  sense  a  politician.  Mr.  Funk's 
great  business  was  sufficient  to  occupy  most  of  his  time  and  always  required 
the  closest  attention,  but  he  was  a  broad-minded  man  and  knew  full  well  that 
he  owed  a  duty  to  his  State  and  the  public.  While  in  no  sense  a  politician,  he 
felt  the  keenest  interest  in  public  affairs  and  found  time  to  take  an  active  part 
in  the  management  of  county  affairs  and  also  in  the  conduct  of  political  cam- 
paigns, State  and  National.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  from 
the  first ;  he  was  not  at  first  an  abolitionist.  Mr.  Funk  was  a  law-abiding  citizen, 
trained  to  respect  the  rights  of  property,  and  while  the  laws  of  his  country  recog- 
nized the  right  of  property  in  slaves,  Mr.  Funk  abided  those  laws.  Just  pre- 
ceding the  war  time,  Owen  Lovejoy,  candidate  for  Congress  in  Mr.  Funk's  dis- 
trict, delivered  a  great  speech  in  Bloomington.  Mr.  Funk  heard  it;  he  was 
converted  to  abolitionism  and  ever  afterward  hated  slavery  and  was  ready  to 
welcome  any  lawful  means  of  abolishing  it. 

He  was  a  close  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  entered  into  the  Lincoln 
campaign  of  1860  with  all  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  his  strongly  emtional 
nature.  For  the  election  of  Lincoln  he  gave  of  his  time,  labor  and  money 
without  stint.  In  1862  he  was  elected  to  the  State  senate  by  the  Republicans 
of  his  district  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Gen.  Richard  J.  Oglesby;  he  was 
re-elected  for  the  next  term.  It  was  during  this  term,  in  the  darkest  days  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion,  when  the  fate  of  the  Union  seemed  to  be  trembling  in 
the  balance,  that  he  made  his  famous  speech  in  the  senate  in  favor  of  an  appro- 
priation for  what  was  known  as  the  Sanitary  Commission.  The  opponents  of 
the  war  had  a  majority  in  the  senate  ;  they  were  openly  and  persistently  opposing 
any  and  every  measure  calculated  to  furnish  aid  and  comfort  to  the  armies  of 
the  Union.  To  Mr.  Funk  their  conduct  seemed  nothing  less  than  treason  to  the 
country  and  government.  He  was  unaccustomed  to  speaking  in  public,  but  there 
came  a  time  when,  in  his  own  words,  he  could  sit  in  his  seat  no  longer  and  see 
men  trifling  with  the  interests,  of  his  country.  It  was  then  that  he  arose  and 

286 


hurled  at  the  opposition  that  philippic  of  philippics,  which  will  never  be  forgotten 
by  those  who  heard  it,  and  is  probably  remembered  today  by  more  people  than 
remember  any  other  speech  ever  made  in  Illinois. 

"Mr.  Speaker:  I  can  sit  in  my  seat  no  longer  and  see  such  boy's  play 
going  on;  these  men  are  trifling  with  the  best  interests  of  the  country.  They 
should  have  asses'  ears  to  set  off  their  heads,  or  they  are  secessionists  and 
traitors  at  heart.  I  say  there  are  secessionists  and  traitors  at  heart  in  this  sen- 
ate. Their  actions  prove  it.  Their  speeches  prove  it.  Their  gibes  and  laughter 
and  cheers  here  nightly,  when  their  speakers  get  up  in  this  hall  and  denounce 
the  war  and  the  administration,  prove  it.  I  can  sit  here  no  longer  and  not  tell 
these  traitors  what  I  think  of  them,  and  while  so  telling  them  I  am  responsible 
for  what  I  say.  I  stand  upon  my  own  bottom.  I  am  ready  to  meet  any  man 
on  this  floor,  in  any  manner,  from  a  pin's  point  to  the  mouth  of  a  cannon,  upon 
this  charge  against  these  traitors.  (Tremendous  applause  from  the  galleries.) 
I  am  an  old  man  of  sixty-five.  I  came  to  Illinois  a  poor  boy.  I  have  made  a 
little  something  for  myself  and  family.  I  pay  $3,000  a  year  in  taxes.  I  am 
walling  to  pay  $6,000,  aye  $12,000  (great  cheering,  the  old  gentleman  bringing 
down  his  fist  upon  his  desk  with  a  blow  that  would  knock  down  a  bullock  and 
causing  the  inkstand  to  bound  a  half  dozen  inches  in  the  air),  aye,  I  am  willing 
to  pay  my  whole  fortune,  and  then  give  my  life  to  save  my  country  from  these 
traitors  that  are  seeking  to  destroy  it.  (Tremendous  cheers  and  applause,  which 
the  speaker  could  not  subdue.) 

"Mr.  Speaker,  you  must  please  excuse  me.  I  could  not  sit  longer  in  my 
seat  and  calmly  listen  to  these  traitors.  My  heart  that  feels  for  my  poor  country 
would  not  let  me.  My  heart  that  cries  out  for  the 'lives  of  our  brave  volunteers 
in  the  field,  that  these  traitors  at  home  are  destroying  by  thousands,  would 
not  let  me.  My  heart  that  bleeds  for  the  widows  and  orphans  at  home, 
would  not  let  me.  Yes,  these  villains  and  traitors  and  secessionists  in  this 
senate  (striking  his  clenched  fist  on  the  desk  with  a  blow  that  made  the  house 
ring  again)  are  killing  my  neighbors'  boys,  now  fighting  in  the  field.  I  dare  to 
tell  this  to  these  traitors,  to  their  faces,  and  that  I  am  responsible  for  what  I  say 
to  one  or  all  of  them.  (Cheers.)  Let  them  come  on,  right  here.  I  am  sixty-five 
years  old,  and  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to  risk  my  life  right  here,  on  this  floor, 
for  my  country.  These  men  sneered  at  Col.  Mack  a  day  or  two  ago.  He  is  a 
little  man,  but  I  am  a  large  man ;  I  am  ready  to  meet  any  of  them  in  place  of  Col. 
Mack.  I  am  large  enough  for  them,  and  I  hold  myself  ready  for  them  now,  and 
at  any  time.  (Cheers  from  the  galleries.) 

"Mr.  Speaker,  these  traitors  on  this  floor  should  be  provided  with  hempen 
collars.  They  deserve  them.  They  deserve  them.  They  deserve  hanging,  I  say. 
(Raising  his  voice  and  violently  striking  the  desk.)  The  country  would  be  better 
off  to  swing  them  up.  I  go  for  hanging  them,  and  I  dare  tell  them  so  right 
here  to  their  traitors'  faces.  Traitors  should  be  hung.  It  would  be  the  salva- 
tion of  the  country  to  hang  them.  For  that  reason,  I  would  rejoice  at  it.  (Tre- 
mendous cheering.) 

"Mr.  Speaker,  I  beg  pardon  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  senate  who  are  not 
traitors,  but  true,  loyal  men,  for  what  I  have  said.  I  only  intend  it  and  mean  it 
for  secessionists  at  heart.  They  are  here,  in  this  senate.  I  see  them  joke,  and 
smirk,  and  grin  at  a  true  Union  man,  but  I  defy  them.  I  stand  here  ready  for 
them  and  dare  them  to  come  on.  (Great  cheering.)  What  man  with  the  heart 
of  a  patriot  could  stand  this  treason  any  longer.  (Cheers.)  I  denounce  these 
men  and  their  aiders  and  abettors  as  rank  traitors  and  secessionists.  Hell  itself 
could  not  spew  out  a  more  traitorous  crew  than  some  of  these  men  who  disgrace 
this  legislature,  this  State  and  this  country.  For  myself,  I  protest  and  denounce 
their  treasonable  acts.  I  have  voted  against  their  measures.  I  will  do  so  to 
the  end.  I  will  denounce  them  as  long  as  God  gives  me  breath.  And  I  am 
ready  to  meet  the  traitors  themselves  here  or  anywhere,  and  fight  them  to  the 
death.  (Prolonged  cheers  and  shouts.) 

"I  said  I  paid  three  thousand  dollars  a  year  taxes.  I  do  not  say  it  to  brag 
of  it.  It  is  my  duty — yes,  Mr.  Speaker,  my  privilege  to  do  it.  But  some  of 
the  traitors  here,  who  are  working  night  and  clay  to  get  their  miserable  little 
bills  and  claims  through  the  legislature  to  take  money  out  of  the  pockets  of  the 
people,  are  talking  about  high  taxes.  They  are  hypocrites,  as  well  as  traitors. 

287 


I  heard  some  of  them  talking-  about  high  taxes  in  this  way,  who  do  not  pay 
five  dollars  to  support  the  Government.  I  denounce  them  as  hypocrites  as  well 
as  traitors.  (Cheers.)  The  reason  they  pretend  to  be  afraid  of  high  taxes  is 
that  they  do  not  want  to  vote  money  for  the  relief  of  the  soldiers.  They  want 
also  to  embarrass  the  Government  and  stop  the  war.  They  want  to  aid  the 
secessionists  to  conquer  our  boys  in  the  field.  They  care  about  taxes?  They 
are  picayune  men,  anyhow.  They  pay  no  taxes  at  all,  and  never  did,  and  never 
hope  to,  unless  they  can  manage  to  plunder  the  Government.  (Cheers.)  This  is 
an  excuse  for  traitors. 

"Mr.  Speaker,  excuse  me.  I  feel  for  my  country  in  this  hour  of  danger.  I 
feel  for  her  from  the  tip  of  my  toes  to  the  end  of  my  hair.  That  is  the  reason 
I  speak  as  I  do.  I  cannot  help  it.  I  am  bound  to  tell  these  men  to  their  teeth 
what  they  are,  and  what  the  people,  the  true,  loyal  people,  think  of  them.  Mr. 
Speaker,  I  have  had  my  say.  I  am  no  speaker.  This  is  the  only  speech  I  have 
made,  and  I  do  not  know  that  it  deserves  to  be  called  a  speech.  I  could  not 
sit  still  any  longer  and  see  these  scoundrels  and  traitors  work  out  their  selfish 
schemes  to  destroy  the  Union.  They  have  my  sentiments.  Let  them  one  and 
all  make  the  most  of  them.  I  am  ready  to  back  up  all  I  say,  and  repeat  it,  to 
meet  these  traitors  in  any  manner  they  may  choose  from  a  pin's  point  to  the 
mouth  of  a  cannon." 

The  effect  of  this  speech  in  the  army  and  among  the  friends  of  the  Union 
throughout  the  whole  North  can  scarcely  be  measured ;  coming  as  it  did  from 
the  full  heart  of  a  plain  man,  spontaneously;  it  aroused  a  sympathetic  echo  in 
hundreds  of  thousands  of  breasts  that  were  pained  as  his  was  for  his  country,  in 
the  fearful  trials  through  which  she  was  passing.  The  remains  of  this  remark- 
able man  lie  buried  in  Funk's  Grove  cemetery,  remote  from  traveled  ways  and 
thronged  towns,  beside  the  still,  running  stream  and  in  the  heart  of  the  same 
magnificent  forest  which  captivated  his  eye  when,  as  a  young,  strong  man,  he 
came  this  way  in  search  of  home  and  fortune.  By  his  side  lie  the  remains  of  his 
beloved  and  faithful  wife,  whose  death  occurred  only  about  four  hours  later 
than  his. 

Mr.  Funk  left  a  large  family ;  they  and  their  descendants  have,  for  the  most 
part,  kept  their  residences  in  McLean  County.  They  are  all  engaged  in  agricul- 
tural pursuits.  The  immense  land  holdings  of  Isaac  Funk  still  remain  in  pos- 
session of  the  family.  Several  of  the  sons  have  taken  considerable  part  in  poli- 
tics and  other  public  business.  They  are  all  Republicans. 


JOHN   McNULTA. 

General  John  McNulta  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  has  for  many  years  been  a  con- 
spicuous figure  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  as  a  soldier,  as  a  lawyer,  as  a  Republican 
in  politics,  and  as  a  business  man  he  has  made  a  name  of  which  any  man  might 
be  proud.  The  General  comes  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  County  Donegal  in 
Ireland,  and  Invernesshire  in-  Scotland,  were  their  homes,  the  remote  male  line 
being  Northmen  or  Vikings,  who  intermarried  and  merged  with  the  Clan  Don- 
ald. His  immediate  ancestors  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  day,  and  settled 
in  New  York.  He  was  born  in  New  York  City  Nov.  9,  1837.  He  came  west 
in  1852  and  settled  in  Attica,  Indiana.  Having  received  a  liberal  education, 
having  subsequently  conferred  upon  him  out  of  course  pro-merits  the  degree  of 
A.  M.  by  Wabash  College.  In  1856  he  was  employed  as  a  traveling  salesman 
and  collector  for  Dick  &  Co.,  wholesale  tobacco  dealers,  traveling  on  a  route  in 
the  western  part  of  Indiana  and  the  eastern  part  of  Illinois. 

In  1858,  on  attaining  his  majority,  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  His 
business  as  a  salesman  and  collector  took  him  to  Bloomington,  Illinois ;  he 
became  well  pleased  with  the  place,  and  went  there  to  reside  permanently  in 
1859.  The  Civil  War  coming  on  in  the  spring  of  1861,  he  abandoned  his  business 
and  on  May  3  was  made  captain  of  Company  A,  Irirst  Illinois  Cavalry.  On  Aug. 
20,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  94th  Illinois  Infantry. 
The  colonel  of  the  regiment,  William  W.  Orme,  having  been  assigned  to  the 
command  of  a  brigade,  the  command  of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant- 

288 


289 


Colonel  McNulta.  He  led  the  brigade  for  some  time,  was  promoted  to  be  col- 
onel, and  was  afterwards  breveted  brigadier-general  for  "gallant  and  meritorious 
services  in  battle."  General  McNulta  served  from  May  3,  1861,  to  Aug.  9,  1865,. 
during  the  Civil  War.  His  regiment,  the  94th  Illinois,  belonged  to  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee,  whose  commanders  were  respectively  General  Grant,  General 
Sherman,  General  McPherson,  General  Howard,  and  General  Logan.  The  army 
was  composed  of  the  I3th,  I5th,  i6th,  and  i/th  Army  Corps.  The  victorious 
career  of  this  army  was  to  Belmont,  Ft.  Henry,  Donaldson,  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Vicksburg,  Chattanooga,  Atlanta,  the  March  to  the  Sea,  capture  of  Savannah,, 
the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas,  and  the  grand  review  at  Washington.  Gen- 
eral McNulta  and  his  regiment  at  the  close  of  the  siege  of  Vicksburg  went  to 
the  capture  of  Yazoo  City,  thence  to  New  Orleans  and  back  to  Morgan's  Bendr 
and  then  to  Atchafalaya,  thence  to  the  Texas  frontier,  thence  through  the  Mobile 
campaign  and  back  to  Galveston  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  and  the  men  under 
him  performed  every  duty  devolving  upon  them  and  established  a  reputation 
for  valor,  and  the  performance  of  duty,  which  constitutes  a  part  of  the  glorious 
record  of  the  soldiers  of  Illinois. 

General  McNulta  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  Aug.  9,  1865.  In  1866 
General  McNulta  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  and 
in  1874  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  In  1866  he  formed  a^arj;- 
nership  for  the  practice  of  law  with  Hon.  Lawrence  Weldon,  now  a  judge  of  the 
United  States  Court  of  Claims  at  Washington  City.  In  1868  he  was  elected 
to  the  Illinois  State  Senate,  and  in  1872  Jie  was^lected  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  as  a  Republican.  Was  renominated  in  1874,  but  was  defeated  by 
his  Democratic  opponent.  General  McNulta  has  been  identified  with  the  Re- 
publican party  actively  for  a  number  of  years.  In  1880  he  was  a  delegate  from 
his  Congressional  district  to  the  Republican  National  Convention.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  "Old  Guard  of  306,"  who  stood  by  General  Grant  in  the  mem- 
orable contest  in  that  convention,  and  possesses  a  bronze  medal  prepared  in 
commemoration  of  that  event. 

In  1881  General  McNulta  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  McLean  County,  and  held  that  office  for  four  years.  In  June,  1885,  he 
was  appointed  receiver  of  the  railroad  known  as  the  Clover  Leaf  Route,  now 
the  Toledo,  St.  Louis  &  Kansas  City  Railway.  This  appointment  opened  up  to 
him  a  new  field  of  endeavor,  and  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  exercising  the 
extraordinary  powers  of  administration,  which  he  has  shown  himself  to  possess. 
This  receivership  was  followed  by  his  appointment  by  Judge  Gresham,  Judge 
of  the  United  States  Circuit  Court,  to  be  receiver  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  in 
April,  1887.  In  the  conduct  of  the  affairs  of  this  railroad,  General  McNulta 
developed  into  one  of  the  most  efficient  railway  men  of  the  country,  both  as 
manager  and  lawyer,  directing  all  of  its  legal  complications  and  becoming  to  a 
great  extent  a  guide  to  the  railway  traffic  associations  of  the  West  in  the  ad- 
justment of  the  railway  traffic  to  the  Interstate  Commerce  Law.  He  mastered 
all  the  details  of  the  business,  in  operating  the  road,  conducting  its  freight 
and  passenger  business,  its  repairs  and  betterments  and  its  financial  operations, 
bringing  the  property  up  to  the  highest  standard  of  efficiency  and  earning  power. 
General  McNulta's  success  as  a  receiver,  lawyer  and  manager  of  large  proper- 
ties brought  to  him  the  receivership  of  the  Whisky  Trust  in  1895,  this  combi- 
nation with  a  great  number  of  distilleries,  with  a  capital  represented  by  thirty- 
five  millions  of  certificates,  having  practical  control  of  the  production  and  sale 
of  high-proof  spirits  and  alcohol  manufactured  in  the  United  States.  General 
McNulta  mastered  the  intricacies  of  this  business,  carrying  on  its  manufactures 
successfully,  and  finally  turned  the  property  over  in  good  shape,  after  it  was 
sold  to  the  corporation  which  was  organized  to  receive  it,  with  a  surplus  of 
over  ten  and  a  half  million  dollars,  instead  of  being  insolvent,  as  was  decided  in 
the  first  instance. 

General  McNulta  was  the  receiver  of  the  Calumet  Electric  Street  Railway, 
and  of  the  National  Bank  of  Illinois  at  Chicago,  to  which  positions  he  was 
appointed  in  January,  1898,  and  receiver  of  several  other  corporations  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  The  business  of  these  corporations  was  being  conducted  to 
the  entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  in  them,  by  General  McNulta,  who  had 
been  the  most  successful  receiver  of  the  management  of  large  properties  of  any 

290 


man  in  the  country.  General  McNulta  was  an  active  supporter  of  William  Mc- 
Kinley  for  President ;  he  favored  the  Spanish  War  and  the  policy  of  expansion, 
and  delivered  a  number  of  able  speeches  in  favor  of  retaining  the  Philippine 
Islands. 

John  McNulta  married  Laura  Pelton  at  Bloomington,  Illinois,  Jan.  15,  1862. 
They  have  four  children  living,  namely :  Herbert,  Robert  Pelton,  Donald  and 
Laura.  General  McNulta  died  in  Washington,  D.  C,  on  Feb.  22,  1900.  He 
was  buried  at  his  old  home  in  Bloomington,  Illinois. 


WILLIAM  PENN   NIXON. 

^  William  Penn  Nixon  became  a  citizen  of  Chicago  in  1872.  The  Chicago 
Inter-Ocean  had  just  been  established ;  its  first  issue  appeared  on  March  25. 
Two  months  later,  on  May  21,  Mr.  Nixon  became  manager  of  the  paper,  which 
position  he  retained  until  1876,  when  he  became  editor-in-chief  and  general  man- 
ager. He  has  continued  to  be  identified  with  that  great  journal,  without  inter- 
ruption, until  the  present  time,  twenty-eight  years.  >  The  Chicago  Inter  Ocean  is 
a  Republican  newspaper.  It  has  always  been  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  party, 
it  has  exerted  a  powerful  influence  throughout  the  United  States,  but  particu- 
larly in  Illinois  and  the  Northwest.  Mr.  Nixon  for  over  twenty  years  was  editor- 
in-chief,  and  publisher  of  the  paper,  and,  of  course,  directed  its  policy,  and  con- 
trolled its  editorial  utterances.  The  Inter-Ocean  never  claimed  to  be  the  organ 
of  the  Republican  party,  but  under  Mr.  Nixon's  management  it  was  largely  in- 
strumental in  molding  and  directing  public  opinion  upon  the  great  political  issues 
of  the  day. 

The  success  of  Mr.  Nixon  as  a  newspaper  man  was  not  accidental ;  to  ac- 
complish such  results  and  to  exert  such  an  influence- a  man  must  possess  strong 
traits  of  character;  these  are  found  in  Mr.  Nixon.  He  is  a  man  of  sound  judg- 
ment, an  alert  and  watchful  mind,  a  man  of  patience,  of  good  temper,  an  in- 
defatigable worker,  and  of  good  literary  ability.  All  of  these  qualities  he  pos- 
sesses in  full  measure,  and  they  were  brought  to  bear  in  the  daily  labors  and 
management  of  the  Inter-Ocean.  So  closely  identified  was  Mr.  Nixon  with  the 
thought  of  the  paper  that  the  readers  who  are  well  acquainted  with  its  editor- 
in-chief  could  always  forecast  the  position  the  paper  would  take  upon  important 
public  questions.  They  knew  that  Mr.  Nixon  was  not  erratic,  that  while  he 
was  a  progressive  man  and  kept  up  with  the  thought  of  the  leading  Republicans 
of  the  country,  he  was  so  thoroughly  loyal  to  the  principles  and  policies  of  the 
Republican  party  and  believed  so  firmly  in  the  necessity  of  party  organization 
as  a  means  of  good  government,  that  he  would  not  on  occasion  go  off  on  a  tan- 
gent and  have  the  Inter-Oecan  "take  to  the  woods." 

Mr.  Nixon  is  of  Quaker  stock  on  both  sides  of  the  family,  his  grandfather, 
Barnaby  Nixon,  owned  and  occupied  a  plantation  situated  on  the  James  River, 
not  far  from  Petersburg,  Virginia.  Here  he  lived,  reared  his  family,  and  spent 
his  entire  life.  Barnaby  Nixon,  like  all  his  neighbors,  was  a  slave  holder,  but 
unlike  the  most  of  them,  he  became  thoroughly  convinced  that  slavery  was 
wrong,  and  that  it  was  his  duty  as  a  citizen  and  a  Christian  to  emancipate  his 
slaves.  The  Quaker  denomination  in  all  the  Colonies  had  at  an  early  date  taken 
strong  grounds  against  the  African  slave  trade,  and  the  perpetuation  of  slavery 
in  America,  but  Barnaby  Nixon,  who  was  himself  a  prominent  minister  of 
the  Quaker  faith,  and  who  had  preached  the  doctrine  of  freedom  to 
his  people,  did  not  wait  for  the  action  of  the  church ;  his  conscience  moved 
him  and  he  emancipated  his  slaves.  Samuel  Nixon,  the  father  of  William  Penn 
Nixon,  was  born  and  raised  on  his  father's  plantation  on  the  James  River^  re- 
ceived a  liberal  education,  and  in  due  time  married  Rhoda  Hubbard,  also  a 
descendent  of  a  Quaker  family.  He  removed  to,  and  became  a  citizen  of  North 
Carolina,  where  he  resided  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  merchant  and  a 
miller,  and  established  a  large  business.  In  those  early  days  railroad  facilities 
in  North  Carolina  were  unknown,  and  Mr.  Nixon  had  to  depend  on  wagons  for 
his  transportation.  It  is  a  tradition  of  the  family  that  he  crossed  the  Blue  Ridge 
Mountains  twenty-seven  times  on  horseback.  Samuel  Nixon  and  Mrs. 

291 


Nixon  had  a  family  of  four  children,  three  of  whom  were  born  in  North  Caro- 
lina. They  removed  with  these  children  from  North  Carolina  to  Wayne  County, 
Indiana,  where  William  Penn  Nixon  was  born,  in  the  town  of  Newport,  now 
Fountain  City.  His  mother  died  in  1840.  His  father  died  in  1866  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  to  note  that  the  mother  of 
Mr.  Nixon  was  connnected  with  the  Hubbard  family,  who  were  early  and  promi- 
nent settlers  in  Virginia,  and  that  one  of  them  married  an  Indian  girl  of  the 
Cherokee  tribe,  who  was  the  great  grandmother  of  Mr.  Nixon. 

William  Penn  Nixon  was  placed  at  a  private  school  by  his  father,  where 
he  received  his  elementary  education.  He  entered  Turtle  Creek  Academy,  in 
Warren  County,  Ohio,  in  the  fourteenth  year  of  his  age ;  he  remained  there 
two  years.  He  then  went  to  Harveysburg  Academy,  to  assist  his  brother ;  he 
remained  here  one  year.  He  then  entered  Earlham  College,  a  Quaker  institu- 
tion in  Richmond,  Indiana.  He  studied  there  some  time  and  was  again  a  teacher 
for  a  year.  He  then  entered  Farmer's  College,  near  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1854.  Murat  Halstead,  the  well  known  newspaper  man 
and  writer,  had  just  graduated  from  the  same  institution.  Mr.  Nixon,  still  in 
search  of  knowledge,  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, pursuing  his  studies  there  for  four  years.  He  was  graduated  from  this 
institution  with  honor  in  1859. 

Mr.  Nixon  settled  in  Cincinnati,  opened  a  law  office,  and  soon  built  up  a 
good  practice.  A  Republican  in  politics,  he  identified  himself  with  the  organ- 
ization of  Hamilton  County,  Ohio,  and  soon  became  prominent  and  influential 
in  its  counsels.  In  1864  a  vacancy  occurred  in  the  Ohio  Legislature,  by  the 
death  of  Hon.  Mr.  Keck.  Mr.  Nixon  was  nominated  and  elected  to  fill  this 
vacancy. ^  In  1865  he  became  a  candidate  for  re-election,  was  successful  before 
the  people,  and  served  in  the  Legislative  session  of  1866-7.  After  the  adjourn- 
ment of  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Nixon  decided  to  spend  some  time  abroad ;  he 
traveled  extensively  through  Europe,  visiting  all  the  principal  capitals  and  places 
of  interest.  On  his  return  home  he  became  interested  in  the  Cincinnati  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  Co.,  and  was  elected  its  president.  In  1869  Mr.  Nixon  conceived 
the  idea  that  there  was  ample  room  for  another  daily  paper  in  Cincinnati.  He 
enlisted  a  number  of  friends  in  the  new  enterprise,  and  established  the  Cincin- 
nati Daily  Chronicle  as  an  evening  paper.  He  was  the  commercial  editor  for 
some  time,  but  his  associates  recognizing  his  fine  business  qualifications  made 
him  publisher  and  business  manager.  In  that  position  he  was  a  pronounced 
success.  Finally  the  Chronicle  Company  purchased  the  Evening  Times  and  con- 
solidated the  two  papers.  Mr.  Nixon  then  sold  out  his  interest,  and  resumed 
active  business  with  the  insurance  company,  of  which  he  had  continued  to  be 
president.  In  1871  a  consolidation  was  effected  between  the  Union  Central 
Life  Insurance  Co.  and  the  Cincinnati  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co.,  the  corpora- 
tion controlled  by  Mr.  Nixon,  whereupon  he  sold  out  his  insurance  stock  and 
the  next  year  removed  to  Chicago. 

This  brief  summary  of  the  life  of  Mr.  Nixon  shows  that  he  was  a  diligent 
student,  devoting  unusual  time  to  gain  an  education  and  the  acquisition  of  knowl- 
edge, that  immediately  upon  starting  out  in  life  he  took  high  rank  with  the  public 
and  men  of  affairs.  That  his  business  before  coming  to  Chicago  was  varied,  ex- 
tensive and  successful,  well  fitting  him  for  the  responsible  and  important  position 
which  he  at  once  took  on  the  staff  of  the  Inter  Ocean. 

During  Mr.  Nixon's  long  connection  with  the  newspaper  world  he  never 
became  a  candidate  for  public  office,  contenting  himself  with  advocating  the 
claims  of  others  for  office  instead  of  his  own.  When  William  McKinley  was 
elected  President  the  friends  of  Mr.  Nixon  believed  that  the  time  had  come 
that  there  should  be  a  proper  recognition  of  the  valuable  services  which  he 
had  rendered  to  to  the  country  and  to  the  Republican  party  bv  appointing  him 
to  the  most  important  office  in  the  gift  of  the  President  at  Chicago.  In  due 
^  course  Mr.  Nixon's  name  was  presented  for  the  office  of  Collector  of  the  Port. 
The  President  knew  Mr.  Nixon  well,  recognized  his  ability,  his  integrity,  his 
-fidelity  to  every  trust,  and  his  thorough  fitness  for  this  office,  and  gladly  ap- 
pointed him  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Chicago.  This  office  Mr.  Nixon  now  holds ; 
he  has  thoroughly  familiarized  himself  with  every  duty,  and  the  business  of  the 
government  and  the  people  is  being  conducted  with  promptness  and  intelligence. 

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Mr.  Nixon  was  married  in  September,  1861,  to  Miss  Mary  F.  Stites,  daugh- 
ter of  Hezekiah  Stites  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  the  early  spring  of  the  following 
year  his  wife  died.  In  June,  1869,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Duffield,  daughter 
of  Charles  Duffield,  a  well  known  citizen  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nixon 
have  three  children,  Mary  Stites,  Bertha  Duffield,  and  William  Penn,  Jr.  Mr. 
Nixon  was  several  years  president  of  the  Associated  Press ;  he  is  a  member  of 
the  Union  League  Club,  Marquette  Club,  Press  Club,  the  Ohio  Society,  and  a 
director  of  the  Humane  Society.  Mrs.  Nixon,  a  lady  of  education  and  refine- 
ment, is  a  member  of  the  Fortnightly  Club,  the  Woman's  Club,  and  a  member 
of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  Illinois  Training  School  for  Nurses.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nixon  have  a  delightful  home  at  743  North  Clark  Street,  Chicago.  The 
shelves  of  their  library  contain  more  than  two  thousand  volumes  of  well-selected 
books,  treating  of  almost  every  branch  of  literature,  art  and  science.  Their 
home  is  a  center  for  agreeable  association  for  their  family  and  large  circle  of 
friends. 


GEORGE  EVERETT  ADAMS. 

In  1835  Benjamin  Franklin  Adams,  a  prosperous  merchant  and  manufac- 
turer of  woollens  and  window  glass,  a  citizen  of  Keene,  N.  H.,  visited  Chicago 
and  purchased  some  land  in  and  around  that  town.  Mr.  Adams  was  so  well 
pleased  with  his  investment  and  the  growth  of  the  West,  that  in  1853  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Chicago.  Mr.  Adams'  ancestors  came  to  America 
in  1626,  settling  at  Cambridge,  but  afterwards  removed  to  Ipswich,  Mass.  One 
branch  of  the  family  trace  their  lineage  to  ''William  of  Ipswich."  A  member  of 
this  branch  served  in  the  old  French  war,  and  afterwards  was  one  of  the  first 
settlers  of  New  Ipswich,  New  Hampshire,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee 
of  Safety  organized  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Adams  was  born 
March,  1800,  at  New  Ipswich;  his  mother  belonged  to  the  Everett  family.  Early 
in  life  Mr.  Adams  removed  to  Keene,  where  he  established  himself  in  business, 
and  married  Louisa  R.  Redington  of  Walpole,  N.  H.  Her  mother  was  a  Dana, 
whose  father  graduated  from  Harvard  in  1767  and  preached  in  Barre,  Mass. 

Mr.  Adams  brought  his  son,  George  Everett  Adams,  then  thirteen  years 
old,  with  him  to  Chicago.  Before  coming  West  George  went  to  school  at  the 
Academy  doing  chores  and  farm  work  as  part  of  his  education.  He  was  a 
studious  boy,  fond  of  books,  fond  of  the  woods  and  streams  and  of  hunting  and 
fishing.  His  experience,  tastes  and  habits  of  early  life,  were  those  of  the  average 
New  Hampshire  boy.  Although  he  lived  at  his  father's  house  in  town,  he  had 
to  take  care  of  horses  and  cattle,  and  do  farm  work.  His  father  was  in  easy 
circumstances,  but  thought  that  boys  should  learn  to  work  with  their  hands, 
and  he  brought  his  boys  up  upon  that  principle ;  he  gave  them  every  opportunity 
for  education  and  the  improvement  of  the  mind,  but  did  not  neglect  the  educa- 
tion of  their  hands.  In  1854  he  was  sent  back  to  his  old  home  in  New  Hampshire 
and  placed  at  Phillips  Exeter  Academy  for  one  term,  and  then  entered  Harvard 
College,  from  which  institution  he  graduated  in  1860.  Mr.  Adams  decided  tcTj 
study  law,  and  on  returning  to  Chicago  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Scammon, 
McCagg  and  Fuller,  one  of  the  most  prominent  law  firms  in  the  city. 

In  April,  1861,  when  the  Civil  War  began,  and  Fort  Sumpter  fell,  Mr. 
Adams  and  his  brother  enlisted  in  Battery  A,  Illinois  Light  Artillery.  Upon 
leaving  the  service  he  became  a  teacher  in  the  Chicago  High  School,  studying 
law  at  the  same  time.  In  1864  he  entered  Dane  Law  School  of  Harvard  Uni- 
versity, graduating  in  1865.  He  returned  home  to  Chicago  well  equipped  for 
the  important  affairs  of  a  busy  life  in  a  great  city ;  he  began  the  practice  of  law 
and  continued  this  with  success  until  the  great  fire  in  1871.  The  rebuilding  of 
Chicago  opened  up  a  new  field  for  Mr.  Adams.  The  care  and  improvement  of 
real  estate  required  and  occupied  his  attention,  and  he  has  been  devoting  him- 
self largely  to  this  business  for  more  than  twenty-eight  years.  It  can  be  said 
that  by  heredity  and  environment  Mr.  Adams  has  a  natural  bent  for  literature 
and  art ;  he  is  fond  of  books,  has  read  much  and  is  well  versed  in  the  best 
literature  of  the  world.  He  is  a  trustee  of  Newberry  Library,  and  overseer  of 

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Harvard  College,  1892  to  1898,  and  1898  to  1904.  He  is  a  ready  speaker  upon 
literary  and  political  topics. 

In  politics  Mr.  Adams  has  always  been  a  Republican.  When  he  was  a 
school  boy  at  Keene  the  political  excitement  concerning  the  slavery  question 
in  Kansas  was  at  its  height ;  he  saw  a  train  load  of  Massachusetts  emigrants 
go  by  on  their  way  to  Lawrence,  Kansas.  Many  of  these  had  Sharp's  rifles. 
He  became  interested  in  the  political  issues  of  that  period  and  his  sympathies 
were  for  making  Kansas  a  free  State.  His_fatherwasa  \Yhig,  and  his  grand- 
father was  a  Federalist,  supporting  the  administration  OfPresident  Washington. 
In  1876.  JoxJjieJrrst  time^  Mr.  Adams  took  an  active  part- in  politics ;  this  was 
in  connection  with  a  town  election ;  it  was^not  ffisiritentinon  to  enter  political 
life,  but  in  1880  his  friends  secured  his^nomination  as  a  Republican  candidate  for 
the  State  Senate.  It  was  a  Presidential  year;  Garfield  and  Arthur  were  the 
Republican  candidates.  Mr.  Adams  made  a  number  of  speeches  in  the  canvass 
and  was  elected.  This  opened  the  way  to  a  ten  years'  service  as  a  legislator. 
In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States  from  the  Sixth 
District  of  Illinois,  and  was  re-elected  three  terms  successively,  but  was  de- 
feated in  1890  during  a  great  Democratic  revival.  In  Congress  Mr.  Adams  took 
high  rank,  and  was  well  esteemed  by  his  associates.  He  served  on  two  of  the 
most  important  committees  of  the  House,  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  the  Com- 
mittee on  Banking  and  Currency.  Many  important  measures  came  before  Con- 
gress during  the  term  of  his  service,  all  of  which  received  his  careful  considera- 
tion. Mr.  Adams  earnestly  opposed  the  measures  brought  forward  by  the 
Democratic  party  for  repealing  Republican  tariff  legislation.  He  gave  his  voice 
and  vote  for  the  great  tariff  measure  known  as  the  "McKinley  Bill."  His  ex- 
perience in  Congress  as  a  legislator,  the  knowledge  he  acquired  while  there  of 
the  practical  operations  of  the  executive  departments,  and  the  broad  acquaint- 
ance made  by  him  of  prominent  men  throughout  the  country,  together  with  his 
high  sense  of  public  duty  and  his  great  natural  abilities,  made  his  retirement 
from  Congress  an  actual  loss  to  the  country. 

Mr.  Adams  is  a  member  of  the  Unitarian  Church,  and  has  been  since  child- 
hood. In  November,  1871,  he  married  Adele  Foster,  daughter  of  John  H. 
Foster,  an  early  settler  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Foster  and  his  wife,  Nancy  Smith 
Foster,  came  from  New  Hampshire,  where  their  families  had  resided  for  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years.  Mr.  Adams  was  born  at  Keene,  New  Hampshire,  June 
18,  1840,  and  is  now  a  citizen  of  Chicago,  Illinois. 


GEORGE  ROYAL  DAVIS. 

George  R.  Davis  was  bojrrj  January  3,  1840,  in  the  town  of  Three  Rivers, 
near  Palmer,  JVIass.  His  father,  Benjamin  Davis,  was  descended  from  a  pioneer 
family,  and  was  raised  at  the  town  of  Ware.  He  married  Cordelia  Buffington,  a 
member  of  an  old  Quaker  family  of  Connecticut. 

The  father  and  mother  of  George,  being  well  educated  themselves,  were 
anxious  that  he  should  have  the  advantages  of  a  collegiate  course.  He  .passed 
through  the  public  schools,  and  was  placed  at  Williston  Seminary,  East  Hamp- 
ton, Mass.,  to  prepare  for  college.  He  was  a  fine  student,  mastering  his  studies 
with  ease,  and  graduated  with  honor  from  the  seminary,  with  the  intention  of 
entering  college.  But  this  was  not  to  be.  The  exciting  events  of  the  spring  of 
1861,  aroused  a  martial  spirit  throughout  the  old  Bay  State,  in  which  George  R. 
Davis  enthusiastically  shared.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  H,  8th 
Regiment,  Mass.  Infantry.  He  soon  exhibited  his  capacity  and  tact  for  the 
leadership  of  men,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  captain;  in  that  position 
he  served  with  his  company,  with  the  i8th  Army  Corps,  in  North  Carolina, 
until  August,  1863;  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the  infantry  service,  and  re- 
turned home,  where  he  raised  a  battery  of  light  artillery.  His  capacity  as  a 
commanding  officer  had  attracted  attention,  and  he  was  tendered  a  commission 
as  major  of  the  3d  Regiment,  Rhode  Island  Cavalry.  He  commanded  this  regi- 
ment until  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
with  the  rank  of  brevet  colonel.  As  the  result  of  his  long  and  active  service  in 

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the  volunteer  forces,  Col.  Davis  acquired  a  fondness  for  military  life,  and  ac- 
cepted an  appointment  in  the  civil  department  of  the  regular  army.  He  was 
.assigned  to  the  Department  of  the  Missouri,  commanded  by  General  Sheri- 
dan, and  reported  to  that  officer  for  duty.  Colonel  Davis  remained  with  Gen- 
eral Sheridan  for  about  four  years.  He  accompanied  General  Sheridan  in  his 
Indian  campaigns  in  1868  and  1869,  and  traversed  much  of  the  western  country, 
in  pursuit  of  the  Indians.  He  was  present  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Washita, 
when  "Black  Kettle"  and  his  band  were  defeated  and  routed.  When  General 
Sheridan  moved  his  headquarters  to  Chicago,  in  the  latter  part  of  1869,  Colonel 
Davis  accompanied  him,  and  remained  at  the  general  headquarters  until  May  i, 
1871.  Colonel  Davis  resigned  his  position  in  connection  with  the  regular  army, 
settled  permanently  as  a  citizen  of  Chicago,  and  at  once  established  a  home 
for  himself  and  his  family. 

His  first  private  business  in  the  city  of  Chicago  was  that  of  general  agent 
of  the  Massachusetts  Mutual  and  the  Hartford  Life  Insurance  Companies.  He 
held  this  position  for  some  time,  giving  entire  satisfaction  to  the  companies. 
In  the  early  seventies,  he  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  First  Regiment, 
I.  N.  G.,  and  was  made  colonel  of  that  body.  Colonel  Davis  soon  had  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  His  fine  personal  presence  made  him  an 
attractive  figure  in  any  company.  A  man  of  agreeable  manners  and  pleasant 
address,  he  soon  became  popular  with  all  those  with  whom  he  came  in  contact. 

Always  a  Republican  in  politics,  he  identified  himself  with  that  party,  and 
was  soon  accorded  an  important  place  in  its  councils.  His  capacity  for  organi- 
zation, the  influence  he  exerted  over  men,  his  clear  perception  of  the  political 
issues,  and  his  power  as  a  public  speaker,  soon  made  him  a  recognized  leader 
of  the  politics  of  Cook  County.  In  1878,  Colonel  Davis  was  nominated  for  and 
was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  2d  Congressional  District  of  Illinois.  He 
was  re-elected  for  two  successive  terms,  serving  six  years  in  the  lower  House  of 
Congress.  During  that  service  he  was  assigned  to  the  following  committees: 
Invalid  Pensions,  Military  Affairs,  Mines  and  Mining,  Education  and  Labor, 
and  Commerce ;  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  of  the  West  Point 
Military  Academy,  and  was  selected  by  his  colleagues  as  a  member  of  the 
Republican  Congressional  Committee.  The  entrance  of  Colonel  Davis  into  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  gave  him  an  opportunity  of  broadening  his 
career,  which  he  naturally  availed  himself  of.  He  made  friends  and  acquaint- 
ances in  every  State  of  the  Union,  without  reference  to  party  ties.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  liked  and  most  popular  men  in  Congress  during  his  six  years 
of  service.  Space  will  not  allow  to  give  in  detail  the  services  of  Colonel  Davis 
while  in  Congress.  It  is  properxto  state,  however,  that  he  was  always  watchful 
of  the  interests. of  Chicago,  and  was  mainly  instrumental  in  securing  a  large 
appropriation  for  the  improvement  of  the  Chicago  Harbor  and  in  saving  the  Lake 
Front  for  the  people  of  Chicago.  In  1886,  Colonel  Davis  was  elected  Treasurer 
of  Cook  County  for  a  term  of  four  years.  He  performed  the  duties  of  this 
office  with  ability,  and  at  the  close  of  his  term,  his  accounts  were  promptly 
settled. 

Colonel  Davis  was  a  great  believer  in  Chicago,  and  was  ever  anxious  to 
labor  to  advance  her  interests.  He  had  assisted  in  securing  the  assembling 
of  national  political  conventions  in  the  city,  and  believed  that  Chicago  was  the 
best  fitted  place  for  holding  the  Columbian  Exposition,  for  which  Congress 
had  made  provision.  He  entered  heartily  into  the  work  of  bringing  the  claims 
of  Chicago  for  the  Exposition  before  Congress.  This  campaign  of  Chicago 
in  Washington  was  entrusted  to  Colonel  Davis.  The  large  acquaintance  which 
he  had  made  in  Congress  now  stood  him  well  in  hand.  Chicago  was  successful. 
Colonel  Davis  was  chosen  one  of  the  Directors  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Man- 
agement of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition.  When  the  National  Board  of 
Commissioners  met  in  Chicago,  in  September,  1890,  Colonel  Davis  was  selected 
by  that  board  as  Director-General  of  the  Exposition.  In  this  position  he  ex- 
hibited the  highest  order  of  executive  ability  in  the  management  of  its  affairs, 
and  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  that  great  enterprise.  Colonel  Davis 
established  himself  in  successful  private  business,  in  manufacturing  enterprises. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  and  for  a  number  of  years  be- 

298 


ionged  to  Chicago  Commandery  19,  Knight  Templars.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
l)er  of  the  Chicago,  Union  League,  Washington  Park,  Fellowship  and  Illinois 
dubs. 

George  R.  Davis,  in  1867,  married  Gertrude  Schulin,  of  New  Orleans,  La. 
They  have  six  children,  two  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  died  Nov.  25,  1899, 
-and  was  buried  at  Rose  Hill,  in  Chicago. 


WILLIAM  SIDNEY  ELLIOTT,  JR. 

William  S.  Elliott,  Jr.,  is  now  in  the  full  vigor  of  physical  and  intellectual 
manhood.  As  a  lawyer  he  stands  upon  a  level  with  the  most  able,  successful, 
and  distinguished  attorneys  of  the  State.  This  position  has  not  been  reached 
by  accident  nor  by  a  sudden  and  unexpected  flight.  Entering  the  profession 
twenty  years  ago,  earnest  devotion  to  study,  a  rare  aptitude  for  the  profes- 
sion, and  an  extraordinary  experience  in  practice  before  the  courts,  have  made 
him  a  master  of  the  law.  Nature  has  been  kind  to  Mr.  Elliott ;  physically  he 
is  a  fine  specimen  of  humanity;  he  possesses  a  constitution  of  iron;  his  facul- 
ties are  always  on  the  alert ;  quick  perception,  unfailing  memory,  unerring 
judgment,  and  indomitable  energy,  with  an  extensive  knowledge  of  human  na- 
ture, have  made  his  rise  to  his  present  position  natural  and  inevitable.  Mr. 
Elliott  in  the  course  of  his  practice  has  been  engaged  in  more  than  seven  thou- 
sand cases,  he  has  conducted  the  defense  in  forty-five  trials  for  murder,  and 
has  been  employed  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  many  of  the  most  important  and 
intricate  cases  ever  decided  in  the  courts  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Elliott  did  not  begin 
the  study  of  law  in  his  youth ;  after  passing  through  the  public  and  academical 
schools  of  Quincy^_IllM  he  took  employment  in  a  banking  house  in  that  city, 
where  he  mastered  the  business  of  banking,  from  sweeping  out  the  office  to  the 
duties  of  bookkeeper,  teller,  and  assistant  cashier ;  after  devoting  three  years 
and  a  half  to  this  business  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  entered  the  insurance 
business ;  but  eleven  years  of  active  business  life  in  Chicago  failed  to  satisfy 
his  ambitious  nature.  He  sought  a  broader  field  for  the  development  and  ex- 
ercise of  his  intellectual  forces. 

At  thirty  years  of  age,  in  1879,  Mr.  Elliott  decided  to  enter  upon  the  study 
•of  law;  he  was  fortunate  in  the  friendship  of  two  of  the  ablest  lawyers  at  the 
Chicago  bar,  Luther  Laflin  Mills  and  Emery  A.  Storrs.  Upon  the  advice  and 
influence  of  the  one,  he  entered  the  office  of  the  other,  and  set  himself  the 
task  of  becoming  a  lawyer.  Mr.  Storrs  soon  recognized  the  fine  business  quali- 
fications, and  the  aptitude  for  the  law  of  Mr.  Elliott.  Upon  his  admission  to 
the  bar,  Mr.  Storrs  offered  Mr.  Elliott  a  partnership  in  his  law  business,  which 
Mr.  Storrs  had  conducted  with  such  extraordinary  ability  as  to  give  him  a 
national  fame.  These  two  men,  unlike  in  almost  everything  else  except  their 
agreement  in  politics,  and  their  devotion  to  their  profession,  worked  together 
harmoniously  and  successfully  until  their  partnership  was  dissolved  by  the  death 
-of  Mr.  Storrs. 

Continuing  the  practice  of  law  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Storrs,  Mr.  Elliott 
was  appointed  Assistant  States  Attorney  under  Judge  Longenecker.  He  held 
this  position  for  five  years  ;  during  this  period  he  disposed  of  nearly  six  thousand 
•cases.  He  prosecuted  and  brought  to  justice  many  noted  criminals,  and  be- 
came a  terror  to  evil  doers  in  general. 

Upon  retiring  from  the  office  of  Assistant  States  Attorney,  Mr.  Elliott  re- 
sumed his  private  practice,  which  has  grown  to  be  large  and  lucrative,  and,  as 
lias  been  seen,  he  has  been  called  to  the  defense  of  more  men  accused  of  high 
crimes  than  almost  any  other  lawyer  in  the  State,  and  has  been  one  of  the 
most  successful  defenders.  In  the  course  of  his  practice,  Mr.  Elliott  has  secured 
the  respect  and  friendship  of  the  judges  before  whom  he  has  practiced,  and 
the  good  will  of  the  lawyers  with  whom  he  has  associated. 

Mr.  Elliott  has  not  neglected  his  duties  as  a  citizen ;  he  has  been  identified 
with  the  Republican  party  from  his  early  manhood ;  he  has  never  held  an  elec- 
tive office  for  himself,  but  has  been  an  active  worker  for  the  success  of  the 
Republican  party.  He  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  principles,  policies,  and 

299 


history  of  parties.  He  is  an  able  and  accomplished  political  speaker,  and  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  every  National  and  State  campaign  during  the  past 
twenty  years.  While  a  man  of  eloquence  and  pleasing  address,  he  speaks  not 
simply  to  amuse  but  to  instruct.  He  is  always  subject  to  the  call  of  the  party 
organization,  has  delivered  many  speeches  to  ward,  city,  county,  State  and  other 
clubs,  and  is  always  in  demand  as  a  public  speaker.  Mr.  Elliott  was  a  candi- 
date for  the  nomination  for  States  Attorney  of  Cook  County  before  the  Re- 
publican convention  in  the  fall  of  1884,  and  in  the  Republican  City  Convention 
of  March  15,  1885,  he  received  no  votes  out  of  257  for  the  Republican  nomi- 
nation for  the  office  of  City  Attorney.  Hempstead  Washburne  secured  the 
other  147,  and  the  nomination. 

A  true  estimate  of  a  man's  character  cannot  be  formed  by  what  he  does 
in  connection  with  his  profession  or  in  politics,  for  these  really  are  subordinate 
to  the  home  life,  and  the  social  life.  Mr.  Elliott  has  a  delightful  social  side  to 
his  character ;  he  was  one  of  the  early  promoters  of  the  Apollo  Music  Club  of 
Chicago;  it  owes  its  early  success  to  his  liberality  and  energy.  He  belongs 
to  the  Blue  Lodge,  Chapter,  Council,  and  Commandery  of  the  Masonic  fra- 
ternity, is  a  member  of  the  Royal  League,  the  Royal  Arcanum,  the  National 
Union,  the  Ancient  Order  of  Foresters,  and  is  a  Noble  of  the  Mystic  Shrine ;  he 
also  belongs  to  the  Illinois,  Marquette,  Hamilton,  Lincoln,  and  Menoken  Clubs, 
and  to  the  Art  Institute,  and  is  an  associate  member  of  Columbia  Post,  G.  A.  R- 
He  is  an  active  member  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Elliott  has  a  delightful  home,  a  fine  library,  and  many  beautiful  works 
of  art.  His  collection  of  portraits  of  distinguished  men  hanging  in  his  office 
suggests  his  love  of  art. 

William  S.  Elliott,  Jr.,  was  born  May  i,  1849,  at  Niles,  Michigan.  He 
traces  his  lineage  in  a  direct  descent  from  John  Eliot,  of  Massachusetts,  the  great 
missionary  to  the  Indians,  as  follows :  Joseph  Eliot  (2),  Jared  Eliot  (3),  Aaron 
Eliot  (4),  Samuel  Smithson  Eliot  (5),  William  Worthington  Elliott  (6),  William 
Sidney  Elliott  (7),  William  Sidney  Elliott,  Jr.,  (8). 

William  Sidney  Elliott,  the  father,  was  born  January  18,  1813,  in  North 
Hampton,  Montgomery  County,  New  York.  Six  years  later  his  parents  re- 
moved to  Balston  Spa,  Saratoga  County,  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits. 
Young  Elliott  attended  school  in  the  winter,  worked  on  his  father's  farm  in  the 
summer,  and  in  1833  taught  school  in  Rochester.  At  an  early  date  Mr.  Elliott 
espoused  the  anti-slavery  cause  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  anti-slavery 
convention  held  in  New  York  State,  which  met  at  Utica  in  1835.  The  opposi- 
tion to  this  assemblage  was  so  great  that  the  convention  was  dispersed.  Garrett 
Smith,  who  was  present  at  that  meeting,  expressed  indignation  at  the  action 
of  the  people,  espoused  the  cause  represented  by  the  convention,  and  invited 
its  members  to  meet  in  his  city  and  at  his  house  to  finish  their  deliberations. 
The  action  of  Mr.  Elliott  on  this  occasion  showed  that  the  anti-slavery  blood 
of  his  ancestor,  John  Eliot,  flowed  in  his  veins.  Mr.  Elliott  removed  to  Michi- 
gan, locating  about  a  hundred  miles  east  of  Chicago,  and  never  failed  an  op- 
portunity to  aid  a  slave  fleeing  northward  to  gain  his  freedom.  About  1857  Mr. 
Elliott  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he  settled  with  his  family.  He  was 
a  strong  supporter  to  the  Union  cause  during  the  Civil  War,  and  aided  in 
equipping  men  of  younger  years  for  the  great  struggle.  Mr.  Elliott,  in  1840, 
supported  William  Henry  Harrison  for  President,  and  was  an  earnest  Repub- 
lican in  his  latter  years.  He  died  in  1899,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-se\ren, 
and  was  buried  at  Niles,  Michigan. 

William  S.  Elliott,  Jr.,  was  married  October  14,  1871,  to  Alinda  Caroline 
Harris,  daughter  of  James  and  Salome  Harris,  of  Janesville,  Wisconsin.  Mrs. 
Elliott  is  a  lady  of  refinement  and  culture,  a  prominent  member  of  several  so- 
cial, ethical,  religious,  and  charitable  organizations,  among  them  the  Arche  Club, 
the  Woman's  West  End  Club,  and  the  Chicago  Culture  Club.  Their  children 
are  Lorenzo  B.  Elliott,  a  graduate  of  Kent  College  of  Law,  and  post-graduate 
and  Bachelor  of  Laws  of  Lake  Forest  University;  Daniel  Morse  Elliott,  a 
graduate  of  Kent  College  of  Law ;  Emery  S.  Elliott,  Jessie  Elliott  and  Birdie 
Leon  Elliott. 

300 


Q 


301 


GEORGE  B.  SWIFT. 

Among  the  names  of  the  representative  men  of  Chicago  who  have  been 
closely  identified  with  its  interests,  and  have  assisted  in  .its  marvelous  growth,, 
and  who,  while  building  up  a  metropolis,  have  founded  for  themsedves  repu- 
tations more  enduring  than  iron  or  stone,  will  stand  that  of  George  B.  Swift,. 
who,  by  force  of  native  ability  and  steady  perseverance,  has  raised  himself  to 
a  position  of  wealth  and  honor.  He  comes  from  a  State  that  has  furnished  to 
Illinois  many  of  its  most  honored  and  valued  citizens,  his  birth  occurring  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  December  14,  1845.  His  parents,  Samuel  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Bell)  Swift,  were  natives  of  the  Keystone  State.  During  his  youth  young 
Swift  attended  the  public  schools  at  Galena,  111.,  and  at  Chicago.  In  1865  he 
branched  out  for  himself  as  a  clerk,  but  later  embarked  in  the  manufacturing 
business  under  the  firm  name  of  Frazer,  Swift  &  Company,  which  afterwards 
became  George  B.  Swift  &  Company,  then  and  now  Frazer  Lubricator  Com- 
pany, now  actively  engaged  in  general  contracting  under  corporate  name  of 
George  B.  Swift  Company. 

Mr.  Swift  was  first  actively  connected  with  the  Republican  party  in  the 
year  1879,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  city  council  of  Chicago  from  the  Eleventh 
Ward.  He  has  been  twice  elected  Alderman.  In  1887  he  was  appointed  Com- 
missioner of  Public  Works  for  the  city  of  Chicago  and  served  in  that  capacity 
for  two  years.  He  was  chosen  Mayor  pro  tern  of  the  city  of  Chicago  in  No- 
vember, 1893,  and  was  elected  Mayor  in  December,  1893,  but  was  counted  out. 
In  the  month  of  April,  1895,  he  was  elected  Mayor  by  42,000  majority.  Mr. 
Swift  was  one  of  the  ablest  and  most  popular  Mayors  the.  city  has  perhaps 
ever  had,  and  instituted  many  reforms  while  in  office.  He  is  always  well  poised, 
is  a  man  of  keen  discrimination  and  stands  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  pulbic. 

He  has  shown  his  appreciation  of  secret  organizations  by  becoming  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  Hesperia  Blue  Lodge,  Washington  Chapter  and 
Chicago  Commandery,  all  of  Chicago.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Royal  Arcanum  and  Royal  League.  He  is  a  Methodist  in  his  religious 
views.  On  the  I2th  of  November,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  L. 
Brown,  of  Chicago,  whose  parents  were  natives  of  New  England.  They  have 
seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 


ANDREW  JACKSON   KUYKENDALL. 

Major  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall  was  born  March  3,  1815,  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, Johnson  County,  Illinois.  His  grandfather  with  two  brothers  were 
poineer  settlers  in  the  British  Colony  of  North  Carolina.  When  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  broke  out  he  served  in  the  Continental  Army,  in  the  great  struggle 
for  independence.  After  the  peace  of  1783,  Mr.  Kuykendall,  lured  by  the  glow- 
ing accounts  of  Daniel  Boone  and  other  hunters  and  pioneers  of  North  Caro- 
lina, who  had  visited  Kentucky,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  that  territory 
and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  he  raised  a  family  of  children ;  one  of  these,  Joseph 
Kuykendall,  removed  with  his  family  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois,  early  in  the  year 
1815,  where  his  son,  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall,  was  born  at  the  time  and  place 
above  mentioned,  being  the  youngest  of  three  brothers. 

Maj.  Kuykendall  was  born  in  Illinois  while  it  was  yet  a  territory.  When 
he  grew  to  be  of  school  age  the  opportunities  for  education  were  very  meager,, 
consequently,  like  Abraham  Lincoln,  his  school  experience  was  confined  to  a 
three  months'  term,  but  at  home  and  at  school  he  acquired  the  rudiments  of 
an  English  education.  In  early  life  he  took  great  interest  in  politics,  and  in 
l§£2^  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and  was  re-elected  several  times 
to  the  lower  house.  He  became  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate  in  opposition 
to  Hon.  John  Dougherty,  who  was  a  man  of  prominence,  a  lawyer  of  fine  abil- 
ity, and  an  orator  of  great  power.  Maj.  Kuykendall  met  Col.  Dougherty  in 
joint  debate  before  the  people,  and  was  elected  by  a  good  majority.  He  was 
re-elected  to  the  Senate,  and  gained  a  State  reputation  for  his  ability  and  wisdom 
as  a  legislator. 

302 


303 


Maj.  Kuykendall  was  a  Democrat  in  politics.  He  supported  Stephen  A. 
Douglas  for  the  Presidency  in  1860.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature in  the  spring  of  1861,  when  the  Civil  War  began,  and  President  Lincoln 
issued  a  call  for  75,000  volunteers.  Governor  Yates  by  proclamation  convened 
the  Illinois  Legislature  in  special  session  the  latter  part  of  April,  1861.  Before 
leaving  his  home  for  Springfield,  to  attend  that  special  session  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, Senator  Kuykendall  called  a  meeting  of  the  people  of  Johnson  County  at 
Vienna,  the  county  seat.  He  delivered  an  address  in  which  he  declared  himself 
in  favor  of  the  preservation  of  the  Union,  and  of  his  determination  when  he 
arrived  at  Springfield  to  vote  for  men  and  money  for  the  Union  cause.  This 
early  declaration  of  the  Senator  exerted  a  great  influence  with  his  people,  and 
during  the  whole  of  the  great  struggle  for  the  Union  his  conduct  was  strictly 
on  a  line  with  the  sentiments  he  first  expressed.  Upon  the  adjournment  of  the 
Illinois  Legislature  he  returned  to  his  home,  and  soon  entered  upon  the  work 
,of  assisting  to  raise  a  regiment  of  troops.  This  regiment  became  the  3ist  Illinois 
Volunteers,  with  John  A.  Logan  as  Colonel,  John  C.  While,  of  Williamson 
County,  as  Lieutenant-Colonel,  and  Andrew  J.  Kuykendall  as  Major.  After 
serving  some  time  as  Major  of  said  regiment,  he  resigned  his  commission  in 
1862. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  Maj.  Kuykendall  studied  law  during  the  early 
part  of  his  legislative  career,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  became  a  successful 
practitioner  of  his  profession,  but,  trained  to  farming  in  his  early  life,  he  never 
lost  his  taste  for  that  avocation,  and  was  a  successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

As  the  struggle  of  the  Civil  War  proceeded,  the  conflict  of  political  opinion 
in  Southern  Illinois  upon  the  issues  of  the  war  became  more  and  more  intense, 
so  in  1864  there  was  great  discontent  in  the  old  I3th  Congressional  District 
at  being  represented  in  Congress  by  a  man  who  was  not  in  hearty  sympathy 
with  the  prosecution  of  the  war.  A  political  convention  was  held  in  the  dis- 
trict, and  Maj.  Kuykendall  was  selected  as  a  candidate  to  represent  the  Union- 
Republican  war  sentiment  of  the  people.  Maj.  Kuykendall  made  a  spirited  and 
able  canvass  before  the  people  against  his  opponent,  Hon.  William  J.  Allen, 
and  was  elected  to  Congress  by  about  1,000  majority.  This  canvass  was  watched 
with  great  interest  throughout  the  country,  and  the  election  of  Maj.  Kuyken- 
dall was  regarded  as  a  great  political  revolution  in  "Lower  Egypt."  Maj.  Kuy- 
kendall served  in  the  39th  Congress  and  gave  earnest  support  to  all  necessary 
war  measures. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order  from  the  year  1850,  was  Master 
of  the  Vienna  Lodge  about  1856,  and  was  Junior  Grand  Warden  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Illinois  in  1862.  Maj.  Kuykendall  married  Cynthia  Simpson,  August 
16,  1836,  a  woman  of  excellent  sense  and  judgment,  of  great  kindness  of  heart 
and  of  continuing  popularity  with  her  neighbors ;  Mrs.  Kuykendall  has  always 
exerted  a  most  admirable  influence  upon  -her  family  and  friends.  As  time  rolled 
on  Maj.  Kuykendall  retained  the  respect  and  friendship  of  his  wide  circle  of 
acquaintances,  and  died,  universally  respected,  May  n,  1891. 


RALPH  PLUMB. 

Many  important  and  interesting  items  in  the  life  of  this  distinguished  citi- 
zen must  of  necessity  be  omitted  from  this  volume.  Having  lived  long  past 
the  alotted  span  of  life  and  been  very  active  in  public  affairs,  an  interesting 
volume  could  be  written  of  the  momentous  events  comprised  in  his  eventful 
eighty  years  and  over.  He  was  born  in  Busti,  Chautauqua  County,  New  York, 
March  29,  1816.  Four  years  later  his  parents  moved  to  Hartford,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  educated  and  lived  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  at 
which  time  necessity  forced  him  to  begin  life  on  his  own  account.  He  worked 
first  as  a  gardener  and  later  in  the  store  of  Richard  Hayes  &  Co.,  continuing 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  majority.  During  this  time  he  continued  his 
studies  with  more  or  less  assiduity.  He  entered  into  partnership  with  his  old 
employer  under  the  firm  name  of  Hayes  &  Plumb,  and  the  firm  soon  built  up 
an  extensive  and  profitable  business.  He  was  married  to  Marrilla  E.  Borden  on 

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October  15,  1838.  In  1866  Colonel  Plumb  was  selected  by  a  syndicate  of 
moneyed  men  to  go  to  Streator,  Illinois,  to  purchase  4,000  acres  of  valuable  coal 
land,  and  was  required  to  live  in  that  city,  which  was  then  nothing  but  the  prim- 
itive prairie.  He  founded  and  laid  out  what  is  now  the  city  and  gave  every 
street  in  the  original  plat  its  name.  The  property  of  the  syndicate  prospered 
greatly  under  his  care  and  became  very  valuable.  He  built  about  400  miles  of 
railroad  required  to  handle  the  coal  output  of  the  company,  and  in  many  other 
ways  contributed  immensely  toward  the  building  up  of  this  section  of  the  State. 
He  became  the  first  Mayor  of  Streator  and  held  the  office  two  terms  and  had 
no  opposition.  He  became  identified  with  the  growth  of  the  city  and  was 
prominent  in  every  movement  for  the  public  good.  He  built  at  his  own  ex- 
pense and  presented  to  the  city  one  of  the  best  high  school  buildings,  fully 
equipped  with  all  modern  conveniences,  at  a  cost  of  over  $40,000.  The  opera 
house  and  the  leading  hotel  bear  his  name.  He  may  be  called  with  propriety 
the  "Father  of  Streator." 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  he  was  appointed  assistant  quarter- 
master of  division  with  the  rank  of  captain  on  the  staff  of  General  Garfield,  and 
on  October  31,  1861,  was  breveted  lieutenant-colonel  of  volunteers  for  faithful 
and  meritorious  services  in  his  department.  He  participated  in  the  campaign 
of  Eastern  Kentucky,  operated  in  the  Big  Sandy  Valley,  participated  in  the 
capture  of  Paintville,  Ky.,  and  took  part  at  Middle  Creek  and  at  Prestonsburg. 
He  participated  at  Sounding  Gap,  Tenn.,  in  the  capture  of  Humphrey  Marshall 
and  the  expulsion  of  his  forces,  in  Buell's.  movement  on  Pittsburg  Landing,  in 
the  battle  of  Shiloh,  in  the  attack  on  Beauregard's  rear  guard,  in  the  siege  of 
Corinth,  in  duty  on  the  Charleston  Railroad  with  headquarters  at  Huntsville, 
in  the  movements  through  Northern  Alabama,  Tennessee,  and  Kentucky,  in  the 
pursuit  of  Bragg's  forces,  in  the  Tennessee  campaign  of  General  Rosecrans,  in 
the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  from  June,  1863,  to  November,  1865,  was  as- 
signed to  duty  as  post  quartermaster  at  Camp  Denison,  Ohio.  He  was  honor- 
ably mustered  out  November  n,  1865. 

His  political  life  has  been  equally  conspicuous.  At  the  age  of  seventeen 
years,  or  in  1833,  he  joined  the  Abolitionists  in  their  crusade  against  slavery. 
In  1839  he  attended  a  convention  of  the  American  Anti-Slavery  Society  at 
Cleveland,  Ohio,  on  which  occasion  a  resolution  was  passed  to  form  the  Liberty 
party  to  attack  slavery  politically.  The  following  year  he  polled  his  vote  for 
the  first  Abolition  candidate  for  the  Presidency,  James  G.  Birney,  and  four 
years  later  voted  for  the  same  candidate.  In  the  spring  of  1848  he  attended  the 
famous  convention  at  Columbus,  Ohio,  when  Salmon  P.  Chase  secured  the 
passage  of  a  resolution  declaring  for  "Free  speech,  free  territories,  and  free 
men."  This  declaration  was  the  foundation  upon  which  was  erected  the  Free 
Soil  party  of  1848  and  upon  which  was  nominated  for  the  Presidency  Martin 
Van  Buren  the  following  June.  He  supported  Hale  and  Julian  in  1852  and 
promptly  and  actively  took  part  in  the  Fremont  campaign  of  1856.  He  has  sup- 
ported every  Republican  candidate  since  that  date.  In  1854  he  was  a  Free 
Soil  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Ohio.  Near  the  close  of  Buchanan's  admin- 
istration he,  with  a  number  of  others,  was  indicted  for  assisting  a  fugitive  to 
escape,  and  for  84  days  was  imprisoned  in  the  jail  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  an  inci- 
dent that  greatly  aided  in  making  Northern  Ohio  the  noted  stronghold  of  Re- 
publicanism that  it  is  today.  Upon  his  removal  to  Illinois  he  became  very  useful 
to  the  Republican  party.  He  represented  the  8th  District  in  the  49th  and 
Congresses. 


THOMAS  JEFFERSON   HENDERSON. 

Thomas  J.  Henderson,  of  Princeton,  Bureau  County,  Illinois,  was  born 
November  29,  1824,  in  Brownsville,  Haywood  County,  Tenn.  His  father,  Wil- 
liam Hendricks  Henderson,  was  born  in  Garrard  County,  Ky.,  November  16, 
1793,  removed  to  Stewart  County,  Tenn.,  in  1816,  and  afterwards  to  Haywood 
County,  where,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  married  Sarah  Murphy  How- 
ard, November  6,  1823,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Mr.  Hen- 

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307 


derson  received  a  good  English  education,  was  well  instructed  in  arithmetic, 
mathematics,  and  surveying.  He  was  a  good  practical  surveyor,  and  surveyed 
and  platted  the  town  of  Brownsville,  where  his  son,  Thomas  J.,  was  born.  He 
was  the  first  Register  of  Deeds  of  Haywood  County.  •  He  represented  Hay- 
wood  and  other  counties  in  the  Senate  of  the  State  of  Tennessee,  receiving  the 
largest  vote  cast  for  any  candidate  in  the  county  of  Haywood,  where  he  lived. 
He  resigned  his  seat  in  the  Senate,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and  settled  in 
Putnam  County,  on  Indian  Creek.  Mr.  Henderson  was  a  Whig,  and  became 
prominent  in  the  politics  of  Illinois.  He  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature, 
and  secured  the  passage  of  a  law  creating  the  county  of  Stark,  and  locating  the 
county  seat  at  Toulon.  He  represented  the  counties  of  Putnam,  Bureau,  Mar- 
shall and  Stark  in  the  Legislatures  in  1838  and  1840,  serving  with  Abraham 
Lincoln,  John  J.  Hardin,  Thomas  Drummond,  Lyman  Trumbull,  and  other  men 
who  afterwards  became  distinguished.  In  1842  he  was  the  Whig  candidate  for 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  Illinois,  on  the  ticket  with  Joseph  Duncan.  Mr.  Hen- 
derson was  a  man  of  ability,  a  forcible  public  speaker,  and  of  great  popularity. 
His  ancestors,  who,  it  is  believed,  came  from  Scotland,  settled  in  Hanover 
County,  Virginia,  at  an  early  date- 
Mrs.  Henderson  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  Sept.  15,  1804;  her  ancestors 
emigrated  from  England.  She  received  the  rudiments  of  an  English  educa- 
tion, was  intelligent,  well  informed,  highly  respected,  and  exerted  a  good  in- 
fluence upon  her  family  and  neighborhood.  Mr.  Henderson  died  January  27, 
1864,  and  Mrs.  Henderson  died  January  7,  1879. 

Thomas  J.  Henderson,  at  the  age  of  five  or  six,  was  taught  to  spell  and 
read ;  he  was  placed  at  the  Male  Academy,  Brownsville,  Tenn.,  and  was  taught 
grammar,  arithmetic,  geography,  and  other  studies,  including  Latin.  He  had 
mastered  the  Latin  grammar  when  twelve  years  of  age.  After  coming  to 
Illinois  he  attended  private  schools  for  three  terms,  and  he  taught  school  three 
or  four  terms,  continuing  his  own  studies.  His  father  removed  to  Iowa  in 
1845,  and  ne  entered  the  Iowa  University,  where  he  remained  one  term,  de- 
livering the  valedictory  address  at  the  commencement  exercises.  Young  Hen- 
derson became  a  constant  reader  of  history,  literature,  politics,  and  general  news 
of  the  clay,  at  his  father's  house.  In  1846  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  at 
his  old  home.  He  took  employment  in  a  brick  yard  during  the  spring,  clerked 
for  merchants  during  the  summer,  and  taught  school  at  Toulon.  In  1847  he 
was  elected  Clerk  of  the  County  Commissioners'  Court,  was  later  elected  Clerk 
of  the  County  Court,  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery,  in  1849,  and  Deputy 
Circuit  Clerk  in  1850.  For  several  years  he, had  devoted  his  spare  time  to 
the  study  of  law;  in  1852  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  1853  he  opened  a  law 
office  in  Toulon.  In  1854  Mr.  Henderson  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legisla- 
ture as  an  Anti-Nebraska  Whig,  from  the  counties  of  Peoria  and  Stark ;  was 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Counties,  and  a  member  of  the  Committee  on 
Judiciary. 

He  voted  nine  times  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  United  States  Senate, 
and  on  the  tenth  ballot,  upon  the  urgent  request  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  voted  for 
Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull,  who  was  elected.  Mr.  Henderson  has  a  number  of 
interesting  letters  written  by  Mr.  Lincoln  upon  the  subject  of  his  candidacy  for 
the  Senate.  In  1856  Mr.  Henderson  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  voted 
for  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  United  States  Senate  against  Stephen  A.  Douglas 
in  1859.  In  1861  Governor  Yates  tendered  Mr.  Henderson  a  position  on  the 
Commission  for  Auditing  Military  Accounts.  He  qualified,  but  found  the  duties 
required  too  much  of  his  time  and  resigned. 

In  1862  a  number  of  companies  of  volunteers  were  raised  in  the  counties  of 
Henry  and  Stark,  one  of  them  by  Mr.  Henderson;  the  men  elected  him  to  be 
Colonel  of  the  regiment.  He  was  much  surprised  by  this  action,  and 
was  reluctant  to  assume  the  responsibility  of  commanding  a  regiment, 
as  he  had  had  no  previous  military  experience,  but  he  accepted 
the  situation,  was  commissioned  Colonel  of  the  H2th  Illinois  Volunteers 
by  Governor  Yates,  and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  at  Peoria, 
September  22,  1862.  Col.  Henderson  v/as  ordered  to  Kentucky.  The  regi- 
ment reached  Covington,  Ky.,  October  n,  was  equipped  at  Cincinnati,  and 

308 


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assigned  to  a  brigade;  and  on  the  i8th  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  Falmouth. 
While  on  the  march  Col.  Henderson  was  detached,  and  assigned  to  guard  a 
large  supply  train  to  Big  Eagle,  where  General  Gilmore  was  encamped.  He 
conducted  the  train  in  safety,  following  General  Gilmore's  army  to  Georgetown, 
Ky.,  marching  with  the  army  thence  to  Lexington,  where' he  remained  until  the 
spring  of  1863. 

General  Henderson's  military  career  was  active  and  important ;  his  enter- 
prise, skill  and  courage  soon  attracted  attention.  In  the  spring  of  1863  his  regi- 
ment was  mounted,  and  was  kept  constantly  on  the  move.  A  detachment  un- 
der Maj.  Dow  accompanied  Gen.  Sanders  in  his  raid  through  the  mountains  of 
Kentucky  to  Knoxville.  The  entire  regiment  followed  under  Gen.  Burnside  in 
August,  1863.  He  was  at  Kingston?  Athens,  Post  Oak  Springs,  Knoxville, 
Strawberry  Plains,  and  many  other  places,  commanding  sometimes  a  brigade  of 
cavalry  and  mounted  infantry.  In  February,  1864,  his  regiment  returning  to 
Kentucky,  was  dismounted  and  again  equipped  as  infantry.  Col.  Henderson  com- 
manded for  a  time  the  post  at  Mt.  Sterling.  In  April  returned  to  Knoxville, 
thence  by  railroad  to  Cleveland,  from  there  moved  with  a  large  ammunition  and 
ambulance  train  to  join  Sherman's  army  at  Tunnel  Hill.  Passed  Catoosa 
Springs,  May  10,  and  heard  the  opening  guns  of  the  Atlanta  campaign  at  Buz- 
zard Roost;  having  turned  over  the  train,  on  May  n,  was  assigned  to  the  ist 
Brigade,  3d  Division,  23d  Army  Corps,  commanded  by  Col.  Riley.  Three  days 
later,  at  the  Battle  of  Resaca,  Col.  Henderson  received  a  gunshot  wound  through 
the  right  thigh;  he  was  severely  disabled,  but  returned  to  his  command  July 
28.  Soon  after  his  return  Generals  Schofield  and  Cox  organized  a  brigade  for 
Col.  Henderson.  Comman'd  composed  of  the  H2th  Illinois,  63d  Indiana,  i2Oth 
Indiana,  i28th  Indiana,  and  the  5th  Tennessee  Infantry.  Gen.  Henderson  com- 
manded these  troops  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Gen.  Henderson  participated  in  all  of  the  important  movements  of  the  23d 
Army  Corps,  the  campaign  of  Atlanta,  and  pursuit  of  Gen.  Hood  northward. 
When  Sherman  divided  his  army,  the  23d  Army  Corps  remained  with  Gen. 
Thomas.  Henderson's  brigade  fought  at  Columbia,  at  Franklin,  and  at  Nash- 
ville ;  after  the  rout  of  Hood's  army,  Henderson's  brigade  went  with  the  Army 
Corps  to  North  Carolina,  was  with  Gen.  Schofield  in  the  campaign  against  Fort 
Anderson,  Wilmington,  Kingston,  and  Goldsboro,  where  he  joined  Gen.  Sher- 
man's army.  Was  at  Raleigh,  and  was  finally  mustered  out  at  Greensboro, 
North  Carolina,  June  21,  1865. 

Col.  Henderson  was  "breveted  Brigadier-General  for  gallant  and  meritori- 
ous services  during  the  campaigns  in  Georgia  and  Tennessee,  and  especially 
in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  Tennessee,  November  30,  1864."  This  deserved  recog- 
nition was  recommended  by  Gen.  Schofield  in  writing,  and  by  Generals  Schofield 
and  Cox  in  person. 

Gen.  Henderson  was  Presidential  Elector  in  1868  and  voted  for  Grant  and 
Wilson  for  President  and  Vice-President.  In  1871  was  appointed  Collector  of 
Internal  Revenue  of  the  5th  Illinois  District ;  held  the  office  two  years,  collecting 
nine  million  dollars.  In  1874  he  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Bureau 
County  District,  and  was  re-elected  nine  successive  times,  serving  twenty  years 
in  Congress.  His  acquaintances  and  friendships  included  the  most  distin- 
guished men  of  the  United  States,  regardless  of  politics.  He  served  on  many 
important  committees,  Banking  and  Currency,  Commerce,  River  and  Harbors, 
of  which  he  was  Chairman  in  the  5ist  Congress,  and  was  Chairman  of  Military 
Affairs.  Gen.  Henderson  was  an  influential  and  safe  legislator.  He  opposed  all 
measures  intended  to  restore  the  old  State  banking  system.  He  supported  bills 
for  improving  the  public  credit,  reducing  taxation,  and  maintaining  the  pro- 
tective system.  He  advocated  the  building  of  the  Hennepin  Canal.  Probably 
his  most  important  legislative  work  was  for  improving  the  rivers,  harbors  and 
water  ways  of  the  country.  Very  few  men  have  served  the  Nation  so  long,  so 
faithfully,  and  with  so  much  intelligence  and  success. 

Gen.  Henderson  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  is  a  Templar,  and  has 
taken  the  Scottish  Rite  degrees  except  the  33d.  He  is  not  a  member  of  any 
church  organization ;  his  mother  was  a  Methodist  and  led  her  son  to  believe  in 
the  Christian  religion  as  the  best  hope  of  mankind. 

310 


Thomas  J.  Henderson  was  married  March  29,  1849,  at  Wyoming,  Illinois, 
to  Henrietta  Butler,  daughter  of  Capt.  -Henry  and  Rebecca  G.  Butler,  natives  of 
New  Haven,  Connecticut.  Gen.  and  Mrs.  Henderson  have  four  children — Ger- 
trude, wife  of  Charles  J.  Dunbar;  Sarah  Ella,  wife  of  Chester  M.  Durley ;  Mary, 
wife  of  John  Farnsworth,  and  a  son,  Thomas  B.  Henderson. 

Gen.  Henderson  assisted  actively  in  the  organization  of  the  Republican 
party  in  Illinois.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Bloomington  Convention  in  1856; 
aided  in  the  nomination  of  Col.  Bissell  for  Governor,  and  has  taken  an  active 
part  as  a  Republican  in  the  politics  of  Illinois  during  the  past  forty-four  years. 


JAMES  S.   MARTIN. 

General  James  S..  Martin,  of  Salem,  Marion  County,  Illinois,  was  born 
August  19,  1826,  in  Estillville,  now  Gate  City,  Scott  County,  Virginia.  His 
father,  John  S.  Martin,  was  an  early  settler  in  Virginia ;  he  was  a  man  of  good 
education,  great  probity  of  character,  and  the  fact  that  he  served  as  County 
Clerk,  Circuit  Clerk,  and  Master  in  Chancery  for  about  twenty  years,  is  con- 
clusive proof  of  his  ability  and  popularity.  He  married  Malinda  Morrison,  who 
was  born  and  raised  in  Sullivan  County,  Tennessee.  She  was  the  mother  of 
General  Martin.  Mrs.  Martin  was  a  woman  of  strong  mind  and  possessed  a 
lovely  character,  and  noted  for  her  charities.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  were  slave 
holders,  the  wife  possessing  a  number  of  slaves  in  her  own  right.  Mrs.  Mar- 
tin died  in  1828,  but  before  her  death  she  emancipated  her  slaves,  and  their 
interests  were  afterwards  looked  after  by  her  husband.  Mr.  Martin  shared 
the  opinions  of  his  wife  in  regard  to  the  subject  of  slavery;  he  also  emancipated 
his  slaves,  and  in  the  fall  of  1844  removed  from  Virginia  to  Illinois  and  settled 
on  a  farm,  seven  miles  north  of  Salem ;  here  his  son  James  resided  with  him 
for  three  years. 

General  Martin  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  in  his  native 
town  in  Virginia,  and  at  Emery  and  Henry  College,  Washington  County,  Vir- 
ginia. In  the  spring  of  1847  General  Martin  enlisted  in  Company  C,  ist  Regi- 
ment, Illinois  Volunteers,  for  service  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  was  elected  third 
sergeant  of  his  company.  The  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  at  Alton, 
Illinois,  was  transported  to  Ft.  Leavenworth,  and  marched  across  the  plains  to 
Santa  Fe.  The  regiment  remained  at  that  post  until  the  war  ended  and  peace 
was  declared,  when  they  returned  home  and  were  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Alton. 

On  the  return  trip  from  Santa  Fe  the  company  to  which  General  Martin 
belonged  held  a  meeting  and  nominated  him  for  County  Clerk  of  Marion  Coun- 
ty, Illinois.  Upon  reaching  home  the  people  of  the  county  ratified  this  nomi- 
nation, and  he  was  duly  elected  at  the  polls.  He  held  this  office  for  twelve 
years,  and  was  also  appointed  to  the  office  of  Master  in  Chancery,  which  he 
held  for  two  terms.  While  holding  these  offices  he  studied  law,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  July  4,  1861,  and  formed  a  law  partnership  with  B.  F.  Marshall 
and  D.  C.  Jones,  and  opened  an  office  in  Salem. 

The  country  was  then  in  the  midst  of  the  great  Civil  War.  In  the  summer 
of  1862  James  S.  Martin  decided  that  it.  was  his  duty  to  participate  in  the  great 
struggle  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  He  received  the  authority  from 
Governor  Yates  to  raise  a  regiment.  Seven  companies  were  enlisted  in  Marion 
County,  one  company  in  Clinton  County,  one  company  in  Washington  County, 
and  one  company  in  Clay  County.  He  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  regiment, 
which  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  as  the  I  nth  Illinois 
Volunteers,  September  18,  1862,  with  930  officers  and  men.  The  regiment  was 
ordered  from  Salem  to  Cairo,  thence  they  were  ordered  to  report  to  General 
Davies  at  Columbus,  Kentucky. 

On  February  2,  1863,  Colonel  Martin  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
post  of  Columbus,  by  order  of  Brigadier-General  Asboth.  He  held  this  com- 
mand, which  included  the  command  of  the  forces  at  Columbus,  until  April  18, 
1863,  when  by  order  of  Gen.  Asboth  he  was  assigned  with  his  regiment  to  the 
command  of  the  post  at  Paducah,  Ky.,  relieving  Col.  Dougherty,  of  the  22d  Illi- 

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nois  Infantry,  then  in  command.  He  remained  at  Paducah  until  Oct.  31,  1863, 
when  he  was  ordered  by  Gen.  Sherman  to  proceed  to  Florence,  Ala. ;  embarked  on 
transports  for  Eastport,  Miss.,  disembarked  and  took  up  line  of  march  for  Flor- 
ence, was  ordered  by  Gen.  G.  M.  Dodge,  commanding  i6th  Corps,  to  join  his 
command,  and  was  temporarily  assigned  to  2cl  Brigade,  2d  Division ;  went  into 
winter  quarters  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.  On  March  16,  1864,  he  was  ordered  to  report 
with  his  regiment  to  General  Logan,  commanding  the  I5th  Army  Corps,  at 
Huntsvillc,  Ala.  General  Martin  served  with  the  I5th  Army  Corps  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  participated  in  its  great  marches  and  battles ;  marched 
with  Sherman  from  Atlanta  to  the  Sea.  He  fought  with  his  regiment  in  the 
battles  of  Resaca,  Dallas,  Kenesaw,  Atlanta,  Jonesborough,  Fort  McCallister, 
and  Bentonville.  He  commanded  a  brigade  at  the  assault  on  Ft.  McCallister, 
and  received  the  surrender  of  the  commander  of  the  fort.  He  was  breveted 
Brigadier  General  May  8,  1865,  to  take  rank  February  25,  1865;  participated 
in  the  grand  review  at  Washington  City,  and  on  May  30,  1865,  was  assigned  to 
the  command  of  a  provisional  division  of  the  I5th  Army  Corps,  consisting  of 
veterans  to  be  mustered  out,  and  was  discharged  at  Springfield,  Illinios,  June 
27,  1865.  President  Johnson  appointed  General  Martin  First  Lieutenant  of 
the  24th  U.  S.  Infantry  to  take  rank  July  24,  1866.  This  appointment  was  de- 
clined. 

On  his  return  home  General  Martin  did  not  resume  the  practice  of  law, 
but  entered  upon  the  business  of  banking.  Prior  to  the  war  General  Martin 
was  a  Democrat  in  politics,  and  had  supported  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  the 
Presidency  in  1860.  On  his  return  home  he  found  himself  unable  to  affiliate 
with  the  Democratic  organization  which  had  opposed  the  war  for  the  Union. 
He  joined  the  Republican  party,  as  did  hosts  of  his  neighbors  and  comrades, 
and  in  1866  he  was  nominated  and  elected  to  the  office  of  County  Judge  of 
Marion  County,  overcoming  a  Democratic  majority  of  600.  In  1868  he  was 
nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  Congress  against  Hon.  Samuel  S. 
Marshall.  The  district  was  Democratic,  arid  Mr.  Marshall  was  elected.  Presi- 
dent Grant  appointed  General  Martin  Pension  Agent  for  the  district  embracing 
Southern  Illinois,  in  1869.  In  1872  he  was  nominated  for  Congress  and  was 
elected  over  Hon.  Silas  L.  Bryan,  father  of  Hon.  William  J.  Bryan,  later  can- 
didate for  President.  In  1874  the  district  went  Democratic  and  he  was  defeated 
for  Congress  by  Hon.  W.  A.  J.  Sparks.  Governor  Cullom  appointed  General 
Martin  Commissioner  of  the  Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary  September  4,  1879; 
he  served  in  this  position  four  years.  It  will  be  seen  that  General  Martin  has 
occupied  a  number  of  important  positions ;  he  performed  the  duties  of  all  of 
them  with  distinguished  ability.  In  addition  to  these  public  official  positions 
General  Martin  has  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  connection  with  the  politics 
of  the  State.  He  has  attended  all  the  Republican  State  Conventions  of  the  State 
of  Illinois,  and  in  most  of  the  conventions  represented  his  county  as  a  dele- 
gate. He  served  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  for 
about  twenty  years,  and  was  Chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee  during 
the  canvass  which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Governor  Fifer.  He  was  a  dele- 
gate to  the  National  Republican  Convention  in  1876,  and  voted  for  the  nomina- 
tion of  James  G.  Blaine  for  President. 

Gen.  Martin  was  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  from  its  or- 
ganization and  was  elected  Department  Commander  of  the  Department  of  Illi- 
nois at  the  State  encampment  held  at  Springfield  in  1889,  served  the  full  term 
of  the  office,  and  relieved  by  the  election  of  his  successor  at  the  State  encamp- 
ment held  at  Quincy,  in  1890. 

Gen.  Martin  was  married  in  1852  to  Jane  Elston,  of  Salem,  111.  To  them 
four  children  were  born,  three  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mrs.  Martin  died  in 
1889.  He  was  again  married  in  1893  to  Margaret  Savage,  of  Ashland,  Ky. 
One  child  has  been  born  to  them.  His  children  reside  at  and  near  his  home  in 
Salem,  111. 

General  Martin  has  a  warm  social  side,  and  makes  friends  wherever  he  goes. 
In  September,  1882,  he  and  others  organized  the  Southern  Illinois  Soldiers' 
and  Sailors'  Reunion  Association,  and  he  was  elected  commander,  and  has  been 
successively  elected  commander  ever  since.  This  association  holds  annual  re- 

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313 


unions  lasting  several  days,  where  are  assembled  thousands  of  old  soldiers  and 
their  families.  It  is  now  the  largest  association  of  the  kind  in  the  West,  and 
General  Martin  is  the  life  and  soul  of  the  institution. 


JOHN  CORSON   SMITH. 

This  self-made  man  and  eminent  soldier  and  public  official,  now  residing 
in  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  February  13,  1832.  His  early  ed- 
ucation was  extremely  limited,  as  he  was  compelled  to  work  in  a  cotton  factory 
from  his  earliest  childhood.  His  ancestors  were  distinguished  soldiers  and  sail- 
ors in  the  British  service  under  Wellington  and  Nelson.  At  the  age  of  sixteen 
he  was  apprenticed  to  a  carpenter  and  builder  in  Philadelphia,  and  upon  at- 
taining his  majority  worked  at  C'ape  May,  Keyport,  N.  Y.,  and  New  York 
City.  In  1854  he  came  to  Chicago  and  began  working  at  his  trade  as  carpenter 
and  builder.  The  cholera  which  visited  Chicago  in  1854  drove  him  to  Galena, 
where  he  remained  for  twenty  years,  returning  to  Chicago  in  1874,  to  take 
charge  of  the  business  of  the  Penn  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company.  While  re- 
siding at  Galena  he  constructed  many  of  the  substantial  buildings  and  private 
residences  of  that  city.  In  1860  he  was  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Custom 
House  and  Post  Office  at  Dubuque,  Iowa.  In  1862  he  abandoned  several  large 
and  important  contracts  which  had  kept  him  busy  for  many  years,  and  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  the  Seventy-fourth  Illinois  Regiment.  He  was  afterward  com- 
missioned to  raise  a  company,  which  he  did,  and  was  elected  captain  thereof,  and 
his  company  became  I,  of  the  Ninety-sixth  Regiment,  Illinois  Infantry  Volun- 
teers. Upon  the  organization  of  the  regiment  he  was  elected  Major.  His  first  ser- 
vice was  in  the  defense  of  Cincinnati,  but  in  January,  1863,  his  regiment  was  or- 
dered to  the  relief  of  Rosecrans,  participating  in  the  second  battle  of  Fort  Don- 
aldson, and  later  was  engaged  with  Van  Dorn  at  Springhill,  Triune  and  Franklin. 
He  served  on  the  staff  of  Generals  Absalom  Beard  and  James  B.  Steedman, 
fought  at  Liberty  Gap,  Chickamauga,  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge, 
and  was  complimented  by  Generals  Steedman,  Granger  and  Rosecrans  for  gal- 
lantry at  Chickamauga,  and  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  recogni- 
tion of  his  services  on  the  field.  After  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Colonel 
Smith  was  placed  in  command  of  his  own  regiment  and  the  Fortieth  Ohio  Regi- 
ment on  out-post  duty  at  Nickajack  Cove,  Ga.  He  participated  in  the  following 
movements  and  engagements :  Buzzard's  Roost,  Resaca,  Kingston,  Cassville, 
New  Hope  Church,  Dallas,  Pumpkin  Vine  Creek,  Pine  Mountain  and  Kenesaw 
Mountain.  While  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  repelling  a  night  attack  at  Kene- 
saw Mountain  he  was  severely  wounded.  Though  unfit  for  active  duty,  he  again 
took  the  field  in  October,  participating  in  the  fight  at  Nashville,  and  serving 
upon  several  court  martials  and  military  commissions,  and  later  returned  to  the 
command  of  his  regiment.  In  February,  1865,  he  was  breveted  Colonel  by 
President  Lincoln  for  gallantry  in  action  and  soon  thereafter  was  promoted  to 
the  full  rank  of  Colonel,  and  in  the  following  June  was  breveted  Brigadier  Gen- 
eral for  meritorious  service  during  the  war. 

Since  the  war  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  Republican  campaigns  of 
the  State.  He  first  served  as  Assistant  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue, 
then  as  special  assessor  for  banks,  legacies,  etc-,  one  of  the  Centennial  Com- 
missioners to  the  1876  Philadelphia  Exhibition,  Chief  Inspector  of  Grain  of 
the  City  of  Chicago,  and  State  Treasurer.  He  was  renominated  for  the  State 
Treasury  in  1882,  and  was  the  only  one  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket.  As 
a  matter  of  history,  it  should  be  stated  that  the  General's  popularity  among 
the  people  alone  saved  him  from  defeat.  It  was  during  his  first  term  as  State 
Treasurer  that  the  Treasury  was  robbed  of  $15,000,  which  he  made  good  from 
his  own  private  resources.  In  1872-6  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Conventions  from  the  Galena  district.  In  1884  he  was  elected  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor  by  a  largely  increased  majority,  and  upon  the  conclusion  of  his 
term,  retired  with  unusual  honors  to  the  quiet  of  private  life.  In  all  of  these 
responsible  positions  General  Smith  has  shown  great  integrity  and  great 
capacity. 

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He  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  Masons  in  the  United  States,  and  has 
performed  services  of  vast  importance  to  that  fraternity,  as  well  as  to  the  I.  O. 
O.  F.,  in  each  of  which  orders  he  has  been  a  member  for  more  than  forty  years. 
He  was  married  in  1856  to  Charlotte  A.  Gallagher,  of  Galena.  They  have  been 
blessed  with  five  children,  of  whom  three  sons  and  one  daughter  survive.  His 
father,  Robert  Smith,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years  enlisted  in  Company  A,  3d  Ken- 
tucky Infantry,  served  three  months,  three  years,  and  veteranized  in  the  reserve 
corps  to  the  close  of  the  war.  His  two  brothers,  both  younger  than  himself, 
died  in  battle.  One  at  Resaca  as  First  Lieutenant  of  Company  I,  Ninety-sixth 
Regiment,  and  the  other  at  Duck  River,  Tenn.,  as  a  private,  aged  eighteen 
years,  in  Company  B,  Seventh  Ohio  Cavalry. 


ROBERT  BOAL. 

Dr.  Robert  Boal,  of  Lacon,  Marshall  county,  111.,  was  born  November  15, 
1806.  His  father,  Thomas  Boal,  married  Elizabeth  Creain,  who  was  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Both  parents  died  when  Robert  was  quite  young; 
they  were  of  Scotch  descent,  having  emigrated  to  this  country  at  an  early  date. 
Dr.  Boal  in  his  youth  came  West.  He  was  educated  in  the  Cincinnati  Literary 
College,  and  graduated  from  the  Ohio  .Medical  College  in  1828.  He  was  fond 
of  books,  and  took  up  the  study  of  medicine  with  enthusiasm.  He  practiced 
medicine  for  some  time  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati.  In  1834  he  made  a  tour  of 
central  Illinois  with  a  view  of  settling  in  the  State.  Two  years  later  he  removed 
with  his  family  from  Cincinnati  to  the  town  of  Columbia,  now  Lacon.  He 
resided  at  that  place  and  practiced  his  profession  for  nearly  thirty  years,  when 
he  removed  to  Peoria  in  1865.  He  was  induced  to  make  this  change  from  the 
fact  that  during  the  Civil  War  he  was  stationed  at  Peoria  in  connection  with 
the  military  service.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  the  city  of  Peoria  for 
twenty-seven  years,  when  he  retired,  and  removed  to  his  old  home  at  Lacon, 
where  he  now  resides. 

In  1862  Dr.  Boal  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  Board  of  Enrollment  for 
the  Fifth  Congressional  District  of  Illinois,  composed  of  Henry,  .Bureau,  Knox, 
Peoria,  Stark,  Marshall  and  Putnam  counties.  He  served  in  .this  capacity  till 
the  end  of  the  war  in  1865.  During  thjs  service  Dr.  Boal  examined  .about  5,000 
volunteers  and  drafted  men,  a  large  majority  of  whom  were  mustered  into  the 
United  States  service,  and  fought  for  the  preservation  of  the  Union.  Dr.  Boal 
was  one  of  the  incorporators  for  the  establishment  of  the  Cottage  Hospital  of 
Peoria,  and  for  some  time  was  a  director  in  that  institution.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  American  Medical  Association,  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  Peoria 
City  Medical  Society,  and  honorary  member  of  the  North  Central  Medical 
Association.  Dr.  Boal  was  trained  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  At  the  age 
of  thirty-five  he  changed  his  church  relations  and  became  a  member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  he  has  remained  to  the  present  time. 
It  will  be  seen  that  Dr.  Boal  has  been  an  earnest  and  active  worker  in  his 
profession,  but  he  did  not  confine  his  activities  to  the  practice  of  medicine.  He 
always  took  a  profound  interest  in  the  politics  of  his  country.  In  1844  he  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  and  took  an  active  part  in  securing  the  passage  of 
a  law  for  completing  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal,  and  also  the  law  for  the 
creation  of  the  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Jacksonville,  111. 

In  1854,  when  the  anti-Nebraska  sentiment  swept  over  Illinois,  Dr.  Boal 
became  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives  upon 
that  issue,  and  was  elected.  The  session  of  that  Legislature  in  1855  was  made 
memorable  by  the  candidacy  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  the  United  States  Senate. 
Dr.  Boal  voted  for  Mr.  Lincoln  as  long  as  there  was  any  hope  of  his  election, 
and  then,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  cast  his  vote  for  Hon.  Lyman  Trumbull, 
who  was  elected.  In  1856  Dr.  Boal  was  re-elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  joint  committee  of  the  two  houses  appointed  in  1855  to  investi- 
gate the  conditions  of  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane  and  the  Blind  and  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Institutions  at  Jacksonville.  A  most  careful  and  intelligent  investigation 
was  made  of  these  institutions  and  of  the  manner  in  which  they  had  been  con- 

316 


317 


ducted.  It  was  found  that  considerable  ill  feeling  and  controversy  existed 
between  the  trustees  of  these  institutions,  most  of  whom  were  citizens  of  Jack- 
sonville. The  report  of  the  committee  was  approved  by  the  Legislature,  and  a 
law  was  passed  for  the  better  government  of  those  institutions,  an  important 
feature  being  that  the  trustees  should  be  appointed  from  different  counties  in 
the  State.  In  1857  Dr.  Boal  was  appointed  by  Governor  Bissell,  trustee  of  the 
Deaf  and  Dumb  Institution;  he  held  this  position  for  seventeen  years.  The 
last  five  years  he  was  president  .of  the  Board.  He  was  successively  reappointed 
by  Governors  Yates,  Palmer,  Oglesby  and  Beveridge.  The  Doctor  performed 
the  duties  of  this  position  with  marked  ability. 

Dr.  Boal  was  a  delegate  from  Marshall  county,  in  1856,  to  the  Bloomington 
Convention,  which  organized  the  Republican  party  of  Illinois  and  nominated 
William  H.  Bissell  as  a  candidate  for  Governor.  In  1860  he  was  an  alternate 
delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  at  Chicago,  which  nominated 
Abraham  Lincoln  for  President.  The  Doctor  has  been  an  earnest  supporter  of 
the  Republican  cause  since  the  organization  of  the  party. 

Dr.  Robert  Boal  was  married  at  Reading,  Ohio,  May  12,  1831,  to  Christiana 
Walker  Sinclair;  she  was  of  Scotch  descent,  of  excellent  family,  and  a  woman 
of  education,  intelligence  and  refinement.  Their  family  consisted  of  two  sons 
and  a  daughter.  The  eldest,  Charles  T.  Boal,  has  been  for  many  years  and  is 
now  a  citizen  of  Chicago.  The  younger  son,  James  Sinclair  Boal,  died  in 
Chicago  after  serving  ten  years  as  Assistant  United  States  District  Attorney 
under  District  Attornies  Bangs,  Leak  and  Ewing.  His  only  daughter,  Mrs. 
Clara  B.  Fort,  widow  of  Colonel  and  Brevet  Brigadier-General  Greenbury  L. 
Fort,  resides  at  Lacon,  111.,  and  is  the  mother  of  Captain  Robert  B.  Fort,  of  the 
Spanish  War,  who  is  now  State  Senator  from  the  Marshall  County  District. 


THOMAS  BERRY  NEEDLES. 

Thomas  B.  Needles  of  Nashville,  111.,  is  one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of 
the  State.  He  was  born  April  25,  1835,  near  Waterloo,  Monroe  county.  His 
father,  James  B.  Needles,  was  a  native  of  Delaware,  and  married  Lumima  Tal- 
bott  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Needles  was  Sheriff  of  Monroe  county  for  a  number  of 
years,  taught  school,  and  was  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business.  Resided 
for  a  time  at  Richview,  111.--"  In  1858  he  removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  but  returned 
to  Illinois  some  time  later,  and  settled  at  Richview,  Washington  county.  Mr. 
Needles  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  country,  and  by  private 
tutors  in  the  classics  and  higher  branches  of  mathematics,  remaining  continu- 
ously in  school  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age.  He  assisted  his  father  in 
the  mercantile  business,  and  thoroughly  qualified  himself  for  the  active  affairs 
of  life.  Mr.  Needles  married  Sarah  L.  Bliss,  December  18,  1860.  Mrs.  Needles 
belonged  to  an  Ohio  family  of  prominence,  her  mother  being  a  cousin  of  James 
A.  Garfield,  late  President  of  the  United  States. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Needles  removed  to  Nashville,  Washington  county, 
111.,  his  present  residence,  where  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business  on  his 
own  account.  He  has  continued  up  to  the  present  time  in  active  and  successful 
business  in  the  town  of  Nashville.  In  1861  Mr.  Needles  was  nominated  on  the 
Republican  ticket  in  Washington  county  for  the  office  of  County  Clerk,  and  was 
elected  by  a  majority  of  over  300  votes.  This  was  a  complete  revolution  in  the 
politics  of  the  county;  at  the  election  in  1860  the  Democrats  had  a  majority  of 
800.  Mr.  Needles  was  four  times  elected  to  the  office  of  County  Clerk,  holding 
that  position  as  a  Republican  for  sixteen  years.  In  1876  his  popularity  through- 
out the  State  was  such  that  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  State  Conven- 
tion for  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts,  was  elected  and  held  the  office  for  four 
years,  performing  its  duties  with  great  ability.  In  1880  Mr.  Needles  was  elected 
to  the  Illinois  State  Senate  from  his  (the  Forty-second  Senatorial)  District,  which 
had  been  Democratic,  but  he  overcame  the  majority,  serving  in  the  Senate  four 
years.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Senate  Committee  on  Revenues.  In  1884  Mr. 
Needles  was  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  old 
Eighteenth  District ;  his  Democratic  competitor  was  Hon.  William  R.  Morrison, 

318 


a  man  of  great  popularity.  After  an  active  campaign  the  District  went  Demo- 
cratic, and  although  Mr.  Needles  received  a  larger  vote  in  the  District  than 
the  Blaine  and  Logan  electors,  he  was  defeated  for  the  first  and  only  time  in  his 
life  before  the  people. 

In  1889  Mr.  Needles  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  United  States 
Marshal  for  the  Indian  Territory  and  Oklahoma,  he  being  the  first  United  States 
Marshal  appointed  for  that  territory.  He  served  during  President  Harrison's 
administation,  and  had  charge  of  the  opening  of  Oklahoma  Territory  for  settle- 
ment. In  1894  Mr.  Needles  was  nominated  and  elected  as  a  Republican  from 
the  Washington  County  District  to  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Thirty- 
ninth  General  Assembly  of  Illinois,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in 
1896.  During  his  service  in  the  Legislature  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Appropriations,  this  being  the  leading  committee  of  the  House.  In  1897 
Mr.  Needles  was  appointed  by  President  McKinley  a  member  of  the  Commission 
to  the  Five  Civilized  Tribes  of  Indians,  ex-Senator  Dawes  of  Massachusetts 
having  been  appointed  chairman  of  the  commission;  it  is  commonly  known  as 
the  "Dawes  Commission,"  its  duties  being  to  determine  the  citizenship  of  the 
Indians,  alot  their  lands  in  severalty  and  make  treaties  with  the  different  tribes, 
etc.,  which  position  M'r.  Needles  now  holds.  Mr.  Needles  has  taken  an  active 
part  during  the  last  thirty  years  in  the  politics  .of  the  state  ;  he  has  been  a 
delegate  to  almost  every  Republican  State  Convention,  and  has  several  times 
been  a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee.  He  has  been 
engaged  in  various  private  and  personal  enterprises,  and  prominently  connected 
with  all  public  enterprises  in  his  town  and  county.  He  was  the  first  president  of 
the  Centralia  &  Chester  Railroad  Company  ;  has  been  dn  the  banking  business 
for  many  years  at  Nashville,  and  is  now  president  of  the  Washington  County 
Bank.  Mr.  Needles  belongs  to  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was 
Grand  Master  in  1870,  Grand  Representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  United 
States  for  four  terms,  and  has  been  Grand  Treasurer  during  the  past  fifteen 
years.  He  belongs  tOJthe  Masonic  Fraternity  and  is  a  Knight  Templar. 

In  every  avenue  of  life  Mr.  Needles  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  man  of  ability 
and  enterprise  ;  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities,  making  friends  wherever  he  goes. 
He  is  five-  feet  five  inches  in  height,  weighs  about  one  hundred  and  seventy 
pounds,  and  enjoys  robust  health.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needles  have  two  children, 
the  eldest  Jessie,  the  wife  of  Frank  S.  Genung,  of  Evansville,  Ind.  ;  the  youngest 
Winnefred  Needles.  ,, 

It  is  proper  to  state^that  Mr.  Needles  supported  Stephen  A.  Douglas  in 
1860;  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  allied  himself  with  the  friends  of  Lin- 
coln's administration,  and  has  been  a  staunch  Republican  from  that  time  to  the 
present. 


ABNER  C.  HARDING. 

This  eminent  soldier  and  professional  man  was  a  native  of  Connecticut,  his 
birth  occurring  at  East  Hampton  on  the  loth  of  February,  1807,  but  at  the  age 
of  two  years  he  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  New  York  State,  and  was  educated 
in  the  schools  of  Herkimer  county,  where  he  chopped  cord  wood  for  his  first 
geography.  He  was  given  unusual  advantages  for  that  day,  and  after  complet- 
ing his  career  in  the  common  schools  he  entered  Hamilton  College  of  that  State 
and  after  four  years  of  hard  study  was  graduated  with  distinction.  In  early  life 
he  was  adventurous  and  managed  to  see  life  in  many  phases.  While  yet  a  boy 
he  served  as  an  operative  in  a  wool-carding  factory,  and  when  only  fifteen  years 
old  he  took  the  usual  examination  for  school  teaching  and  successfully  passed 
and  began  a  short  career  as  a  pedagogue.  Despite  his  age  he  managed  to 
control  the  large  boys  and  was  successful.  In  1821,  when  but  fourteen  years  of 
age,  he  enlisted  as  a  midshipman  in  the  United  States  Navy,  but  was  rejected 
upon  examination  because  his  stature  was  not  up  to  the  requirements  of  that 
branch  of  the  service.  He  continued  to  teach  for  several  years,  and  during  the 
vacations  engaged  in  various  other  pursuits  to  swell  his  income.  He  mounted 
one  of  the  old-time  stages  and  for  a  season  cracked  his  whip  along  one  of  the 

320 


7 


New  York  thoroughfares.  He  also  secured  a  stock  of  tinware  and  for  some 
lime  peddled  the  same  in  different  parts  of  his  county.  Having  made  up  his 
mind  to  study  and  practice  law,  he  devoted  himself  to  his  books,  beginning  in 
1826  and  continuing  with  some  interregnums  for  several  years.  He  continued 
the  study  after  his  removal  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1828,  under  the  direction  of  a 
Mr.  Ruger,  and  late  in  that  year  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  that  State.  He 
began  to  practice  law,  and  from  the  start  was  successful.  He  possessed  many 
of  the  qualities  absolutely  necessary  for  the  successful  practice  of  that  difficult 
profession.  Soon  his  power  at  the  bar  brought  him  fame  as  well  as  affluence. 
His  strength  as  a  public  speaker  and  his  splendid  social  qualities  brought  him 
prominently  before  his  fellow-citizens  for  political  preferment,  and  accordingly 
he  was  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Convention  called  to  frame  a  new  organic 
law  for  the  State  late  in  the  decade  of  the  thirties. 

In  June,  1838,  Mr.  Harding  came  west  to  Monmouth,  111.,  and  there  con- 
tinued his  practice.  He  took  active  and  prominent  part  in  the  campaigns  of 
the  Whig  party,  of  which  he  was  an  enthusiastic  member,  exerting  wide  influ- 
ence. Late  in  the  forties  he  became  interested  in  railroad  building  and  assisted 
in  building  that  part  of  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  road  between  Peoria  and  Burlington. 
In  1848  he  was  elected  as  a  delegate  to  the  Constitutional  Convention.  His 
prominence  in  politics  led  to  his  election  to  the  State  Legislature  in  1848-50,  of 
which  body  he  was  one  of  the  most  influential  members.  In  1851,  his  eyesight 
failing  him,  he  relinquished  the  practice  of  law  and  became  actively  engaged  in 
railroad  building,  constructing  what  was  then  known  as  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka 
railroad,  in  conjunction  with  Chauncey  Harding  and  Judge  Ivory  Quinby. 
Later  the  route  was  changed  and  the  road  was  built  from  Burlington  to  Knox- 
ville.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  Eighty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  upon  the 
organization  was  elected  Colonel.  He  served  with  unusual  distinction,  and  in 
March,  1863,  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers, 
continuing  to  serve  with  the  highest  honor  and  distinction.  In  1864  he  was 
brought  forward  by  the  Republicans  as  a  candidate  for  Congress,  was  easily 
elected  and  represented  his  district  in  the  Thirty-ninth  and  Fortieth  Congresses, 
and  was  placed  upon  several  of  the  most  important  committees.  His  work  as 
a  member  of  Congress  during  that  most  important  era  still  further  enhanced 
his  reputation  as  an  able  and  pure-minded  patriot  and  statesman.  He  secured 
in  his  own  name  the  charter  to  build  a  bridge  over  the  Mississippi  river  at  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  and  later  sold  the  same  to  the  C.,  B.  &  Q.  Railroad  Company. 

He  was  twice  married,  first  to  Mrs.  Rebecca  L.  Beyers,  who  bore  him  two 
children,  George  F.  and  Mary  R.  She  died  in  1833,  and  two  years  later  he 
married  Miss  Susan  Ickes,  daughter  of  Dr.  Jonas  Ickes,  a  man  of  much  promi- 
nence and  ability  in  the  Keystone  State,  whose  ancestors  came  to  the  State  with 
William  Penn.  In  May,  1871,  his  health  having  failed,  General  Harding  went  to 
Europe,  but  returned  in  August.  He  died  July  19,  1874,  leaving  an  estate 
valued  at  more  than  one  million  dollars. 


GREEN  BERRY  RAUM. 

Green  B.  Raum  was  born  December  3,  1829,  at  Golconda,  111.  His  father, 
John  Raum,  was  born  at  Hummelstown,  Pa.,  July  14,  1793;  was  well  educated, 
served  three  years  in  the  Sixteenth  United  States  Infantry  as  First  Lieutenant 
during  the  War  of  1812;  came  to  Illinois  in  1823,  lived  three  years  at  Shawnee- 
town,  removed  to  Golconda,  served  as  Major  in  Black  Hawk  War;  was  State 
Senator  in  1833;  in  1835  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court;  was  elected 
Clerk  of  County  Court ;  held  both  offices  many  years,  and  was  Clerk  of  County 
Court  when  he  died,  March  14,  1869.  The  original  orthography  of  the  name 
was  Rahm;  Conrad  Rahm,  the  grandfather  of  John  Raum,  emigrated  from 
Alsace,  landed  at  Philadelphia  April,  1742;  settled  at  Hummelstown;  married 
Miss  Wolfley,  reared  a  large  family ;  his  son  Melchoir  married  Mary  King ;  they 
"had  a  family  of  twelve  children,  John  being  the  second.  Melchoir  Raum  died 
in  1828  and  was  buried  at  Harrisburg;  was  a  man  of  popularity  and  influence; 
"he  was  an  elector  on  the  Jackson  ticket  for  President  at  the  time  of  his  death. 

321 


John  Raum  married  Juliet  C.  Field,  March  22,  1827,  at  Golconda.  She  was 
born  December  17,  1810,  in  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky;  her  father,  Green 
B.  Field,  a  native  of  Indiana,  served  in  the  War  of  1812  as  a  Lieutenant,  settled 
in  Illinois  in  1817,  laid  out  the  town  of  Golconda,  served  in  the  first  Legislature 
of  the  State  of  Illinois.  Green  B.  Field  married  Mary  E.  Cogswell,  daughter 
of  Dr.  Joseph  Cogswell,  born  in  Connecticut,  served  as  surgeon  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  married  Francis  Mitchell  of  Virginia  and  emigrated  to  Kentucky, 
where  he  raised  a  large  family.  John  and  Juliet  C.  Raum  had  several  children ; 
all  died  young  except  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  brother,  John  Melchoir 
Raum,  late  Major  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twentieth  Illinois  Volunteers. 

Green  B.  Raum  attended  the  common  schools.  He  was  taught  algebra  and 
Latin  by  a  tutor.  The  family  library  contained  standard  historical  and  literary 
works.  The  family  kept  pace  with  current  events  by  reading  the  National  Intel- 
ligencer, Globe,  Saturday  Evening  Post,  Godey's  Lady's  Book  and  Littell's 
Living  Age.  Green  B.  was  taught  to  work  on  the  farm  and  in  his  father's 
office.  He  was  in  a  store  for  a  time,  and  he  went  three  times  to  New  Orleans 
on  flatboats  with  produce.  When  he  came  of  age  he  began  to  study  law  with 
Hon.  Wesley  Sloan,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1853.  He  settled  at  Harris- 
burg  in  1857;  his  law  practice  grew,  it  extended  into  several  counties,  and 
became  equal  to  that  of  any  lawyer  in  southern  Illinois.  He  was  a  Democrat 
in  politics ;  was  secretary  of  the  convention  which  first  nominated  General  John 
A.  Logan  for  Congress,  and  was  Assistant  Clerk  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  Illinois  in  1859.  During  that  session  he  prepared  a  bill  to  "Reform  the 
Probate  System,"  which  became  a  law.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic 
State  Convention  of  1860,  and  an  alternate  to  the  Democratic  National  Conven- 
tion of  1860,  supporting  Senator  Douglas.  By  agreement  of  counsel  he  held 
the  Franklin  Circuit  Court  to  enable  Judge  Allen  to  attend  the  Democratic 
National  Convention  at  Charlestown,  S.  C. 

When  Fort  Sumpter  was  fired  upon  he  made,  at  Metropolis,  the  first  war 
speech  in  southern  Illinois  urging  the  people  to  stand  by  the  Union  and  support 
Abraham  Lincoln's  administration.  He  made  many  speeches  to  stimulate  vol- 
unteering. He  assisted  in  raising  the  Fifty-sixth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers, 
and  was  commissioned  Major.  He  was  promoted  Lieutenant-Colonel  and  Col- 
onel, August  31,  1862.  He  was  at  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  in  the  movements 
in  northern  Mississippi  in  1862  under  Rosecrans ;  was  at  the  battle  of  Corinth 
October  3d  and  4th ;  led  a  successful  bayonet  charge  which  broke  the  Confed- 
erate line  and  retook  a  battery;  was  in  the  winter  campaign  of  1862  under 
General  Grant ;  was  in  the  campaign  against  Vicksburg ;  went  down  Yazoo 
Pass ;  occupied  Grand  Gulf  and  established  the  base  of  supplies.  Was  in  the 
assault  on  Vicksburg,  May  22d ;  assigned  to  command  of  brigade  during  siege. 
After  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  went  with  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  under  Sherman 
to  Memphis  and  marched  to  relief  of  Chattanooga;  in  battle  of  Missionary 
Ridge  his  brigade  sustained  heavy  loss,  and  he  was  severely  wounded  in  left 
thigh.  In  the  fall  of  1863,  while  at  home  on  leave  of  absence,  he  addressed 
meetings  approving  emancipation  and  the  arming  of  negroes.  He  advised  all 
Union  men  to  stand  together  politically.  He  favored  re-election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  1864. 

Recovered  from  wound  sufficiently  to  rejoin  command  February  15,  1864. 
At  Huntsville,  the  Third  Division,  Fifteenth  Army  Corps,  to  which  his  brigade 
belonged,  was  assigned  to  the  defense  of  the  railroad  in  the  rear  of  Sherman's 
army;  his  headquarters  were  at  Resaca;  he  discovered  General  Wheeler's  cav- 
alry raid,  and  caused  a  concentration  of  troops  for  his  defeat.  Was  assigned 
to  command  the  Division  in  October,  1864,  headquarters  at  Cartersville.  When 
General  Hood  made  his  great  northern  movement  General  Raum  furnished  the 
transportation  and  caused  General' Corse  to  reinforce  Altoona  against  the  attack 
of  General  French.  He  reinforced  Resaca  at  night,  October  12,  and  held  it 
against  General  Hood's  army;  was  breveted  Brigadier-General  in  1864;  was 
on  the  March  to  the  Sea,  and  the  siege  and  capture  of  Savannah;  was  commis- 
sioned Brigadier-General  and  assigned  to  command  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
tinder  General  Hancock.  General  Raum  resigned  at  the  close  of  the  war  and 
resumed  the  practice  of  law  the  next  day  after  returning  home. 

322 


He  was  elected  to  Congress  as  a  Republican  in  the  Cairo  District  in  1866, 
after  an  exciting  contest  with  Hon.  W.  J.  Allen,  now  United  States  District 
Judge.  While  in  Congress  he  voted  for  the  Reconstruction  laws,  for  the  Fif- 
teenth Amendment  to  the  Constitution,  for  the  purchase  of  Alaska  and  for  the 
impeachment  of  President  Johnson.  He  projected  the  Cairo  &  Vincennes 
railroad  and  prepared  the  charter  which  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  in  1867. 
He  was  made  president  of  the  company,  secured  over  a  million  dollars  local 
subscription,  and  finally  secured  the  construction  of  the  road. 

In  18/6  he  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  Internal  Revenue  by  President 
Grant,  and  held  the  office  for  seven  years,  serving  under  Presidents  Hayes,  Gar- 
field  and  Arthur.  He  superintended  the  collection  of  $850,000,000  and  the 
disbursement  of  $35,000,000  without  the  loss  of  a  dollar  by  defalcation.  He 
then  opened  a  law  office  in  Washington  City,  and  had  a  large  clientage  for  six 
years.  He  was  appointed  Commissioner  of  Pensions  by  President  Harrison, 
and  held  that  office  for  three  and  a  half  years.  It  is  a  tradition  in  both  of  the 
Bureaus  that  General  Raum  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  every  detail  of 
administration  inside  and  outside  of  those  offices.  His  faculty  for  organization 
and  administration  were  highly  beneficial  to  both  Bureaus. 

General  Raum  is  a  Republican  in  politics ;  he  believes  in  the  principles  of 
the  party,  and  is  proud  of  its  achievements.  He  believes  in  political  organiza- 
tion. He  believes  that  the  Republican  party  can  and  will  give  better  laws  and 
better  administration  in  National,  State  and  Municipal  governments  than  its  old 
Democratic  antagonist.  General  Raum  has  been  a  delegate  to  eight  or  ten 
State  Conventions ;  was  president  of  the  Conventions  of  1866  and  1880,  and 
temporary  chairman  of  the  Convention  of  1876;  he  was  usually  on  the  Com- 
mittee on  Resolutions.  In  1874,  with  eight  other  members  of  the  committee, 
he  prevented  the  passage  of  a  greenback  platform,  holding  the  party  to  the 
doctrine  of  the  resumption  of  specie  payments.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Republican  National  Conventions  of  1876  and  1880,  supporting  Mr.  Elaine  in 
the  one  and  General  Grant  in  the  other.  General  Raum  has  taken  part  in  every 
Presidential  campaign  since  the  Civil  War;  he  has  made  political  speeches  in 
eleven  States ;  a  number  of  his  speeches  have  been  printed  for  circulation.  He 
has  written  numerous  articles  for  magazines,  and  is  the  author  of  "The  Existing 
Conflict  Between  Republican  Government  and  Southern  Oligarchy." 

On  October  16,  1861,  Green  B.  Raum  was  married  to  Maria  Field,  whose 
father,  Daniel  Field,  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Kentucky,  who  married 
Elizabeth  Dailey  of  Charleston,  Indiana.  Mr.  Field  was  an  early  settler  at 
Golconda,  where  he  raised  a  large  family  and  successfully  engaged  in  merchan- 
dising, farming  and  stock  raising.  General  and  Mrs.  Raum  have  a  family  of 
eight  children. 


RICHARD  YATES,  JR. 

Hon.  Richard  Yates  was  born  in  Jacksonville,  December  i2th,  1860.  His 
birth  coincides  very  closely  with  that  of  the  Republican  party;  Lincoln  having 
been  elected  as  the  first  Republican  president  in  November,  1860.  Though 
comparatively  young  in  years,  Mr.  Yates  is  old  in  experience.  The  days  of 
his  childhood  were  epoch-making  days,  and  he  not  only  lived  in  them,  but  was 
brought  into  daily  contact  with  the  men  who  were  most  active  and  powerful  in 
shaping  events.  His  father  was  Governor  of  Illinois  during  the  four  years  in 
which  "the  big  wars  that  make  ambition  virtue"  were  waged,  and  he  earned  and 
has  maintained,  and  as  long  as  history  is  written  and  read  will  maintain  a  place  in 
the  galaxy  of  "great  War  Governors."  In  1873,  the  year  of  his  father's  death, 
Richard  Yates  entered  Illinois  College,  now  the  University  of  Illinois,  and 
graduated  in  1880,  just  forty-five  years  later  than  his  father,  who  was  one  of  the 
graduates  of  this  famous  seat  of  learning.  In  1879  ne  represented  his  college 
in  the  oratorical  contest  at  Champaign,  in  which  the  picked  men  of  ten  colleges 
participated.  He  was  awarded  first  prize,  and  thereby  gained  the  additional 
honor  of  representing  all  Illinois  colleges  at  the  Inter-State  Oratorical  contest 
held  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  1880,  where  he  won  the  second  prize.  Mr.  Yates  then 


323 


entered  the  law  school  of  the  University  of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  graduated 
in  1884,  and  the  same  year  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Michigan 
and  Illinois.  He  was  admitted  to  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  in  1892  and 
the  Federal  Supreme  Court  in  1897.  His  practice,  in  the  main,  has  been  confined 
to  his  native  county,  though  he  is  favorably  known  to  the  lawyers  and  real  estate 
owners  of  Chicago  and  Cook  county. 

In  1888  Mr.  Yates  married  Ellen  Wadsworth,  also  a  native  of  Jacksonville. 
Mrs.  Yates  comes  of  thorough  American  stock ;  her  grandfather,  Gen.  John 
Wadsworth,  having  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  her  great-grandfather  in  the 
War  of  the  Revolution.  Mr.  Yates  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Modern  Woodmen.  He  served  five  years  in 
Company  I,  Fifth  Regiment.  I.  N.  G.  From  1881  to  1883,  he  was  city  editor  of 
the  Jacksonville  Journal,  and  gained  that  insight  into  human  motives  and  man- 
ners which  is  nowhere  so  fully  or  so  picturesquely  visible  as  in  a  newspaper 
office.  In  his  I3th  year  Mr.  Yates  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  Grace  Church,  Jacksonville.  He  has  also  been  engaged 
in  Y.  M.  C.  A.  work.  In  1885  Mr.  Yates  was  vice-president  of  the  Jacksonville 
branch  of  this  association,  while  William  Jennings  Bryan  was  president.  Mr. 
Bryan  graduated  from  the  Illinois  College  one  year  later  than  Mr.  Yates.  They 
were  fellow-students,  and  up  to  1890  fellow-practitioners  at  the  Jacksonville  bar. 

In  1881  Mr.  Yates  made  his  first  Memorial  Day  and  Fourth  of  July  ad- 
dresses. Since  then  he  has  spoken  on  all  these  occasions,  and  was  a  favorite 
speaker  at  a  great  many  reunions  of  the  G.  A.  R.  He  is  a  forcible  speaker  upon 
social,  legal,  and  political  topics.  In  each  of  the  nine  state  and  four  National 
campaigns  between  1881  and  1900,  Mr.  Yates  has  been  one  of  the  speakers 
selected  by  the  State  Central  Committee  of  Illinois,  and  in  1896  he  was  sent  by 
the  National  Committee  to  Iowa,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Nebraska,  Ohio  and  Ken- 
tucky. He  was  chairman  of  the  Jacksonville  City  Committee  in  1883;  the 
Blaine  &  Logan  Club  of  Morgan  County  in  1884;  the  Congressional  Committee 
in  1888;  the  County  Committee  in  1890,  and  the  Judicial  Committee  in  1891. 
In  each  of  these  campaigns  the  most  thorough  Republican  organization  was 
effected,  house-to-house  canvasses  being  vigorously  carried  on,  campaign  litera- 
ture and  circulars  being  systematically  resorted  to.  In  1894,  Mr.  Yates  was 
elected  County  Judge  of  Morgan  County,  by  a  majority  of  540.  His  prede- 
cessor, a  Democrat,  had  been  elected  by  a  majority  of  1,400.  Previous  to  this 
campaign,  Mr.  Yates  had  been  a  candidate  before  the  people  only  twice.  He 
was  City  Attorney  of  Jacksonville  from  1885  to  1891,  having  been  appointed  in 
1885  and  elected  in  1887  and  1889,  by  good  majorities.  In  1892  he  made  a  hard 
fight  for  the  Republican  nomination  for  Congressman-at-large,  and  obtained  the 
nomination.  In  the  Democratic  landslide  of  that  year,  however,  he  was  defeated, 
although  he  ran  ahead  of  President  Benjamin  Harrison  at  the  polls.  In  1897 
he  was  appointed  by  President  McKinley  United  States  Collector  of  Internal 
Revenue  for  the  Central  Illinois  District,  comprising  forty  counties.  His  a3: 
ministration  of  the  offices  of  City  Attorney,  County  Judge  and  collector  has 
been  satisfactory  to  his  constituents.  In  1886  and  again  in  1890  he  declined 
the  Republican  nomination  for  minority  representative  in  the  Legislature. 

Judge  Yates  is  young  in  years,  but  old  in  memory.  He  saw  and  felt  the 
agony  of  the  war.  He  heard  alike  its  paeans  of  victory  and  its  dirges  of  defeat. 
He  saw  the  triumphant  return  of  the  regiments  in  1865.  He  saw  Jefferson 
Davis  a  prisoner  at  Fortress  Monroe  in  1867.  His  childish  eyes  beheld  with 
adoring  wonder  the  matchless  glory  of  Lincoln  and  Grant.  In  his  youth  he 
observed  and  studied  and  revered  the  development  of  Logan  and  of  Garfield. 
In  his  maturity  he  was  a  co-worker  with  all  the  famous  Republican  leaders  of 
the  State  and  Nation.  He  has  had  a  part  in  all  that  has  happened  between 
Lincoln  and  McKinley.  He  has  the  seasoned  energy  of  a  veteran,  with  the 
impetuous  valor  of  a  recruit.  In  1900  Judge  Yates  was  nominated  by  the 
Republicans  as  their  candidate  for  Governor.  He  conducted  his  campaign  for 
the  nomination  in  so  manly  and  prudent  a  manner,  that  he  retained  the  sincere 
friendship  of  all  his  opponents  and  had  their  ardent  support  for  Governor. 


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CHARLES  ALLING. 

Charles  Ailing,  Alderman  of  the  Third  Ward,  Chicago,  was  first  elected  to 
that  office  on  the  Republican  ticket,  in  April,  1897,  as  the  successor  of  Hon. 
Noble  B.  Judah.  At  the  end  of  that  term  his  constituents  showed  their  appre- 
ciation of  his  services  by  not  nominating  a  candidate  against  him,  and  he  was 
unanimously  re-elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  to  succeed  himself  in  April, 
1899.  The  Municipal  Voters'  League  made  this  report  of  his  aldermanic  career : 
"Charles  Ailing,  lawyer;  resides  at  3167  Groveland  avenue;  elected  to  Council 
in  1897;  record  excellent;  has  been  an  active  member  of  many  special  commit- 
tees appointed  by  the  Mayor.  By  forcefulness  and  ability  has  done  much  to 
secure  defeat  of  bad  legislation  and  the  enactment  of  good  measures.  His 
re-election  very  important  to  public  interests."  This  was  the  strongest  endorse- 
ment given  to  any  candidate  by  the  League. 

During  his  first  term  Mr.  Ailing  was  appointed  to  represent  the  South  Side 
on  the  Educational  Commission  of  eleven  members,  and  during  a  year's  stuHy 
of  the  educational  system  of  Chicago  and  other  large  cities  gained  a  broad 
knowledge  of  educational  affairs,  which  has  been  valuable  to  him  in  his  subse- 
quent work  as  a  city  official.  He  secured  the  first  appropriation  ever  made  in 
Chicago  by  the  City  Council  to  establish  play  grounds  in  school  yards  during 
the  summer  vacation,  $1,000  having  been  voted  by  the  City  Council  for  this 
purpose  at  his  solicitation  in  1898.  During  his  second  term  Alderman  Ailing 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Finance  and  Judiciary  Committees,  the  two  most 
important  standing  committees  in  the  City  Council.  He  is  one  of  the  most 
influential  members  of  each  of  these  committees,  and  has  gained  a  broad  knowl- 
edge of  the  resources  of  Chicago  and  of  the  municipal  legislation  which  it  needs. 
In  December,  1899,  he  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Small  Park  Commission, 
one  of  the  most  important  special  committees  ever  appointed  by  direction  of 
the  City  Council.  He  is  greatly  interested  in  the  extension  of  the  boulevard, 
public  bath  and  park  systems  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Ailing  has  become  considerably 
interested  in  the  proposed  union  of  the  city  and  county  governments,  and  is 
chairman  of  the*  special  Governmental  Commission  appointed  for  the  purpose 
of  recommending  desirable  changes  in  the  city  charter. 

Charles  Ailing  was  born  at  Madison,  Indiana,  on  December  13,  1865.  He 
graduated  from  Hanover  College,  six  miles  below  Madison  on  the  Ohio  river 
(between  Cincinnati  andTLouisville),  in  1885.  He  taught  school  one  year  and 
then  graduated,  after  a  two  years'  course  in  the  law  department  of  the  University 
of  Michigan,  in  1888.  He  came  to  Chicago  at  once,  where  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  general  practice  of  law  ever  since.  He  was  a  contributor  to  the 
American  and  English  Encyclopaedia  of  Law. 

Mr.  Ailing  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  Chicago  Chapter  127,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  the  Independent  Order  of  Foresters  and  the  Royal  League.  He 
attends  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  at  Indiana  avenue  and  Twenty-first  street, 
and  has  been  a  director  in  the  South  Central  District  of  the  Bureau  of  Asso- 
ciated Charities  for  the  last  three  years. 


CHARLES  H.  ALDRICH. 

Charles  H.  Aldrich  is  of  English  ancestry.  His  forefathers  came  to  Amer- 
ica at  an  early  date  and  settled  in  Vermont.  Hamilton  M.  Aldrich,  the  father, 
and  Harriet  Sherwood,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  were  married 
in  the  State  of  Indiana,  where  Charles  H.  Aldrich  was  born,  at  La  Grange, 
August  26,  1850,  on  his  father's  farm,  where  he  was  brought  up,  and  learned 
the  business  of  farming.  He  attended  the  common  school  of  his  neighborhood, 
entered  the  Seminary  at  Orland,  Steuben  county,  Indiana,  to  which  place  his 
parents  had  moved  for  the  purpose  of  giving  their  children  a  better  opportunity 
of  obtaining  their  education. 

From  the  Seminary  young  Aldrich  passed  to  the  High  School  at  Coldwater, 
Mich.,  and  later  at  Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  where  he  was  prepared  for  college.  He 
entered  Michigan  University  and  graduated  with  high  honor  in  the  class  of 

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1875  ',  the  degree  of  M.  A.  was  afterwards  conferred  upon  him  by  .his  Alma 
Mater  for  distinguished  services.  After  leaving  college  Mr.  Aldrich  opened  a 
law  office  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  where  he  immediately  entered  upon  a  successful 
career  as  a  practitioner,  which  continued  until  his  removal  to  Chicago  in  1886, 
where  he  at  once  took  a  high  rank  at  the  bar.  He  gained  a  national  reputation 
by  the  vigorous  manner  in  which  he  presented  the  claims  of  the  United  States 
against  the  Southern  Pacific  railroad,  and  later  by  his  victory  over  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad  and  the  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  in  the  suits  between 
those  corporations  and  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Aldrich  was  invited  to  accept  the  office  of  Solicitor-General  of  the 
United  States,  and  filled  that,  office  with  great  ability.  Upon  retiring  from  his 
office  in  Washington,  Mr.  Aldrich  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  Chicago,  and 
at  once  became  one  of  the  leaders  of  the  Chicago  bar,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
many  of  the  most  important  controversies  and  litigations  arising  since  that 
time.  Mr.  Aldrich  has  been  president  of  the  Chicago  Law  Club  and  a  trustee 
of  the  Chicago  Law  Institute ;  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  and  has 
been  vice-president  and  member  of  the  committee  on  political  action  of  that  club. 

Charles  H.  Aldrich  was  married  October  13,  1875,  to  Miss  Helen  Roberts 
of  Indiana.  They  have  a  family  of  one  son  and  two  daughters,  and  a  wide  circle 
of  friends.  Mrs.  Aldrich  is  a  woman  of  fine  social  qualities,  is  highly  cultivated, 
and  a  fitting  companion  for  the  encouragement  of  her  husband  in  his  intellectual 
pursuits. 


SAMUEL  WATERS  ALLERTON. 

Samuel  Waters  Allerton  is  one  of  the  best-known  citizens  of  Chicago,  and 
is  one  of  its  most  successful  and  prosperous  business  men.  He  has  been  for 
many  years,  and  is  now,  engaged  in  a  number  of  business  enterprises.  Most  of 
them  are  conducted  upon  a  large  scale,  requiring  a  great  amount  of  attention 
and  business  sagacity;  they  all  receive  Mr.  Allerton's  care.  As  a  business 
machine,  Mr.  Allerton  has  immense  capacity  and  power;  he  is  a  great  money- 
maker, and  yet,  amidst  all  his  financial  operations,  he  does  not  neglect  his 
political  duties  as  a  citizen  nor  the  claims  upon  him  as  a  man  of  society.  It 
may  be  said  that  Mr.  Allerton  is  a  true  product  of  Chicago,  but  it  may  be  more 
proper  to  say,  by  reversing  the  statement,  that  Chicago  is  the  true  product  of 
such  men  as  Samuel  W.  Allerton.  Mr.  Allerton  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  Isaac 
Allerton,  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower,  and  whose  name  appears  as  the 
fifth  signature  in  the  ''Compact"  for  the  Organization  of  Civil  Government, 
signed  November  u,  1620,  by  the  Pilgrim  Fathers. 

Isaac  Allerton  (i)  was  at  the  time  he  emigrated  to  America,  the  head  of 
a  family;  his  son  Isaac  (2)  was  born  at  Plymouth,  Mass.,  in  1630;  his  son  Isaac 
(3)  was  born  January  n,  1655,  at  New  Haven;  his  son  John  (4)  was  born  at 
the  same  place  about  1685  ;  his  son  Isaac  (5)  was  born  at  Norwich,  Conn., 
August  16,  1725;  his  son  Reuben  (6)  was  born  December  25,  1753,  at  Canter- 
bury, Conn.,  and  was  a  physician ;  his  son  Samuel  W.  (7)  was  born  December 
5,  1785,  at  Amenia,  Duchess  county,  N.  Y.,  and  was  the  father  of  Samuel  W. 
Allerton  (8),  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Samuel  W.  Allerton,  Sr.,  was  a  man  of  education  and  enterprise.  His 
father  being  a  physician,  he  also  studied  for  that  profession,  but  decided  to  learn 
a  trade.  He  was  a  merchant  tailor,  and  had  a  country  store.  He,  with  others, 
erected  a  woolen  factory  in  1828,  which  bid  fair  to  become  a  paying  institution, 
but  the  low  tariff  of  1833  threw  open  the  American  markets  to  foreign  manu- 
facturers, and  this  enterprise,  like  thousands  of  others,  failed.  This  disaster, 
and  the  hard  times  which  followed  the  tariff  legislation,  broke  Mr.  Allerton's 
fortune  and  left  him  a  poor  man;  but  he  retained  his  energy  and  perseverance. 
He  was  Deputy  Sheriff  of  Duchess  county  for  three  years.  In  1848  he  bought 
a  farm  in  Wayne  county,  his  son,  Samuel  contributing  largely  to  this  result  by 
his  industry  and  economy.  Mr.  Allerton  lived  upon  this  farm  during  the  balance 
of  his  life;  he  died  at  the  mature  age  of  ninety-nine,  August  10,  1885.  Mr. 
Allerton  was  a  man  of  great  force  of  character  and  sterling  integrity,  and 
exerted  a  powerful  influence  for  good  upon  his  children. 

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329 


Samuel  Waters  Allerton  is  the  youngest  of  nine  children.  At  fourteen 
years  of  age  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Yates  county,  where  the  family 
engaged  in  the  business  of  farming.  He  and  his  brother  Henry  conducted  the 
business  on  joint  account,  first  upon  rented  land,  and-  afterward  upon  a  farm 
of  their  own.  They  were  successful  from  the  start,  and  accumulated  consid- 
erable money.  Samuel  decided  to  quit  farming  and  devote  himself  to  trade, 
so  he  and  his  brother  made  a  division  of  their  property,  Samuel  taking  his 
proportion  in  cash. 

His  first  important  operation  was  the  purchase  of  one  hundred  head  of 
cattle  for  the  New  York  market.  He  lost  $700  in  this  deal  and  was  very  much 
discouraged ;  but  his  uncle  urged  him  not  to  lose  his  courage,  stating  that,  "if 
you  make  money,  you  must  sometimes  lose  it."  Some  time  afterward  he  made 
another  large  purchase  of  cattle  at  Dunkirk,  at  a  time  when  there  was  an  inter- 
ruption of  the  railroad  by  the  destruction  of  the  bridges.  These  cattle  were 
also  shipped  to  New  York.  Mr.  Allerton  found  the  market  short  of  cattle,  and 
he  netted  $3,000  on  this  venture.  Later  on  the  Sturgis  failure,  in  Cincinnati, 
swept  away  his  entire  capital.  He  returned  to  Newark,  N.  Y.,  and  bought  an 
interest  in  a  store  with  his  brother.  Mr.  Allerton  still  had  an  ambition  to  try 
his  fortune  in  the  West,  but  it  is  probable  that  the  principal  attraction  was  Miss 
Pamilla  W.  Thompson,  daughter  of  Astor  C.  Thompson  of  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  had  met  this  young  woman  and  had  formed  a  serious  attachment  for 
her,  so  he  closed  out  his  mercantile  business,  gathered  all  his  money  together, 
borrowed  $5,000  from  a  friend,  and  went  directly  to  Fulton  county.  He  came 
to  Chicago  in  March  and  married  Miss  Thompson  in  July,  1860.  He  began 
at  once  to  deal  in  live  stock. 

Mr.  Allerton  was  self-reliant  and  ambitious  as  a  merchant ;  he  had  but 
little  capital  and  no  bank  connections.  His  first  big  deal  was  the  purchase  of 
all  the  hogs  on  the  Chicago  market,  amounting  to  $80,000.  Messrs.  Aikens 
&  Norton,  bankers,  cashed  his  draft,  and  the  deal  was  carried  through  with 
success.  From  this  time  forward  Mr.  Allerton  was  a  large  and  successful 
dealer  in  live  stock.  His  connection  with  this  business  suggested  to  his  mind 
the  organization  of  a  Union  Stock  Yards,  where  all  the  buyers  and  sellers  would 
be  brought  together.  Mr.  Allerton  brought  this  subject  to  public  attention 
by  a  letter  published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune,  and  to  him  is  due,  probably  more 
than  to  any  other  man,  the  establishment  of  the  Union  Stock  Yards  at  Chicago. 
When  the  National  Bank  Act  was  passed,  Mr.  Allerton  urged  Messrs.  Aikens 
&  Norton  to  start  a  National  bank ;  the  matter  was  set  on  foot,  and  Mr.  Allerton 
became  one  of  the  original  subscribers  to  the  stock  of  the  present  First  National 
Bank  of  Chicago.  Having  been  raised  upon  a  farm,  Mr.  Allerton  has  given 
much  of  his  time  to  farmnig ;  he  is  now  one  of  the  largest  farmers  of  the  soil 
in  the  country,  being  engaged  in  cultivating  about  forty  thousand  acres  of  land. 
He  is  largely  interested  in  cattle  ranches  and  in  gold  mining;  has  large  interests 
in  Dakota,  Nebraska,  Iowa,  Illinois,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania  and  New  York.  He 
is  still  a  dealer  in  live  stock,  and  continues  to  make  shipments  to  New  York 
and  England.  His  largest  investments  are  in  farms,  stock  yards  and  street 
railways. 

In  politics  Mr.  Allerton  is  an  uncompromising  Republican.  He  has  been 
identified  with  the  party  from  the  beginning.  His  early  opinions  upon  the  tariff 
question  were  derived  from  Henry  Clay  and  Horace  Greeley.  He  has  stood 
by  the  Republican  legislation  upon  the  tariff  and  financial  questions,  and  is  a 
forcible  writer  upon  these  topics.  Mr.  Allerton  believes  in  political  organiza- 
tion and  contributes  both  time  and  money  to  aid  in  the  organization  and  com- 
paign  work  of  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Allerton  was  the  Republican  candi- 
date for  Mayor  at  one  time, '  and  carried  the  north  division  of  the  city,  but 
Carter  H.  Harrison,  Sr.,  a  most  influential  and  enterprising  Democrat,  was 
elected. 

As  before  stated,  Samuel  Waters  Allerton  was  married  July  i,  1860,  to 
Miss  Pamilla  W.  Thompson,  at  Peoria,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Allerton  died  March  I, 
1881.  On  March  15,  1882,  Mr.  Allerton  married  Agnes  C.  Thompson,  a  sister 
of  his  first  wife.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Allerton  have  an  elegant  home  in  Chicago,  have 
a  large  circle  of  friends,  and  dispense  an  agreeable  hospitality. 

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JOHN  C.  AMES...-' 

Success  in  any  line  of  occupation,  in  any  avenue  of  business,  is  not  a  matter 
of  spontaneity,  but  the  legitimate  offspring  of  subjective  effort  in  the  proper 
utilization  of  the  means  at  hand,  the  improvement  of  opportunity  and  the  exer- 
cise of  the  highest  functions  made  possible  by  the  specific  ability  in  any  case. 
John  C.  Ames  had  his  nativity  encompassed  by  those  environments  which  have 
ever  fostered  the  spirit  of  personal  independence  and  self-reliance,  which  have 
furnished  the  bulwark  of  our  National  prosperity  and  wonderful  industrial  devel- 
opment. He  was  born  on  a  farm  in  LaSalle  county,  Illinois,  July  17,  1852,  and 
is  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Arilla  (Mooar)  Ames,  natives  of  Maine  and  pioneer  settlers 
of  LaSalle  county,  whither  they  journeyed  as  early  as  1848.  Between  the  han- 
dles of  the  plow,  it  might  be  said,  young  Ames  grew  to  manhood,  and  in  the 
district  school  of  his  neighborhood,  received  the  rudiments  of  an  education. 
Later  he  took  a  two  years'  course  in  the  Illinois  State  Normal  School,  at  Nor- 
mal, and  in  1872  laid  aside  his  school  books  in  order  to  learn  a  more  difficult 
lesson  in  the  school  of  experience.  He  engaged  in  the  drug  business  with  John 
Dickerman,  under  the  firm  name  of  Dickerman  &  Ames,  at  Streator.  He  sold 
out  his  interest  in  1873,  engaged  in- the  hardware  business  with  his  father,  under 
the  firm  name  of  I.  Ames  &  Son,  and  continued  in  this  connection  until  1875, 
when  the  store  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Later  he  embarked  in  business  on  his 
own  responsibility,  became  the  owner  of  an  extensive  hardware  store,  and  was 
unusually  successful.  Selling  out  his  stock  in  July,  1885,  he  turned  his  attention 
more  particularly  to  the  lumber  business,  with  which  he  had  been  interested 
since  1878.  In  that  year  he  organized  the  J.  C.  Ames  Lumber  Company,  and 
this  organization,  of  which  he  has  ever  been  president,  has  yielded  handsome 
financial  returns  to  the  stockholders.  Mr.  Ames  has  been  the  promoter  of 
many  enterprises  which  have  contributed  not  only  to  his  personal  prosperity, 
but  have  also  advanced  the  general  welfare  of  Streator  through  the  promotion 
of  commercial  activity.  He  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  Plumb  Hotel 
Stock  Company,  was  one  of  its  directors,  and  was  also  a  director  and  vice- 
president  of  the  Streator  Loan  and  Building  Association,  which  was  organized 
in  1874.  In  1891  he  organized  the  City  National  Bank  of  Streator,  and  remained 
its  president  until  he  resigned  that  position  to  take  that  of  United  States  Mar- 
shal, having  been  appointed  by  President  McKinley.  In  all  the  positions  of 
trust  to  which  Mr.  Ames  has  been  called  he  has  given  entire  satisfaction  and 
has  strengthened  the  trust  reposed  in  him.  He  has  filled  many  local  offices  such 
as  Alderman,  County  Supervisor,  etc.,  and  in  April,  1885,  he  was  elected  Mayor 
of  Streator,  a  position  he  held  for  two  terms,  having  declined  a  third  nomina- 
tion. Under  Governor  Fifer  he  served  as  one  of  the  Canal  Commissioners 
of  Illinois  for  four  years,  and  then  came  his  appointment  to  his  present  position 
as  United  States  Marshal  for  the  northern  district  of  Illinois.  This  was  an 
honor  well  merited,  for  he  has  not  only  been  a  recognized  leader  in  the  ranks 
of  the  Republican  party  in  the  State  for  many  years,  but  in  every  official  position 
filled  by  him  he  has  discharged  his  duties  in  a  manner  that  has  won  for  him  the 
highest  commendation.  Socially  Mr.  Ames  is  a  Mason,  a  member  of  Streator 
Lodge,  No.  607,  and  to  Streator  Chapter,  No.  147,  R.  A.  M.,  and  Ottawa  Com- 
mandery,  No.  10,  Knights  Templar.  On  the  2d  of  March,  1875,  Mr.  Ames 
was  married  to  Minerva  Ross,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Hunter)  Ross, 
of  Lacon,  111.  They  have  one  child  living,  Isaac  Carlos,  who  is  now  serving 
his  country  in  the  Philippine  Islands.  A  daughter,  Aurelia  Elizabeth,  died  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  months,  and  a  son,  Walter  Cope,  died  in  1895,  when  eleven 
years  old.  In  Streator,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ames  have  long  made  their  home, 
they  are  held  in  the  highest  regard,  and  their  residence  is  the  center  of  a  cultured 
society  circle. 


332 


333 


EDWIN   M.  ASHCRAFT. 

Edwin  M.  Ashcraft  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  August  27,  1848,  near  Clarks- 
burg, Harrison  county,  Va.  His  ancestors  came  to  this  country  from  England 
at  an  early  date  and  settled  in  Virginia.  They  were  sturdy  people  of  the  Anglo- 
Saxon  race,  and  took  an  active  part  in  building  up  the  colony  and  common- 
wealth. The  Ashcraft  domain  and  homestead  was  in  the  land  of  the  great 
military  operations  of  the  Civil  War.  A  number  of  the  Ashcraft  family,  adher- 
ing to  the  Union,  fought  for  its  preservation  in  the  Union  army.  James  M. 
Ashcraft,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  married  Clarissa  Snider,  also 
a  native  of  Virginia.  They  had  four  children,  of  whom  Edwin  M.  is  the  eldest. 

Edwin  M.  Ashcraft  attended  the  common  schools  of  Virginia,  and  in  1865, 
having  removed  to  Illinois  at  the  close  of  the  Civil  War,  he  attended  the  State 
Normal  University  at  Normal,  111.  Young,  ambitious  and  full  of  health  and 
strength,  he  secured  employment  hauling  ties  and  working  on  the  Illinois  Cen- 
tral railroad  as  a  section  hand  near  the  town  of  Ramsey,  where  he  then  resided. 
Having  qualified  himself  as  a  teacher,  he  secured  employment  in  1867,  and  for 
two  years  was  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  free  schools  of  the  neighborhood. 
During  this  period  he  took  up  the  study  of  law.  He  afterward  read  law  in  the 
office  of  Henry  &  Fauke,  and  in  January,  1873,  passed  an  examination  before 
the  Supreme  Court  at  Springfield,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  settled  at 
Vandalia,  opened  a  law  office,  and  at  once  made  the  friendship  of  the  leading 
people  of  Fayette  county,  where  he  was  soon  elected  Prosecuting  Attorney,  and 
filled  the  office  until  1876.  In  the  course  of  his  legal  practice  Mr.  Ashcraft 
demonstrated  the  fact  that  he  was  a  man  of  sterling  ability,  and  well  qualified  as 
a  lawyer.  He  met  many  able  men  at  the  bar,  and  became  noted  for  his  forensic 
efforts. 

Mr.  Ashcraft  was  nominated  as  a  Republican  candidate  for  Congress  in 
1876;  he  canvassed  the  district  thoroughly,  and,  although  not  elected,  he  re- 
duced the  Democratic  majority  from  five  thousand  to  fourteen  hundred.  While 
Mr.  Ashcraft  is  a  strong  Republican,  and  has  a  taste  for  politics,  he  has  stuck 
closely  to  his  profession,  and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  lawyers  in  the  State  of 
Illinois.  In  the  earlier  years  of  his  practice  Mr.  Ashcraft  met  at  the  bar  such 
men  as  John  M.  Palmer,  S.  W.  Moulton  of  Shelby,  B.  W.  Henry  of  Fayette;  and 
in  his  legal  contests  with  such  men  he  developed  the  highest  qualities  of  a  trial 
lawyer. 

In  April,  1877,  Mr.  Ashcraft  removed  to  Chicago  and  became  a  member  of 
the  law  firm  of  Cratty  Brothers  &  Ashcraft.  This  partnership  continued  for 
four  years,  when,  in  June,  1891,  the  firm  of  Ashcraft  &  Gordon  was  formed. 
This  is  one  of  the  best-known  firms  in  the  city  of  Chicago ;  has  been  engaged 
in  some  of  the  most  important  and  difficult  cases  in  the  court,  and  has  estab- 
lished a  high  reputation  for  the  careful  preparation  of  their  cases  and  the  ex- 
traordinary ability  with  which  they  are  tried. 

Mr.  Ashcraft  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  and  also  belongs  to  the 
Masonic  Fraternity.  He  is  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities;  makes  friends  and 
holds  them;  is  kind  and  considerate  of  others;  is  animated  by  a  broad  sense 
of  humanity,  and  is  rightly  classed  as  one  of  Chicago's  best  citizens.  He  was 
married  in  1875  to  Florence  R.  Moore,  daughter  of  Risden  Moore,  an  old  and 
prominent  citizen  of  Belleville,  111.  They  have  four  children — Raymond  M., 
Edwin  M.,  Florence  V.  and  Allen  E.  Ashcraft.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ashcraft  are 
popular  people  with  their  neighbors ;  they  have  many  friends  and  are  generously 
hospitable. 


334 


335 


HOMER  F.  ASPINWALL. 

The  Aspinwall  family  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  New  England  families.  Its 
founder,  Peter  Aspinwall,  came  to  Massachusetts  Bay  from  Toxteth  Park, 
County  of  Lancaster,  near  Liverpool,  England,  and  settled  in  Dorchester, 
Mass.,  during  the  year  1630.  He  was  one  of  the  colonists  headed  by  Governor 
Winthrop  and  came  with  his  expedition.  In  1650  he  moved  to  Muddy  River, 
now  Brookline,  Mass.,  where  he  died  between  November  20,  1687,  the  date  of 
his  will,  and  December  9,  1687,  the  date  of  the  inventory  of  his  estate.  Aaron 
Aspinwall,  great-grandson  of  Peter,  was  a  member  of  Captain  Watson's  Com- 
pany, Seventh  Regiment  of  the  Connecticut  line,  during  the  Revolutionary  War, 
-and  served  from  March  10,  1777,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  eighteen 
years  old  at  the  time  of  his  enlistment.  John  Aspinwall,  son  of  Aaron,  was 
born  at  Norwalk,  Conn.,  October  18,  1/71,  and  died  at  Freeport,  111.,  January 
•  6,  1858.  His  son  John  was  the  father  of  Homer  F. 

Homer  F.  Aspinwall  was  born  in  Stephenson  county,  Illinois,  November 
15,  1856,  on  his  father's  farm  seven  miles  west  of  Freeport.  His  father,  John 
Aspinwall,  was  born  July  21,  1807,  at  Stillwater,  Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.  He 
was  a  descendant  of  Peter  Aspinwall,  who  came  to  Massachusetts  in  1630  from 
Liverpool,  England.  He  married  Lucy  Shumway,  March  i,  1835,  who  was  born 
in  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  May  28,  1813,  a  descendant  from  the  family 
of  French  Huguenots  by  that  name  who  came  to  America  during  the  seven- 
teenth century.  Mrs.  Aspinwall  died  December  29,  1883.  In  1845  Mr.  Aspin- 
wall moved  with  his  family  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm,  where  the  following 
year  his  son  Homer  was  born.  Mr.  Aspinwall  taught  his  son  the  business  and 
occupation  of  a  farmer,  and  encouraged  him  to  acquire  an  education.  John 
Aspinwall  died  April  29,  1889. 

Homer  F.  Aspinwall  attended  the  district  school  and  High  School  of 
PYeeport,  from  which  he  graduated  with  good  standing  as  a  scholar.  For  two 
years  after  leaving  school  he  was  a  clerk  in  a  wholesale  notion  store,  where  he 
gave  entire  satisfaction  to  his  employers.  Preferring  the  activities  of  a  farm 
life,  he  returned  to  the  farm  in  Florence  township,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since, 
owning  and  operating  one  of  the  best-developd  farms  in  the  Northwest.  It  is 
equipped  with  good  buildings  and  all  the  modern  conveniences  and  machinery 
used  by  the  most  progressive  farmers.  He  has  been  a  successful  farmer,  and 
has  made  farm  life  an  agreeable  and  remunerative  occupation. 

Early  in  life  Mr.  Aspinwall  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party, 
took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  was  soon  recognized  as  a  leader  in  his  town- 
ship. He  was  elected  Assessor  and  held  other  minor  township  offices.  He  was 
then  elected  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  held  this  position  four 
years,  and  was  regarded  as  one  of  the  safest,  strongest  and  most  practical  men 
on  the  Board.  His  successful  career  in  public  affairs  of  his  county  brought 
Mr.  Aspinwall  to  the  front,  and  in  1892  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from 
the  Twelfth  Senatorial  District,  and  re-elected  in  1896  by  an  overwhelming 
majority.  Senator  Aspinwall  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  man  of  fine  intellectual 
ability,  of  sound  judgment  and  of  unquestionable  integrity.  His  career  in  the 
Senate  has  reflected  credit  upon  himself,  his  district  and  the  great  party  that 
•elected  him.  He  safeguarded  the  interests  of  his  immediate  constituents,  and 
in  respect  to  the  general  legislation,  good  measures  always  received  his  support, 
and  bad  ones  his  opposition. 

He  has  been  a  delegate  to  a  number  of  Republican  Conventions,  the  most 
notable  of  which  was  the  State  Convention  of  1880.  Senator  Aspinwall  was  a 
Grant  delegate,  and  voted  with  the  majority  in  favor  of  the  nomination  of  Gen- 
eral Grant  for  President.  He  was  a  warm  friend  of  General  Logan,  and  stood 
by  him  in  that  memorable  struggle.  Senator  Aspinwall  is  a  close  student  of 
public  questions  and  is  able  to  present  his  views  with  convincing  power  either 

336 


337 


on  the  stump  or  in  the  Senate,  and  during  political  campaigns  is  always  in 
demand.  In  1896  he  did  effective  work  on  the  stump  during  the  political  cam- 
paign of  that  year. 

Senator  Aspinwall  was  a  boy  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  and  took  no 
personal  part  in  that  conflict,  but  he  was  a  loyal  friend  of  the  old  soldier.  When 
war  with  Spain  was  declared  in  1898,  he  and  others  began  the  organization  of 
a  regiment  of  which  the  Senator  was  to  be  the  Lieutenant-Colonel.  When 
convinced  that  his  regiment  would  not  be  called,  he  accepted  a  commission 
from  President  McKinley  as  Captain  and  Assistant  Quartermaster  of  the  United 
States  Army;  and  assigned  to  take  charge  of  the  United  States  Transport 
"Manitoba,"  one  of  the  largest  transports  in  the  service.  This  vessel,  in  charge 
of  Captain  Aspinwall,  visited  nearly  all  the  ports  of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  trans- 
porting troops  and  provisions  during  and  after  the  war.  He  transported  over  12,- 
ooo  soldiers  without  accident.  The  "Army  and  Navy  Journal,"  commenting  upon 
the  service  of  the  "Manitoba,"  declared  it  was  the  best-managed  transport  in 
the  service.  When  the  war  was  over  Captain  Aspinwall  preferred  to  retire  from 
the  military  service  and  resume  his  position  in  the  State  Senate.  He  asked  to 
be  mustered  out,  but  instead  a  leave  of  absence  of  twenty  days  was  given  him. 
This,  of  course,  under  the  circumstances  was  not  satisfactory,  and  he  was  finally 
mustered  out  of  the  service  February  13,  1899. 

Senator  Aspinwall  served  two  years  as  president  of  the  Northern  Illinois 
Agricultural  Association,  and  so  managed  its  finances  that  the  stockholders  for 
the  first  time  received  a  dividend.  He  was  many  years  secretary  of  the  Freeport 
Methodist  Camp-Meeting  Association ;  the  grounds  and  buildings  of  this  asso- 
ciation are  the  finest  of  the  kind  in  the  State.  He  has  long  been  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  a  Mason  of  high  rank,  being  a  member  of  Free- 
port  Commandery,  Freeport  Consistory  and  the  Rockford  Shrine.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  and  other  similar  organizations. 

Senator  Aspinwall  was  married  December  18,  1874,  to  Emma  M.  Sheetz, 
who  is  also  a  native  of  Florence  township ;  their  family  consists  of  a  son  and 
daughter,  Grace  and  John  R.,  who  reside  with  their  parents  at  the  Aspinwall 
home  in  Florence  township.  Senator  Aspinwall  is  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities, 
and  has  many  personal  friends  in  all  parts  of  the  State.  Mrs.  Aspinwall  con- 
tributes her  share  in  making  their  home  an  agreeable  resort  for  all  their  friends 
and  neighbors. 


SMITH  D.  ATKINS. 

This  well-known  and  distinguished  soldier  and  civilian  was  born  June  g, 
1836,  at  Horseheads,  near  Elmira,  New  York.  At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was 
taken  west  by  his  parents,  who  located  on  a  farm  near  Freeport,  Illinois.  In  his 
native  State  he  had  attended  school  for  one  term,  and  upon  coming  to  Illinois 
continued  his  studies.  In  1850  he  entered  a  printing  office  at  Freeport  and 
began  to  learn  to  set  type,  and  a  year  later  went  to  Mount  Morris,  Illinois,  where 
for  a  time  he  worked  four  hours  a  day  in  a  printing  office  and  attended  the  Rock 
River  Seminary.  By  this  time  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  become  a  lawyer; 
he  therefore  entered  the  office  of  Hiram  Bright,  at  Freeport,  and  began  studying 
law.  After  diligent  work  he  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  June  27,  1855.  He 
immediately  began  to  practice,  meeting  with  fair  success,  and  thus  continued 
until  November,  1860,  when  he  was  elected  State's  Attorney  of  the  Fourteenth 
Judicial  Circuit,  consisting  of  the  counties  of  Stephenson,  Jo  Daviess  and  Win- 
nebago.  The  next  spring  the  war  broke  out  and  he  enlisted  April  I7th  as  a 
private  under  the  three  months'  call  and  was  elected  captain  of  his  company, 
which  became  "A"  of  the  Eleventh  Infantry.  Under  this  call  he  served  mainly 
in  Missouri,  and  on  June  30  was  mustered  out.  He  immediately  re-enlisted  and 
was  again  elected  captain  of  his  company,  going  out  for  three  years.  He  led 
his  company  at  the  right  of  the  regiment  at  Fort  Donelson,  and  for  gallant  and 

338 


339 


meritorious  service  in  that  battle  was  promoted  Major  of  the  regiment — the 
Eleventh  Illinois  Infantry — and  by  special  order  of  General  Grant  was  detailed 
Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General  on  the  staff  of  General  Stephen  A.  Hurlbut. 
He  served  in  this  capacity  until  jafter  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  when  he  returned  to 
Illinois  on  recruiting. service.  He  took  the  stump  at  the  request  of  Governor 
Yates,  and  succeeded  in  putting  forty-four  companies  in  camp  at  Rockford  in 
a  short  time.  Out  of  these  the  Ninety-second  Regiment  was  formed,  of  which 
he  was  elected  Colonel. 

His  regiment  first  assisted  in  driving  General  Morgan  out  of  Kentucky. 
In  November,  1862,  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  Colonel  Cochran's  brigade 
and  posted  at  Mount  Sterling,  Ky.,  with  Colonel  Atkins  in  command  of  the 
post,  instructed  to  guard  eastern  Kentucky  from  guerrillas.  While  here  many 
negroes  flocked  to  his  camp,  and  though  requested  to  do  so  he  refused  to  return 
them  to  their  masters.  He  was  indicted  by  several  county  grand  juries  and 
his  arrest  was  ordered,  but  the  officers  were  never  able  to  carry  the  warrants 
into  execution.  On  November  16,  in  passing  to  Nicholasville,  he  was  frequently 
threatened  by  mobs  of  angry  citizens,  who  were  prevented  from  doing  him  an 
injury  by  the  loaded  guns  of  his  soldiers.  He  drove  the  rear  guard  of  Bragg's 
army  out  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson,  capturing  a  large  amount  of  stores  and  a 
brass  field  piece,  and  finally  took  post  at  Danville.  In  January  he  was  promoted 
to  the  command  of  the  brigade,  continuing  thus  until  July,  1863,  when  the  regi- 
ment was  mounted  and  assigned  to  Wilder's  famous  brigade  of  mounted  in- 
fantry. In  the  movement  on  Chattanooga  he  acted  independently,  reporting 
directly  to  General  Rosecrans,  and  was  the  first  to  enter  the  city  of  Chattanooga 
after  its  evacuation  by  Bragg.  On  the  first  day  at  Chickamauga  he  captured 
the  first  prisoners  of  Longstreet's  Corps.  In  that  bloody  battle  his  regiment 
did  not  retire  until  both  wings  had  been  flanked.  Later  he  reported  to  General 
Wilder  on  the  field,  and  was  assigned  to  a  position  on  the  left  of  that  command- 
er's brigade.  In  January,  1864,  in  the  absence  of  General  Wilder,  he  led  the 
brigade  through  Athens,  Ala.,  to  Shoal  Creek,  to  intercept  a  rebel  raid,  and 
drove  a  strong  Confederate  column  across  the  Tennessee  river.  Advancing 
he  encountered  a  second  column,  which  he  likewise  repulsed.  On  his  return 
to  Athens  he  turned  back  a  third  column  of  Confederates,  the  various  com- 
manders of  the  enemy  intending  to  concentrate  at  that  point.  In  the  fall  of 
1864,  when  General  Kilpatrick  reformed  his  division  of  cavalry,  Colonel  Atkins 
was  placed  in  command  of  the  Second  Brigade,  and  continued  thus  until  Savan- 
nah was  reached.  For  his  gallantry  and  splendid  skill  he  was  recommended 
for  promotion  by  Generals  Kilpatrick  and  Sherman,  was  appointed  Brevet 
Brigadier-General  and  by  the  special  order  of  President  Lincoln  was  assigned 
to  duty  under  his  brevet  commission.  In  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas  he 
commanded  a  brigade  of  cavalry  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Averysboro 
and  Bentonville  and  operated  against  Johnson's  Confederates  until  the  close  of 
the  war.  After  his  faithful  and  patriotic  services  he  was  commissioned  Brevet 
Major-General  of  Volunteers. 

After  his  muster  out  he  resumed  the  practice  of  law,  but  was  soon  ap- 
pointed postmaster  at  Freeport,  and  later  assumed  the  editorship  of  the  Free- 
port  Journal.  He  is  now  the  editor  and  principal  owner  of  the  Freeport  Daily 
Journal ;  postmaster  at  Freeport ;  president  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the 
Freeport  Public  Library,  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  Freeport  Board 
of  Education.  His  first  political  speech  was  made  in  1856  in  support  of  Colonel 
Fremont  for  the  Presidency.  He  has  spoken  in  every  presidential  campaign 
for  the  Republican  candidate  since  the  organization  of  that  party.  He  is  chair- 
man of  the  Stephenson  County  Republican  Central  Committee,  and  has  never 
been  defeated,  with  one  exception,  for  any  office  to  which  he  has  aspired.  He 
is  a  thirty-second  degree  Mason,  and  has  been  Captain-General  of  Freeport 
Commandery  and  the  Commander  of  John  A.  Davis  Post,  G.  A.  R. 


340 


CHARLES  BECKER. 

Among  those  who  left  the  Fatherland  to  identify  themselves  with  American 
lives  and  institutions,  who  have  pushed  their  way  to  the  front  and  who  are  a 
credit  alike  to  the  land  of  their  birth  and  that  of  their  adoption,  is  Charles 
Becker,  a  descendant  of  sturdy  German  stock.  A  fact  of  which  due  recognition 
is  not  usually  recorded  in  connection  with  the  different  enterprises  of  the  State 
of  Illinois  is  that  to  no  foreign  element  is  its  presence  due  in  so  large  a  measure 
as  to  those  who  have  had  their  nativity  in  or  trace  their  lineage  to  the  great 
Empire  of  Germany.  Mr.  Becker  was  born  in  Rockenhausen,  Rhenish  Ba- 
varia, Germany,  June  24,  1840;  son  of  Urban  and  Mary  (Spross)  Becker.  The 
father  was  a  man  of  unusual  strength  of  mind,  and  as  an  architect  and  builder, 
a  business  he  followed  all  his  life,  was  possessed  of  unusual  ability.  To  his 
marriage  with  Miss  Spross  were  born  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are  now 
living.  Believing  that  better  facilities  for  advancement  in  his  profession  were 
offered  in  the  New  World,  Mr.  Becker,  with  his  wife  and  children,  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1851  and  located  at  Belleville,  111.,  where  they  passed  the 
remainder  of  their  days.  They  were  people  of  prominence  in  that  community 
and  they  contributed  in  no  small  measure  to  the  progress  and  development  of 
that  section.  The  father  died  in  1874  and  the  mother  in  1881.  In  the  common 
schools  of  Belleville  young  Becker  received  his  early  educational  training,  and 
when  fifteen  yearsTold  entered  the  Harrison  Machine  Works  of  that  village,  for 
the  purpose  of  learning  the  trade  of  molder.  In  this  line  of  work  he  soon 
became  expert,  but  devoted  his  entire  time  to  it  until  twenty-one  years  old. 

When  the  tocsin  of  war  sounded,  all  his  patriotism  for  his  adopted  country 
was  aroused,  and  he  enlisted  in  the  Federal  Army  as  a  member  of  Company  "B," 
Twelfth  Missouri  Infantry.  On  the  8th  of  March,  1862,  he  received  a  dangerous 
wound  in  the  right  thigh,  and  this  injury  eventually  necessitated  the  removal 
of  his  leg  at  a  point  above  the  knee.  Thus  crippled  in  the  service  of  his  country, 
there  remained  nothing  further  for  him  to  do  on  the  field  of  battle,  and  he 
returned  to  his  home.  Following  this  he  attended  school  for  some  time  and  again 
accepted  a  position  with  the  Harrison  Machine  Works,  becoming  a  member  of 
the  office  corps.  For  some  time  he  held  this  position,  but  as  his  sterling  worth 
and  unusual  capabilities  became  recognized  he  was  placed  in  a  more  important 
trust.  In  1866  he  was  elected  Sheriff  and  Collector  of  Taxes  of  the  county 
for  a  term  of  two  years,  and  discharged  the  duties  incumbent  upon  that  position 
most  ably.  Afterward  he  was  associated  with  Mr.  Echardt  in  the  brewing  busi- 
ness, but  sold  his  interest  to  the  latter  in  1872.  The  same  year  he  was  elected 
Circuit  Clerk  and  Recorder  of  Deeds,  being  the  only  successful  candidate  on 
the  Republican  ticket  at  that  election — a  fact  that  certainly  gave  evidence  as  to 
his  popularity  with  his  fellow  townsmen.  In  1876  he  was  re-elected,  when  his 
party  was  defeated  again. 

He  has  been  a  most  earnest  and  effective  worker  in  behalf  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  held  marked  precedence  in  the  councils  of  its  leaders  in 
the  State,  having  been  for  six  years  the  chairman  of  the  Republican  County 
Central  Committee.  In  1888  Mr.  Becker  was  elected  to  the  responsible  posi- 
tion of  State  Treasurer,  in  which  capacity  he  served  with  signal  success  and 
unusual  ability,  which  reflected  much  to  his  credit.  He  is  interested  in  all 
worthy  enterprises,  and  has  contributed  largely  of  his  means  to  the  progress 
and  upbuilding  of  the  city  in  which  he  makes  his  home.  He  is  president  of  the 
Pump  and  Skein  Works,  and  the  Belleville  Stove  Works,  and  has  other  financial 
interests  of  importance. 

January  23,  1864,  he  married  Louisa  Fleischbein,  of  Belleville,  and  they 
became  the  parents  of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living — Bertha,  Casimir, 
Gustave,  Arthur  and  Ray.  For  the  past  quarter  of  a  century  Mr.  Becker  has 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Philharmonic  Society,  and  has  identified  him- 
self with  several  German  social  and  musical  societies,  of  which  he  is  an  honored 
member.  A  man  of  strong  individuality  and  unswerving  integrity,  his  influence 
has  been  exerted  in  the  right  direction,  and  he  stands  high  in  the  opinion  of  all. 

341 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN  AYER. 

Benjamin  F.  Ayer  is  a  native  of  New  Hampshire ;  he  came  to  Chicago  in 
1857,  when  thirty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  experience,  and  was 
at  once  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Illinois.  He  soon  gained  a  foot- 
hold at  the  Chicago  bar  and  -was  recognized  as  a  man  possessing  the  natural 
gifts  and  attainments  essential  to  great  success  at  the  bar.  In  1861  Mr.  Ayer 
became  Corporation  Counsel  for  the  city  of  Chicago ;  held  this  position  for  four 
years,  and  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  with  great  credit  to  himself  and 
of  the  old  charter  and  the  prospective  needs  of  the  city,  Mr.  Ayer  drafted  the 
entire  satisfaction  to  the  city  government.  In  1863,  after  a  careful  examination 
revised  city  charter  of  that  year.  After  retiring  from  the  office  of  Corporation 
Counsel  he  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Beckwith,  Ayer  &  Kales.  This 
was  one  of  the  strongest  law  firms  in  the  city  of  Chicago ;  they  had  a  large 
general  practice,  but  were  specially  identified  with  corporation  law.  Mr.  Ayer 
devoted  a  great  deal  of  his  attention  to  the  law  relating  to  railroads  and  other 
incorporated  companies,  and  became  especially  prominent  in  this  branch  of  the 
profession.  In  1876  he  accepted  the  position  of  General  Solicitor  for  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company,  and  was  made  a  director  of  the  company  the  follow- 
ing year. 

On  January  i,  1890,  he  became  the  General  Counsel  of  this  great  railroad 
corporation.  There  could  be  no  higher  endorsement  of  his  attainments  as  a 
lawyer  and  the  soundness  of  his  judgment  as  a  man  than  his  retention  as  Qen- 
eral  Counsel  for  so  many  years  by  a  company  of  such  large  capital  and  such 
a  multiplicity  of  legal  interests.  Mr.  Ayer  has  now  been  practicing  law  in  Chi- 
cago for  forty-three  years ;  he  has  devoted  himself  constantly  to  his  profession. 
He  now  stands,  and  has  for  years  stood,  in  the  front  rank  of  the  Chicago  bar. 
Mr.  Ayer  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  American  Bar  Association,  also  the 
Chicago  Bar  Association,  of  which  he  has  been  president.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Chicago  Club,  the  Chicago  Literary  Club,  the  Chicago  Historical  Society, 
and  president  of  the  Western  Railroad  Association.  Mr.  Ayer  possesses  a  fine 
library,  is  fond  of  books,  has  an  extensive  knowledge  of  general  literature,  and 
keeps  in  touch  with  the  progressive  movement  of  the  arts  and  sciences. 

Benjamin  F.  Ayer  was  born  at  Kingston,  Rockingham  county,  N.  H.,  April 
22,  1825.  His  father's  ancestors  emigrated  from  England  in  1637,  and  settled 
at  Haverhill,  Mass.  His  father,  Robert  Ayer,  was  born  at  this  place  August 
14,  1791 ;  his  mother,  Louise  Sanborn,  was  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Sanborn  of 
Kingston,  N.  H.  He  was  a  descendant  of  John  Sanborn,  grandson  of  Stephen 
Batchelder,  wfib  came  to  America  in  1632  from  Hampshire,  England;  settled 
at  Hampton,  N.  H.,  in  1638,  and  became  the  first  minister  of  the  church  in  that 
town.  Daniel  Webster  was  one  of  his  descendants.  After  being  prepared  for 
college  at  the  Albany  Academy,  Benjamin  F.  Ayer  entered  Dartmouth  College, 
and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1846.  During  the  next  three  years  he  took 
a  course  of  study  in  the  law  department  of  Harvard  University,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  New  Hampshire  bar  in  1849,  and  immediately  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  at  Manchester.  In  1853  Mr.  Ayer  was  elected  to  the  New 
Hampshire  Legislature,  and  the  following  year  he  was  appointed  Prosecuting 
Attorney  for  Hillsborough  county.  During  these  years  Mr.  Ayer  enlarged  his 
knowledge  of  the  law  by  study,  and  an  extensive  practice,  and  in  1857  sought 
a  larger  field  of  labor  by  coming  to  Chicago. 

Benjamin  F.  Ayer  married  Janet  A.  Hopkins  in  1868.  She  is  a  daughter 
of  Hon.  James  C.  Hopkins  of  Madison,  Wis.,  lately  United  States  District  Judge 
for  the  western  district  of  Wisconsin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ayer  have  four  children, 
namely — Walter,  Mary  Louisa,  Janet  and  Margaret  Helen. 

Mr.  Ayer  is  a  Republican  in  politics ;  he  has  not  held  or  sought  any  political 
office  for  himself,  but  believing  that  the  mission  of  the  Republican  party  is  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  country,  he  stands  ready  always  to  "lend  a  hand" 
in  securing  the  election  of  the  Republican  ticket. 

342 


343 


HENRY  R.  BALDWIN. 

Henry  R.  Baldwin  was  born  on  a  farm  near  the  little  hamlet  of  Greenwood 
in  McHenry  county,  Illinois,  May  24,  1858.  His  father,  Sebrean  C.  T.  Baldwin, 
married  Lovina  Stevens  at  Standing  Stone,  Bradford  county,  Penn.,  in  1833. 
They  removed  to  Greenwood,  111.,  in  1839,  where  they  resided  continuously  up 
to  the  time  of  her  death  in  1885.  Both  of  them  were  the  children  of  parents 
in  humble  circumstances,  and  were  early  accustomed  to  a  life  of  toil,  which  life 
they  followed  throughout  their  whole  married  career.  Neither  of  them  had 
the  advantage  of  any  considerable  early  education,  but  both  were  great  readers, 
and  through  their  love  of  reading  canie  into  close  contact  with  all  questions  of 
public  affairs.  There  was  born  to  them  a  large  family  of  children  (consisting 
of  eight  boys  and  four  girls),  of  whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  youngest. 
All  the  boys  lived  to  maturity,  but  only  one  of  the  girls  lived  to  grow  up,  namely, 
Lucy  H.  Baldwin,  who  is  yet  living  and  is  the  wife  of  William  D.  Lee,  and 
resides  at  Hebron,  in  the  old  home  county.  Of  the  boys,  two,  namely,  Norman 
and  Seth,  entered  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  served  respectively  in  the  Ninety- 
fifth  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-first  Illinois  Volun- 
teers. Each  of  them  died  during  the  war  in  the  service  of  his  country.  Another 
brother,  Levi,  died  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  while  engaged  in  teaching 
public  school  in  central  Illinois.  Another  brother,  Sebre  D.  Baldwin,  died  in 
1883,  while  serving  as  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  McHenry  county, 
Illinois.  The  remaining  brothers — George  F.,  Aristides  E.  and  Jesse  A. — are 
living  and  are  hard  workers;  George  F.  being  a  farmer  in  McHenry  county; 
Aristides  E.  a  doctor  of  medicine  in  Chicago,  practicing  the  specialty  of  den- 
tistry, and  Jesse  A.,  for  many  years  a  practicing  attorney  at  law  in  Chicago, 
and  is  now  the  partner  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch. 

The  education  of  Mr.  Baldwin  was  acquired  mainly  in  the  public  schools 
at  Greenwood,  although  he  attended  the  Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at 
Valparaiso,  Ind.,  for  a  time.  During  his  boyhood  and  youth  he  had  a  great 
fondness  for  reading,  and  early  engaged  in  the  duties  of  a  school  teacher  in  the 
public  schools  of  McHenry  County,  111.  All,  save  one,  of  the  brothers  and  sis- 
ters who  reached  maturity,  at  some  time  during  their  lives  taught  for  a  time  in 
the  public  schools.  Mr.  Baldwin  early  became  convinced  that  the  practice  of 
law  offered  him  a  larger  inducement  than  any  other  profession  or  occupation. 
After  teaching  for  a  series  of  years  in  the  country  districts,  and  later  at  Crystal 
Lake  and  at  Hebron,  in  McHenry  County,  and  holding  the  office  in  that  county 
of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools,  he  located  in  the  city  of  Chicago,  where 
he  has  since  lived  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law.  He  studied  law  during 
a  considerable  time  while  engaged  in  teaching.  In  the  practice  of  law,  Mr, 
Baldwin  has  worked  diligently  and  has  been  connected  with  much  important  lit- 
igation, although  the  best  and  most  satisfactory  part  of  his  practice  has  been 
that  of  office  consultations,  preparation  of  legal  papers,  etc. 

Henry  R.  Baldwin  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  his  first  vote  was  cast 
for  the  nominees  of  the  Republican  party,  and  since  that  time  he  has  worked 
for  the  success  of  that  party.  He  has  never  sought  nor  held  any  public  office, 
excepting  that  of  County  Superintendent  of  Schools  in  McHenry  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  believes  that  every  man  should  give  some  attention  to  politics,  and 
has  acted  in  accordance  with  this  belief.  His  father  was  an  old-time  Democrat, 
but  cast  his  ballot  for  Lincoln  in  1860,  and  thereafter  remained  an  ardent 
Republican.  Mr.  Baldwin's  brothers  are  active  Republican  workers.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Law  Institute  in  Chicago,  one  of  its  directors,  and  chairman  of 
the  Committee  on  Legal  Education;  the  Chicago  and  the  Illinois  State  Bar 
Associations ;  the  Chicago  Athletic  Association,  and  the  Hamilton  Club,  in  which 
club  he  is  at  present  one  of  the  directors.  He  is  a  member  also  of  the  Royal 

344 


345 


League  and  of  the  Order  of  Columbian  Knights.     He  has  been  connected  with 
the  Baptist  Church  since  his  youth. 

Mr.  Baldwin  was  married  March  6,  1883,  to  Nettie  C.  Borden  of  Crystal 
Lake,  111.  One  child  was  born  to  them,  namely,  Ralph  W.  Baldwin.  Mr.  Bald- 
win is  six  feet  tall,  strongly  built,  and  a  robust  constitution.  He  is  a  very 
sociable  man  by  nature,  and  has  encouraged  sociability  to  the  extent  of  his 
powers ;  as  a  consequence  he  and  his  family  have  a  large  circle  of  friends. 


HENRY  C.  BEGOLE. 

In  all  ages  of  the  world,  successful  men,  whether  in  politics,  war  or  busi- 
ness, have  attracted  the  attention  of  their  contemporaries,  and  set  them  upon 
inquiry  as  to  how  such  success  was  achieved.  If  we  stop  to  analyze  each  case 
would  have  been  391  yeas,  338  nays,  and  the  contesting  delegates  from  Illinois 
of  success  in  business,  or  otherwise,  nine  times  out  of  ten  we  find  in  the  person 
who  has  achieved  it  some  good  and  substantial  reason  for  the  result.  Thus  it 
has  been  with  Hon.  Henry  C.  Begole,  one  of  the  prominent  Republicans  of 
Southern  Illinois,  who  possesses  integrity,  industry  and  determination,  essential 
qualities  for  success  in  any  calling.  Mr.  Begole  is  a  product  of  St.  Clair  county, 
111.,  born  January  21,  1857;  son  of  William  R.  and  Elizabeth  (Porter)  Begole, 
also  natives  of  St.  Clair  county.  The  father  was  a  farmer  by  occupation.  In 
politics  he  was  a  life-long  Whig  and  Republican  and  a  man  of  public  spirit  and 
enterprise.  He  was  active  in  all  enterprises  for  advancing  the  interests  of  his 
section  and  was  an  honorable  and  most  worthy  citizen.  His  death  occurred  in 
1887.  His  widow  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Ten  children  were  the 
fruits  of  their  union.  Joshua  A.  Begole,  grandfather  of  Henry  C.,  was  a 
native  of  the  Empire  State,  born  in  Genesee  county,  and  was  a  pioneer  of  St. 
Clair  county,  111.  His  wife  was  Nancy  Terry,  a  native  of  St.  Clair  county.  The 
Begole  family  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  Huguenots  who  emigrated  to 
America  after  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 

Henry  C.  Begole  attended  the  district  school  during  youth  and  then  entered 
Howe  Institute,  East  St.  Louis,  where  he  secured  a  good,  practical  education. 
Returning  to  the  farm,  he  was  engaged  in  its  arduous  duties  until  1891,  when  a 
desire  for  a  change  turned  his  mind  into  a  different  channel.  He  moved  to 
Belleville,  111.,  and  engaged  in  the  livery  and  undertaking  business,  which  he 
has  continued  up  to  the  present  time  with  an  unusual  degree  of  success.  In 
January,  1887,  he  married  Belle,  daughter  of  Max  and  Leonora  Weisenberger, 
of  Collinsville,  111.  They  are  the  parents  of  one  son,  H.  Clay.  Mr.  Begole  is 
a  Knight  Templar  Mason  of  the  Consistory  and  Mystic  Shrine  and  is  also 
an  Elk. 

He  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  Republican  and  has  taken  a  decided 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  party  since  his  majority.  In  1894  he  was  elected 
Treasurer  of  St.  Clair  county,  and  discharged  the  duties  incumbent  upon  this 
position  in  so  able  and  satisfactory  a  manner  that  in  1898  he  was  elected  State 
Senator  to  represent  the  49th  District  of  Illinois.  During  the  session  of  1899 
he  was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Live  Stock  and  Dairying  and  was  on 
several  other  important  committees.  As  a  politician  Mr.  Begole  has  been 
closely  in  touch  with  the  people  of  his  county.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Republican  County  Committee  for  several  years  and  Secretary  of  the  Congres- 
sional Committee  of  the  2ist  District  for  four  years.  As  a  public  officer  he  has 
a  clean  record  and  exercises  a  potential  influence  in  the  ranks  of  his  party,  not 
alone  in  St.  Clair  county,  but  all  over  southern  Illinois. 


346 


347 


MYRON  H.  BEACH. 

Myron  H.  Beach  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  May  22,  1828,  on  his  father's 
farm,  one  mile  west  of  Cayuga  Lake,  Seneca  county,  N.  Y.  He  traces  his  lin- 
eage back  four  generations,  through  his  father,  Elam  Beach,  to  John  Beach,  a 
puritan,  who  came  to  America  about  1639,  and  settled  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  in 
which  State  the  family  lived  for  years.  His  great-grandfather,  Israel  Beach, 
served  in  the  Colonial  French  and  Indian  Wars,  and  the  powder  horn  carried  by 
him  is  now  preserved  by  his  great-grandson.  His  grandfather,  Israel  Beach, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War;  fought  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
and  in  siege  of  Boston.  Elam  Beach  married  Hannah  Edwards  and  removed 
to  western  New  York  in  1818.  Mrs.  Beach  was  descended  from  Captain  John 
Edwards,  who  came  to  America  from  Scotland,  and  settled  near  Black  Rock 
Harbor,  Conn.,  in  the  early  history  of  the  State.  Abel  Edwards,  father  of  Mrs. 
Beach,  served  in  the  Continental  Army  during  the  whole  of  the  war  for  inde- 
pendence. 

Myron  H.  Beach  lived  with  his  parents  until  1850,  and  learned  the  occupa- 
tion of  farming.  He  attended  the  district  school  until  prepared  for  the  acad- 
emy. At  sixteen  years  of  age  he  entered  Seneca  Falls  Academy,  and  remained 
two  years.  It  was  his  good  fortune  that  Professor  Oren  Root,  father  of  Elihu 
Root,  the  present  Secretary  of  War,  was  principal  of  the  academy.  Mr.  Root, 
who  afterward  became  professor  of  mathematics  in  Hamilton  College,  possessed 
the  rare  faculty  of  so  stimulating  and  encouraging  his  students  as  to  arouse  in 
them  the  greatest  enthusiasm  for  obtaining  an  education ;  the  professor's  en- 
couragement and  advice  decided  young  Beach  to  take  a  college  course.  After 
leaving  the  academy  he  taught  the  district  school  winters,  working  on  the  farm 
summers,  continuing  his  own  studies,  and  in  1850  entered  the  sophomore  class 
of  Hamilton  College.  He  devoted  himself  earnestly  to  the  study  of  mathemat- 
ics and  the  physical  sciences,  not  neglecting  Greek  and  Latin.  He  was  gradu- 
ated in  1853.  After  graduation  he  taught  mathematics  one  term  in  Brockport 
Collegiate  Institute.  In  1853  he  was  elected  principal  of  Seneca  Falls  Academy, 
in  his  native  town,  and  filled  for  three  years  the  position  once  occupied  by 
Professor  Root.  While  Mr.  Beach  was  principal  of  the  academy  it  attained  its 
highest  degree  of  prosperity;  in  no  educational  institution  in  the  State  were 
higher  mathematics  or  more  advanced  classes  in  Greek  and  Latin  taught.  Never 
intending  to  make  teaching  his  profession,  Mr.  Beach  severed  his  connection 
with  the  academy  in  1856,  and  soon  located  at  Dubuque,  Iowa,  where  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  the  same  year.  He  established  a  large  practice  in  Iowa,  his 
business  including  many  of  the  most  important  cases  litigated  in  the  State, 
involving  questions  concerning  corporations,  real  estate,  trusts,  admiralty,  pat- 
ents, trade  marks,  taxes,  negligence,  etc. 

Mr.  Beach  in  politics  was  originally  a  Whig,  joining  the  Republican  party 
when  it  was  organized.  Was  an  active  party  worker,  attending  nearly  all  im- 
portant conventions,  and  contributed  largely  to  the  success  of  many  prominent 
Republicans,  but  sought  no  office  for  himself.  He  was  connected  with  the 
Board  of  Education  of  Dubuque  for  a  number  of  years.  His  efforts  mainly 
secured  the  establishment  of  the  High  School  and  the  introduction  of  higher 
mathematics,  Greek,  Latin  and  chemistry ;  and  inaugurated  for  all  the  schools 
a  proper  system  of  examinations  for  teachers.  Mr.  Beach  was  Lieutenant  of 
Company  "A,"  Forty-fourth  Iowa  Infantry  Volunteers  in  the  Civil  War,  and 
was  in  command  of  the  company  most  of  the  time  it  was  in  service. 

In  1884  he  removed  his  family  to  Chicago,  and  began  the  practice  of  law, 
gaining  a  large  business.  His  practice  embraces  more  especially  insurance, 
corporation,  trade  mark  and  real  estate  cases,  not  only  in  Chicago,  but  the 
Northwestern  States.  A  number  of  the  cases  he  has  fought  and  won  in  the 
Supreme  Courts  of  the  States  and  of  the  United  States  are  leading  authorities  on 
the  questions  involved  and  determined  in  them. 

348 


349 


Mr.  Beach  was  a  member  of  the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  Society  in  college.  He 
belongs  to  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  is  a  Companion  of  the  Illinois  Com- 
mandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  Ameri- 
can Bar  Association  and  American  Historical  Association.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  of  Chicago;  was  an  elder  in  that  church  in 
Senaca  Falls,  N.  Y.,  and  Dubuque,  Iowa. 

Myron  H.  Beach  was  married  December  23,  1857,  to  Helen  Mary  Hoskins, 
daughter  of  the  leading  merchant  of  Seneca  Falls,  N.  Y.  Her  father's  ancestors 
were  Puritans,  who  settled  in  Connecticut.  Her  mother  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Livingstons  of  New  York,  and  a  cousin  of  Commodore  Melcanthon  Taylor 
Woolsey. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beach's  eldest  son  is  Captain  Lansing  H.  Beach,  U.  S.  A., 
a  graduate  of  the  United  States  Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  in  the 
Engineer  Corps,  and  is  now  Engineer  Commissioner  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia. The  second  son  is  Harry  L.  Beach,  a  prominent  correspondent  of  the 
Associated  Press,  and  one  of  its  representatives  in  Cuba  during  the  Spanish  War. 


RICHARD  FRANKLIN  BENNETT. 

Upon  a  farm  in  the  County  of  Shelby,  Illinois,  on  the  2d  of  October,  1839,. 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born.  He  is  the  eldest  son  of  William  B.  and 
Lavinna  Bennett,  and  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  his  county,  finishing 
at  Moultrie  County  Seminary.  His  education  was  not  elaborate,  but  was  con- 
fined to  the  simple  branches  first,  and  later  to  what  may  be  called  the  vital  or 
substantial  branches.  At  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years  he  began  teaching 
school  in  his  native  county,  to  obtain  means  with  which  to  still  further  advance 
his  education  and  prepare  himself  for  the  active  duties  of  life.  As  a  pedagogue 
he  proved  successful,  showing  good  executive  ability  and  excellent  capacity  to- 
instruct,  and  so  continued  for  the  period  of  three  years.  For  some  time  previous 
to  this  he  had  determined  to  study  medicine,  for  which  profession  he  had  a 
special  liking,  and  accordingly  took  up  the  study  and  pursued  it  diligently  until 
1861,  when  he  graduated  at  the  Medical  School  in  Cincinnati.  In  the  same 
year  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  J.  Storm  of  Shelby  county,  and  the 
following  year  came  to  Litchfield,  111.,  where  he  began  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession. His  skill  and  ability  made  him  successful  from  the  start,  and  he  soon 
had  a  large  and  profitable  practice.  The  Doctor  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  for  many  years.  At  present  his  family  consists 
of  his  wife  and  two  children,  a  son  and  a  daughter.  The  son,  Dr.  Harry  F. 
Bennett,  of  Chicago,  graduated  from  medicine  in  that  city  in  1894,  and  imme- 
diately thereafter  began  practicing  in  the  same  place.  The  daughter,  Marie 
Bennett,  graduated  from  the  Northwestern  University  in  June,  1899. 

It  was  not  until  1871  that  Dr.  Richard  F.  Bennett  began  to  be  prominent 
in  the  politics  of  this  State.  He  had  from  his  earliest  boyhood  been  a  Repub- 
lican, and  had  taken,  at  all  times,  a  profound  interest  in  the  success  of  his  party. 
His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  was 
nominated  for  Alderman  of  his  ward  and  was  elected  with  ease,  although  the 
ward  was  strongly  Democratic.  He  was  elected  for  a  second  term,  and  by  this 
time  his  friends  recognized  in  him  a  party  man  of  great  strength  and  a  candidate 
whom  the  Democrats  had  reason  to  fear.  He  was  therefore  brought  forward 
as  a  candidate  for  Mayor,  was  nominated  and  elected,  and  so  great  was  his 
popularity,  success  and  strength  with  the  people  that  he  was  retained  in  the 
same  office  for  a  period  of  five  terms.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been 
a  member  of  the  School  Board  almost  continuously,  and  has  done  a  vast  amount 
for  the  cause  of  education.  He  has  been  president  of  the  Oil  City  Building 
Association  for  the  past  ten  years,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  strongest 
promoters  of  such  organizations  in  their  infancy.  He  is  identified  with  many 
of  the  secret  societies  and  lodges  of  his  home  city,  among  them  being  Masons, 
Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen.  In  1888  he  was 
selected  by  the  Republicans  of  the  old  Thirty-Eighth  Senatorial  District  to  lead 

350 


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351 


a  forlorn  hope  as  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate.  He  accepted  in  the  interest 
of  his  party,  made  a  brilliant  campaign,  and  reduced  the  majority  of  his  oppo- 
nent to  less  than  half  its  normal  size.  A  little  later  he  was  selected  as  State 
Committeeman  from  the  Eighteenth  Congressional  District,  which  position  he 
has  occupied  for  the  last  four  years.  In  1897  he  was  appointed  as  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  Asylum  for  the  Incurable  Insane,  then  in  course 
of  erection  at  Peoria.  Later  Governor  Tanner  appointed  him  to  a  position  on 
the  State  Board  of  Health,  which  he  still  occupies.  Personally  he  is  extremely 
popular  with  the  masses  of 'people,  owing  to  his  affability,  integrity  and  brilliant 
qualities  of  mind.  He  has  a  remarkable  faculty  for  making  and  retaining  friends. 
He  has  been  twice  urged  to"run  for  Congress,  and  no  doubt  could  easily  have 
been  elected,  but  has  preferred  to  practice  his  profession. 


E.  RAYMOND  BLISS. 

E.  Raymond  Bliss  is  a  native  of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  where  he  was 
born  September  3,  1846.  He  is  a  son  of  George  Ripley  Bliss,  D.  D.,  author, 
professor  of  theology  in  the  Upland  Seminary  in  Pennsylvania.  His  mother's 
name  was  Mary  A.  Raymond;  she  was  a  daughter  of  Eliakin  Raymond  of  New 
York.  The  Raymond  family  is  one  of  the  best-known  families  of  New  York 
State.  They  were  old  settlers  in  Brooklyn ;  were  people  of  prominence  and  high 
respectability,  and  promoters  of  all  educational  and  other  philanthropic  move- 
ments. John  H.  Raymond,  an  uncle  of  Mr.  Bliss,  founded  Vassar  College,  and 
by  his  support  and  untiring  labor  made  it  one  of  the  great  educational  institu- 
tions of  the  country.  Mr.  Bliss,  after  passing  through  the  common  schools, 
entered  the  University  at  Lewisburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  studied  there  for  a  time. 
Coming  to  Chicago  in  1863,  he  attended  the  old  University  of  Chicago.  In  1870 
he  went  to  Washington,  D.  C.,  entered  Columbia  Law  School,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  1873,  and  was  soon  admitted  to  the  bar.  Returning  to  Chicago, 
he  began  the  practice  of  law,  in  1876,  in  the  law  office  of  Bentley  &  Quagg. 
Subsequently  he  opened  a  law  office  and  continued  the  general  practice  until 
September  I,  1882,  when  he  was  appointed  County  Attorney  to  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  Cook  county.  He  held  this  office  from  1882  to  1884,  and 
again  from  1886  to  1889,  a  period  of  five  years.  He  introduced  many  reforms 
in  the  conduct  of  the  business  of  this  office.  Mr.  Bliss  familiarized  himself  with 
the  conduct  of  public  affairs  of  the  county  and  suggested  a  number  of  changes. 
He  was  instrumental  in  the  passage  of  the  law  establishing  the  purchasing  agency 
for  the  county,  a  change  which  has  resulted  in  a  great  saving  to  the  county. 
The  most  important  service  rendered  by  him  to  the  county  was  in  aiding  to  place 
the  finances  of  the  county  upon  a  stable  basis  in  order  to  save  the  necessity  of 
pledging  the  taxes  for  a  year  or  two  in  advance  of  their  collection.  During 
Mr.  Bliss'  second  term  as  County  Attorney,  upon  his  recommendation,  new 
methods  were  adopted  for  the  conduct  of  the  business  of  the  County  Board, 
whereby  a  number  of  restrictions  upon  its  power  were  introduced,  to  remove 
even  the  suspicion  of  fraudulent  practices.  Mr.  Bliss  introduced  the  present 
Fee  Bill  in  connection  with  the  Probate  Clerk's  office,  from  which  is  derived 
sufficient  revenue  to  run  the  office.  During  Mr.  Bliss'  term  the  question  of  the 
validity  of  the  law,  permitting  the  annexation  to  Chicago  of  Hyde  Park,  Lake 
View  and  other  towns,  was  settled. 

Mr.  Bliss  is  a  member  of  the  State  Bar  Association.  He  belongs  to  and  is 
a  prominent  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  and  has  attained  the  thirty- 
third  degree  or  Supreme  Council.  He  was  one  of  a  committee  of  three  Masons 
appointed  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  erecting  the  Masonic  Temple,  and  after  the 
death  of  Norman  T.  Cassette,  the  prime  mover  in  the  enterprise,  Mr.  Bliss  aided 
largely  in  securing  funds  for  the  completing  of  the  building.  This  structure 
is  recognized  as  one  of  the  great  landmarks  of  Chicago,  and  its  erection  reflects 
great  credit  upon  those  who  were  identified  with  it.  Mr.  Bliss  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Union  League  Club,  the  Hamilton  Club  and  the  Hyde  Park  and  Chicago 
Athletic  Clubs. 

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353 


JAMES  B.  BRADWELL. 

The  school  of  experience  through  which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
destined  to  pass  was  calculated  to  give  him  that  sterling  character  which  has 
distinguished  his  subsequent  life.  The  family  left  England  when  he  was  yet  an 
infant  and  settled  in  Utica,  New  York,  where  they  continued  to  reside  until  1833, 
when  they  came  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  but  the  following  year  went  to  Wheeling, 
111.,  it  requiring  twenty-one  days  to  make  the  latter  journey.  The  parents  were 
Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Gutridge)  Bradwell,  the  father  being  a  man  of  high 
character,  keen  wit  and  intelligence,  and  the  mother  a  woman  of  singular  beauty 
and  refined  tastes.  It  required  a  great  deal  of  resolution  for  such  people  to 
leave  the  old,  settled  home  in  England  for  the  wild  prairie  of  the  Western  States. 
They  did  not  fully  realize  what  was  before  them,  but  when  here  did  not  shrink 
from  the  task.  Indians  were  numerous  and  quite  often  hostile.  In  these  pioneer 
days  of  danger  and  privation  the  family  passed  through  many  thrilling  expe- 
riences, which  made  the  boy  self-reliant,  resourceful  and  cpurageous.  He  led 
in  all  the  hard  work  of  the  farm — breaking  prairie,  splitting  rails,  sowing  the 
seed,  mowing  and  cradling  in  the  old-fashioned  way,  and  attending  the  rude 
country  school  in  the  winter  months.  He  thus  acquired  a  vigorous  constitution 
and  a  character  of  noble  tendencies  and  resolutions.  Later  he  attended  Wil- 
son's Academy  in  Chicago,  and  completed  his  education  in  Knox  College,  Gales- 
burg.  To  the  little  red  brick  school  house  near  his  home  came  a  young  lady 
teacher,  whose  acquaintance  he  made,  and  whom  he  afterward  married.  This 
was  Miss  Myra  Colby,  who  has  had  so  much  to  do  in  making  his  after  life 
successful  and  happy,  and  who  is  so  well  known  to  Chicagoans.  In  May,  1852, 
they  were  married,  and  went  to  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  opposite  their  home  was 
a  slave  mart,  which  intensified  their  hatred  of  slavery  and  stimulated  their  activity 
for  the  cause  of  abolitionism.  They  returned  to  Chicago  in  1854,  when  subject 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  soon  had  a  large  practice.  In  1861  he  was  elected 
County  Judge,  and  in  1865  was  re-elected,  thus  serving  eight  years.  It  is  well 
known  that  during  his  term  of  service  he  instituted  greater  reforms  and  prac- 
tical benefits  than  had  ever  before  been  carried  into  execution  on  the  bench  of 
Chicago. 

He  was  noted  for  his  sterling  integrity  and  fearlessness.  The  orphan  and 
the  widow  found  in  him  a  zealous  friend,  carefully  guarding  their  property  and 
interests;  the  poor  a  sympathetic  judge,  studying  how  to  save  them  costs;  but 
the  evil-doer,  who  had  designs  on  the  property  of  his  charges,  found  him  stern 
and  unrelenting. 

He  was  the  first  judge  to  hold  that  a  marriage  contract  made  during  slavery 
was  valid,  or,  in  other  words,  that  the  civil  rights  of  slaves,  being  suspended 
during  slavery,  revived  upon  emancipation.  He  wrote :  "Were  there  a  thou- 
sand of  these  decisions  (precedents)  made  under  this  influence  in  favor  of  slavery 
and  against  the  conclusions  I  have  come  to  in  this  case,  I  would  brush  them 
aside  as  I  would  a  spider's  web,  and  decide  this  case  upon  what  I  consider  to 
be  the  first  principles  of  law,  justice  and  humanity."  This  decision  met,  subse- 
quently, with  wide  approval.  He  has  ever  been  a  valiant  champion  of  the  col- 
ored race.  He  was  for  four  years  an  influential  member  of  the  Illinois  Legis- 
lature. Holding  the  most  advanced  views  as  to  the  rights  of  women,  he  has, 
throughout  his  long  and  useful  life,  bent  every  energy  and  labored  in  season  and 
out  of  season,  in  whatever  position  he  might  occupy,  to  do  all  in  his  power  to 
advance  this  interest. 

His  varied  career  in  many  fields  of  activity  may  be  appreciated  by  briefly 
recounting  the  many  positions  he  has  filled.  On  the  3Oth  of  July,  1848,  he  was 
commissioned  by  Governor  French  as  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  One  Hundred 
and  Ninth  Regiment  Illinois  Militia ;  he  took  part  in  the  organization  of  the 
American  Woman  Suffrage  Association ;  was  chairman  of  the  Arms  and  Trophy 
Department  of  the  Northwestern  Sanitary  Commission  and  Soldiers'  Home 
Fair  of  1865,  which  made  nearly  half  a  million  for  the  needy  soldiers;  president 
of  the  Soldiers'  Home  Board ;  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Union  League  Club 
and  president  of  its  first  board  of  directors ;  president  of  the  Chicago  Rifle  Club ; 

354 


355 


president  of  the  Chicago  Photographic  Society  and  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Photography  of  the  World's  Congress  Auxiliary.  He  is  a  thirty-third  degree 
Mason,  and  has  held  many  Masonic  offices ;  was  president  of  the  Chicago  Press 
Club;  president  and  one  of  the  three  honorary  members  of  the  Chicago  Bar 
Association,  and  president  and  for  many  years  historian  of  the  Illinois  State  Bar 
Association.  After  the  death  of  his  dearly  beloved  wife,  in  1894,  he  became  the 
editor  of  the  Chicago  Legal  News,  which  Myra  Bradwell  founded.  In  the  lone- 
liness of  his  declining  years  he  finds  deep  solace  in  the  companionship  of  the  little 
grandchild,  Myra  Bradwell  Helmer,  who  was  named  after  the  sainted  grand- 
mother. „  

FRED  A.  BANGS. 

Fred  A.  Bangs  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  April  3,  1865,  at^Lacon,  Marshall 
county,  111.  He  is  a  son  of  Honorable  Mark  Bangs,  whose  wife  was  Harriet 
Cornelia  Pomeroy,  both  of  whom  were  descendants  of  old  Puritan  Revolutionary 
stock.  Honorable  Mark  Bangs  is  a  gentleman  of  high  character  and  standing, 
recognized  as  an  able  lawyer,  who  for  a  number  of  years  was  United  States  Dis- 
trict Attorney  for  the  northern  district  of  Illinois,  and  who  is  now  a  citizen  of 
Chicago,  and  is  the  senior  in  the  well-known  firm  of  Bangs,  Wood  &  Bangs,  of 
which  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  junior  partner. 

In  1875  Fred  A.  Bangs  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Chicago,  where  he 
now  resides,  and  which  is  the  scene  of  his  life  work.  Mr.  Bangs  was  afforded 
every  opportunity  by  his  father  to  receive  an  education,  and  lie  availed  himself 
of  that  opportunity  with  enthusiasm.  He  received  his  education  in  Chicago, 
both  academic  and  professional.  He  was  a  student  of  the  Union  College  of 
Law,  of  the  class  of  1884,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  and  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Illinois  in  the  summer  of  1886,  and  was  soon  admitted  as  a  partner 
with  his  father  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  under  the  style  of  'Bangs  &  Bangs. 
This  firm  was  soon  enlarged  by  the  admission  of  Mr.  Wood.  It  may  be  said 
that  Mr.  Bangs  took  to  the  law  by  natural  selection ;  he  practically  grew  up  in 
his  father's  law  office,  and  became  familiar  with  the  proceedings  and  practice 
long  before  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  rise  in  the  profession  was  rapid, 
and  he  was  soon  recognized  as  a  competent  office  lawyer  and  a  painstaking  and 
successful  trial  lawyer. 

Fred  A.  Bangs  is  a  clear  and  logical  speaker,  and  is  invariably  convincing 
and  effective  whether  as  a  pleader  addressing  a  jury,  or  in  analysis  of  an  intricate 
legal  position  before  the  court.  He  possesses  to  a  marked  degree  what  may 
properly  be  termed  a  legal  temperament,  and  which  enables  him  to  see  promptly 
and  with  no  uncertainty  into  the  abstruseness  of  perplexing  points  that 
present  themselves  in  the  disposition  of  his  cases.  This  is  a  great  and  un- 
usual talent,  and  one  that  is  always  present  in  the  make-up  of  eminent  lawyers. 
To  it  more  than  to  any  other  one  cause  may  be  described  the  rapid  and  remark- 
able success  already  achieved  by  Mr.  Bangs  in  both  the  State  and  Federal 
Courts. 

In  politics  he  is  an  earnest  and  uncompromising  Republican.  He  believes 
in  thorough  organization  and  active  political  work  as  an  indispensable  means  of 
attaining  success.  He  is  a  popular  and  peculiarly  forceful  public  speaker,  and  is 
always  in  demand  at  Republican  meetings.  On  such  occasions  he  never  fails  to 
hold  the  attention  of  his  audiences  by  his  sharp  and  incisive  manner,  and  wins 
converts  to  his  views  by  presenting  his  ultimate  points  in  a  simple  and  convinc- 
ing style  that  everyone  can  understand.  For  several  years  he  was  an  influential 
member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  and  in  recognition  of  his  able  and  faithful  services 
was  elected  to  its  presidency.  This  position  he  now  fills  with  honor  and  credit 
to  both  himself  and  the  club.  His  favorite  motto  has  always  been :  "Be  prompt 
to  discharge  with  fidelity  every  accepted  trust."  Mr.  Bangs  is  of  the  younger 
generation  of  men  who  have  come  up  since  the  Civil  War,  and  upon  whom  the 
future  political  destiny  of  the  country  must  devolve.  Those  who  have  known 
him,  or  heard  him  speak,  have  no  fear  but  that  he  will  respond  to  the  call  of  his 
country  with  the  earnestness  of  purpose,  power  of  expression  and  singleness  of 
intention  that  has  always  characterized  his  attitude  toward  public  duty. 

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357 


In  October,  1893,  he  was  married  to  Ruth  Tileston  of  Evansville,  Ind.,  a  lady 
of  charming  personality  and  great  popularity.  Their  home  in  the  I2th  ward  of 
Chicago  is  the  centre  of  the  artistic  and  literary  activity  of  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 


EPHRAIM   BANNING. 

This  eminent  and  distinguished  member  of  the  Chicago  bar  may  be  said  to 
inherit  his  legal  tendency  and.,  capacity.  His  mother,  who  was  a  Kentuckian  by 
birth,  was  a  sister  of  the  late  Judge  Pinkney  H.  Walker  of  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Illinois ;  her  father  was  Gilmer  Walker,  a  lawyer  of  great  eminence  and  with 
a  large  practice,  and  her  uncle  was  Cyrus  Walker,  who  likewise  distinguished 
himself  in  the  practice  of  law.  The  latter  removed  to  Illinois  and  became  one 
of  the  foremost  lawyers  of  the  State,  ranking  with  such  men  as  Lincoln,  Douglas, 
S.  T.  Logan  and  others.  The  father  of  subject  was  a  man  of  more  than 
ordinary  capacity ;  he  was  a  Virginian  by  birth  and  removed  to  the  West  at  an 
early  day  and  took  an  active  and  honorable  part  in  the  political  and  social  prob- 
lems of  Illinois  and  Kansas.  From  boyhood  onward  he  had  turned  his  back 
upon  slavery  and  lost  no  opportunity  to  throw  his  influence  and  efforts  dgainst 
that  institution.  After  living  in  Illinois  for  a  number  of  years  he  removed  to 
Kansas  and  there  still  further  improved  his  reputation  as  an  uncompromising 
foe  of  slavery.  All  this  effort  and  activity  on  his  part  had  not  a  little  to  do  in 
establishing  in  the  heart  of  our  subject  the  strongest  sentiments  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty.  From  Kansas  the  family  moved  to  Missouri,  where  they  re- 
sided during  the  Civil  War.  Two  brothers  older  than  subject  promptly  en- 
listed in  the  P'ederal  cause,  while  the  latter,  then  twelve  years  of  age,  remained 
to  assist  his  father  on  the  farm.  One  brother  lost  his  life  in  the  service  and 
the  other  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Ephraim  Banning  was  born  in 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  July  21,  1849.  H*5  eafly  life  was  passed  without 
noteworthy  incident,  and  upon  attaining  his  seventeenth  year  had  learned  all 
the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  could  teach  him.  He  then  attended  the  Brook- 
field  (Missouri)  Academy,  and  there  studied  the  classics  and  other  branches  of 
a  liberal  education.  Later  he  became  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Samuel 
P.  Huston  of  Brookfield.  There  he  received  the  elements  of  a  legal  education 
which  has  since  ripened  into  broad  and  comprehensive  knowledge  not  only  of 
law  but  of  all  that  will  assist  in  making  law  dignified  and  successful.  In  1871  he 
came  to  Chicago,  then  so  full  of  possibilities  for  the  young  and  ambitious  stu- 
dent. He  acted  as  clerk  in  the  office  of  Rosenthal  &  Pence,  in  the  meantime 
continuing  diligently  his  studies,  and  was  finally  admitted  to  the  bar  in  June, 
1872.  The  following  October  he  opened  an  office  for  himself,  and  soon  had  a 
living  practice,  which  rapidly  increased.  He  was  a  hard  and  indefatigable  stu- 
dent, and  fought  his  cases  with  a  tenacity,  vigor  and  intelligence  that  soon  won 
for  him  an  enviable  reputation.  Judge  Blodgett  afterward  said  of  him  at  this 
time:  "He  had  a  large  and  varied  practice"  in  his  court,  and  that  "he  showed 
himself  a  good  admiralty  lawyer,  was  well  equipped  on  all  questions  arising  under 
the  bankrupt  law  and  in  commercial  cases  generally,  as  well  as  in  real  estate 
law."  One  of  his  early  associates,  Frank  J.  Loesch,  in  writing  of  him  said  :  "His 
preliminary  training  for  admission  to  the  bar  was  solid,  his  industry  both  then 
and  since  has  been  nothing  less  than  wonderful,  and  while  he  has  in  later  years 
confined  himself  and  obtained  eminent  success  as  a  patent  lawyer,  his  career 
as  a  general  practitioner  during  the  first  ten  or  twelve  years  of  his  practice  was 
beyond  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  any  of  our  lawyers.  He  has  fulfilled 
the  promise  of  his  youth  in  being  not  only  a  sterling  man,  but  a  lawyer  who 
has  lived  up  to  the  highest  ideals  of  the  profession,  whose  integrity  has  never 
been  questioned,  whose  faithfulness  to  his  clients'  interests  attained  that  measure 
of  success  which  it  deserved,  and  whose  ability  as  a  lawyer  none  can  dispute." 

After  about  ten  years  he  began  making  a  specialty  of  patent  cases.  In  1877 
he  was  joined  by  his  brother,  Thomas  A.,  and  in  1888  by  George  S.  Payson,  and 
in  1894  by  Thomas  F.  Sheridan,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Payson  as  a  member  of  the 
firm.  Their  briefs  are  familiar  in  all  the  leading  courts  of  the  country.  In  1896 
he  served  as  a  McKinley  elector,  in  1897  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  State 

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Board  of  Charities,  and  in  1899  was  supported  by  an  immense  following  for 
United  States  District  Judge,  but  failed  to  get  the  appointment.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Union  League,  Lincoln  and  Illinois  Clubs,  the  American,  State  and  Chi- 
cago Bar  Associations,  serving  on  the  most  important  committees  of  the  latter. 
He  is  a  Presbyterian.  He  has  been  twice  married — to  Lucretia  T.  Lindsley, 
who  died  in  1887,  leaving  three  sons,  and  second  to  Emelie  B.  Jenne. 


JOHN  JOSEPH  BROWN. 

Hon.  John  Joseph  Brown  of  Vandalia,  111.,  was  bojrn  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
November  15,  ^852,  his  parents  being  James  and  Mary  Brown,  natives  of  Dublin, 
Ireland.  Both  of  his  parents  died  when  he  was  still  of  tender  years,  and  he  was 
thrown  upon  the  mercies  of  friends,  and  at  the  age  of  seven  years  was  sent  to 
the  New  York  Juvenile  Asylum.  He  remained  at  the  reception  house  of  the 
Asylum  ten  days,  and  at  the  Asylum  proper  fourteen  days,  making  twenty-four 
days  in  all.  At  that  time  there  was  being  organized  at  the  Asylum  a  company 
of  twenty-seven  boys  to  be  sent  West  to  such  homes  as  they  could  find  among 
the  farmers  and  others.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  not  among  this  company 
of  boys  selected,  as  he  was  too  young  to  be  of  service  to  farmers ;  but  his  brother 
William  Brown  was  chosen,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  learned  by  the  Board  of 
Directors  that  William  Brown  had  a  younger  brother  in  the  institution,  they 
deemed  it  wise  that  John  should  accompany  him,  and  accordingly  he  joined  the 
others.  Upon  his  arrival  in  Illinois  he  was  indentured  to  William  Henninger 
of  Hagarstown,  a  prosperous  farmer  of  that  community.  In  a  short  time  the 
young  boy  became  attached  to  his  surroundings,  and  became  interested  in  the 
affairs  of  the  farm.  The  hard  work  to  which  he  was  introduced  developed  a 
remarkably  rugged  physique  and  excellent  health,  which  has  ever  since  been 
enjoyed  by  him.  Possessing  a  strong  mind,  healthy  body,  a  fluent  tongue  and 
sparkling  and  ready  wit,  he  became  popular  in  the  entire  neighborhood.  He  was 
found,  at  an  early  age,  to  possess  exceptional  social  qualities,  which  in  recent 
years  have  been  the  means  of  attracting  to  him  a  wide  circle  of  sincere  friends. 
He  was  permitted  to  see  many  pleasures  during  his  boyhood,  and  was  given 
fairly  good  educational  advantages.  Still  later,  when  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years, 
he  was  permitted,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Henninger,  to  enter  the  Wes- 
leyan  University  at  Bloomington,  where  he  spent  five  years  of  earnest,  diligent 
study.  Upon  his  return  to  Fayette  county  he  spent  six  years  in  teaching  school, 
a  portion  of  the  time  being  principal  of  the  Vandalia  High  Schools.  His  quali- 
ties fitted  him  excellently  for  the  legal  profession.  He  was  a  ready  speaker,  was 
skilled  in  debate,  witty  and  eloquent  in  language,  logical  in  thought,  and  with 
these  qualities  he  made  up  his  mind  to  study  law.  He  began  the  study,  and  in 
due  time  was  admitted  to  practice.  In  1881  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge 
Wr.  M.  Farmer,  afterward  taking  into  the  firm  George  T.  Turner,  who  is  now 
County  Judge.  After  the  elevation  of  Judge  Farmer  to  the  Circuit  Bench,  and 
Judge  Turner  to  the  County  Bench,  Mr.  Brown  formed  a  partnership  with  James 
M.  Albert,  under  the  firm  name  of  Brown  &  Albert.  This  firm  is  by  far  the 
ablest  and  most  successful  of  the  law  firms  of  the  city.  As  a  lawyer  Mr.  Brown 
is  exceedingly  popular  and  successful,  and  as  a  pleader  has  few  equals  before 
the  jury.  Whether  at  the  bar  or  on  the  platform  he  is  equally  at  home,  and  by 
his  brilliant  oratory  and  close  analysis  of  subjects  wins  verdicts  as  well  as  ap- 
plause. His  qualities  led  him  into  politics. 

In  1884  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republicans  of  his  district  for  Congress, 
but  the  district  being  overwhelmingly  Democratic,  he  was  defeated  by  Judge 
Lane  of  Hillsboro.  Later  he  was  nominated  for  County  Judge,  and  though 
the  county  had  500  Democratic  majority,  he  lacked  only  43  votes  of  being  elected. 
In  the  fall  of  1886  he  was  nominated  for  Representative  of  the  Thirty-fifth  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  was  easily  elected.  In  February,  1889,  he  was  appointed  by 
Governor  Fifer  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  the  Chester  Penitentiary,  and 
served  until  the  election  of  John  P.  Altgeld,  when  he  resigned  to  give  place  to  a. 
Democrat.  In  1894  his  friends  urged  him  to  make  the  race  for  Congress  against 
Judge  Lane,  but  he  generously  yielded  that  honor  to  his  friend,  Hon.  Frederick 

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Remann,  and  by  his  able  support  contributed  much  to  the  success  of  that  gentle- 
man. Since  his  resignation  as  commissioner  he  has  devoted  himself  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  Few  lawyers  in  the  State  sustain  a  more  honorable  and 
successful  relation  to  the  bar  than  he  does.  He  has  lost  none  of  his  vigor, 
interest  and  activity  in  politics,  and  is  ever  ready  to  employ  his  high  talents  and 
greatest  energies  for  the  good  of  his  party.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Resolutions  at  the  State  Republican  Convention  in  1898,  of  which  duty  one 
writer  states:  "It  was  a  delicate  position  'that  required  a  cool  head,  quick  judg- 
ment and  a  rare  political  finesse."  These  difficult  requirements  were  ably  and 
successfully  met  by  this  distinguished  man,  who  many  years  ago,  as  a  poor 
orphan  boy,  came  west  to  grow  up  with  the  country,  and  become  a  useful  citizen. 
The  same  writer  states  of  him :  "It  was  this  homeless,  orphan  boy,  the  school 
teacher,  the  lawyer,  the  legislator  and  man  of  business  competency,  the  vigorous, 
genial  man  who  electrified  the  Republican  State  Convention  and  drove  the  storm 
clouds  from  that  body." 

Mr.  Brown  was  married  to  Nellie  G.  Blackwell,  daughter  of  Robert  Black- 
well,  one  of  the  pioneer  newspaper  men  of  the  State,  who  represented  his  dis- 
trict in  the  Legislature  when  the  capital  was  located  at  Vandalia.  His  family 
consists  of  his  wife  and  an  accomplished  daughter,  just  reaching  young  woman- 
hood. Mr.  Brown  belongs  to  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows  and  Pythian  Orders, 
and  served  as  Grand  Chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  in  1896,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  supreme  representatives  of  that  order.  He  is  a  Methodist  and  an 
enthusiastic  Sunday-school  worker.  He  has  been  repeatedly  urged  to  make  the 
race  for  Governor,  and  is  well  fitted  in  every  way  to  grace  that  honorable 
position. 

HENRY  FRANCIS  BADER. 

The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  John  G.  and  Margaret  Bader, 
the  father  being  a  contractor  and  builder  of  considerable  prominence  in  the 
vicinity  where  he  lived.  After  a  useful  life  he  died  in  1876;  his  widow  is  yet 
living.  Henry  Francis  Bader  was  born  June  i,  1858,  in  East  St.  Louis,  111. 
He  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  East  St.  Louis  and  St.  Louis,  taking 
great  interest  in  his  studies  and  coming  out  of  school  well  prepared  for  the 
active  duties  of  life.  In  1872,  having  made  up  his  mind  the  occupation  he 
wished  to  pursue  through  life,  he  entered  the  St.  Louis  College  of  Pharmacy 
with  the  class  of  1878-9,  and  taking  the  full  course  was  duly  graduated,  and  in 
1881,  having  secured  the  necessary  means,  he  embarked  in  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  has  thus  continued  until  the  present  time,  steadily  expanding  his 
business  until  he  now  owns  and  conducts  two  of  the  most  elegant  drug  stores 
in  East  St.  Louis.  His  business  success  has  been  due  to  his  activity,  intelli- 
gence and  general  capacity  for  the  management  of  intricate  industrial  enter- 
prises. 

Back  as  far  as  he  can  recollect  his  views  have  been  identical  with  those  of 
the  Republican  party.  He  began  to  take  an  active  interest  in  politics  in  1889, 
at  which  time  he  became  a  candidate  for  membership  on  the  Board  of  School 
Trustees  of  his  district,  to  which  position  he  was  elected.  In  1895,  so  strong 
was  his  influence  among  politicians,  he  was  brought  forward  by  his  party  as  a 
candidate  for  Mayor  of  East  St.  Louis,  and  was  elected  and  served  for  two  years, 
refusing  to  become  a  candidate  for  re-election.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the 
St.  Clair  County  Republican  Central  Committee  for  many  years,  and  is  the 
present  chairman  of  the  City  Central  Committee  of  East  St.  Louis.  In  March, 
1899,  he  was  appointed  by  Governor  Tanner  a  Commissioner  to  the  Southern 
Illinois  Penitentiary,  in  recognition  of  distinguished  services.  Aside  from  his 
drug  business  he  also  became  interested  in  various  other  industries.  In  1890 
he  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  East  St.  Louis  Electric  Railway,  of  which 
organization  he  was  elected  first  vice-president.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Fraternity,  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  Shriner,  and  has  reached  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Fra- 
ternal Mystic  Circle.  He  was  united  in  marriage  to  Louise  M.  Spannagel,  Sep- 
tember 22,  1881,  and  by  her  had  five  children,  four  of  whom  are  now  living. 

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HORATIO  CHAPIN   BURCHARD. 

Horatio  Chapin  Burcharcl  was  born  at  Marshall,  Oneida  county,  N.  Y., 
September  22,  1825.  His  father,  Deacon  Horatio  Burcharcl,  was  born  at  West 
Springfield,  Mass.,  September  14,  1792,  and  was  the  Son  of  Jonathan  and  Beulah 
Ely  Burchard.  Jonathan  Burchard  was  a  Revolutionary  soldier  and  a  descend- 
ant of  Thomas  Burchard,  who  was  born  at  Roxbury,  England,  and  emigrated 
to  Boston  in  1635.  Horatio  Burchard,  Sr.,  was  married  at  West  Springfield, 
to  Frances  Chapin,  a  refined  ^and  accomplished  young  lady  who  had  been  edu- 
cated at  the  Hartford  Ladies'  Seminary. 

In  1838,  Mr.  Burchard,  Sr.,  removed  with  his  family  to  Aurora,  N.  Y., 
and  two  years  later  to  Beloit,  Wis.  For  two  years  young  Burchard  attended 
school  at  the  Aurora  Academy,  and  afterward  at  Beloit,  during  the  winters, 
working  on  his  father's  farm  in  the  summer.  In  the  winter  of  1846-7  he  taught 
school,  and  early  in  1847  entered  Hamilton  College  at  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  1850.  He  there  decided  to  take  up  the  law  as  a  profession, 
and  began  in  the  law  class  of  the  senior  year,  studying  the  legal  text  books 
written  by  American  authors,  and  after  graduation  continued  his  studies,  in 
the  meantime  supporting  himself  by  teaching  school.  After  being  admitted  to 
practice  in  the  Wisconsin  courts  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  W.  Stewart. 
His  health  failing  on  account  of  office  confinement,  he  decided  to  abandon 
temporarily  the  law  business,  and  accepted  employment  as  assistant  engineer  in 
surveying  for  a  railroad  between  Janesville  and  the  Mississippi  river.  In  1853 
he  came  to  Freeport,  111. ;  had  charge  of  its  schools  for  one  year,  and  in  1855 
formed  a  partnership  with  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Turner  and  later  with  Judge  Edward 
P.  Barton  and  Henry  M.  Barnum  for  the  practice  of  law  in  that  city,  where  he 
has  since  continued  to  reside. 

Mr.  Burchard,  by  heredity  as  well  as  conviction,  became  an  earnest  Repub- 
lican. His  fathe_r  was  an  early  and  out-spoken  Abolitionist  and  one  of  the  seven 
who  organized  the  Liberty  party  in  1844.  Mr.  Burchard's  first  vote  for  Presi- 
dent was  cast  in  1848  for  the  Free  Soil  candidate,  Martin  Van  Buren,  but  in 
1852  he  voted  with  the  WJiig  party,  and  in  1856  he  entered  heartily  in  the 
Freemont  campaign  in  the  interest  of  the  Republican  ticket.  In  1858  he  was 
a  delegate  to  the  Republican  State  convention  at  Springfield,  and  in  1862  he 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  opposing  the 
disloyal  measures  which  the  Democratic  majority  had  introduced.  In  1864 
Mr.  Burchard  was  re-elected ;  during  this  term  he  introduced  a  number  of  bills 
and  succeeded  in  having  them  enacted  into  law;  among  them  were  the  following: 
Giving  towns  and  counties  power  to  grant  bounties  to  soldiers  enlisting  in  the 
Union  Army ;  authorizing  the  votes  of  U^nion  soldiers  absent  from  the  State 
to  be  taken,  transmitted  and  counted ;  providing  for  the  registry  of  voters ;  and 
a  bill  repealing  the  so-called  Black  Laws.  In  1868  he  was  a  delegate  to  the 
State  convention  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign  of  that  year. 

In  1869  Mr.  Burchard  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Galena  District 
to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne,  who  resigned.  He  was 
afterward  re-elected  for  the  four  succeeding  terms.  He  served  during  this 
time  two  years  on  the  Banking  and  Currency  and  eight  years  on  the  Ways  and 
Means  Committees,  and  materially  assisted  in  framing  and  perfecting  the  im- 
portant measures  then  being  considered.  At  the  close  of  his  fifth  term  in 
Congress  he  was  appointed  Director  of  the  Mint,  and  held  this  position  until 
after  the  inauguration  of  Cleveland  in  1885.  For  his  statistical  work  while 
Director  of  the  Mint  he  was  elected  member  of  the  International  Statistical 
Institute.  He  then  returned  to  his  home  at  Freeport  and  resumed  the  practice 
of  law.  Mr.  Burchard  was  a  member  of  the  commission  appointed  by  Governor 
Oglesby  to  revise  the  revenue  laws  of  the  State,  and  since  the  completion  of 
this  duty  his  time  has  been  occupied  with  professional  and  private  business  at 
Freeport,  except  in  1893,  when  he  had  the  supervision  of  the  Bureau  of  Awards 
in  the  Mines  and  Mining  Departments  at  the  World's  Fair,  and  in  1900  was 
Supervisor  of  the  Census  for  the  Third  District  of  Illinois. 

On  May  15,  1861,  Mr.  Burchard  was  married  to  Jane  Lawver  of  Lena,  111. 
Mrs.  Burchard  was  educated  in  the  Freeport  schools  and  for  a  short  time  at 

364 


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the  Rockford  Ladies'  Seminary,  and  later  at  the  celebrated  Ladies'  Seminary 
at  Troy,  N.  Y.  She  was  an  accomplished  lady  and  a  devoted  wife  and  mother. 
During  the  sixteen  years  her  husband  was  a  member  of  Congress  and  Director 
of  the  Mint,  she  was  with  him  at  Washington,  and  accompanied  him  on  his 
travels  there  and  to  other  places.  She  died  at  Freeport,  November  17,  1892. 
Their  only  child,  Edward  Lawver  Burchard,  was  born  June  5,  1867.  He  was 
graduated  at  Beloit  College  in  1891,  and  in  July  of  that  year  was  appointed  by 
Director  General  Davis  stenographer  and  clerk,  and  afterward  chief  clerk,  for 
the  department  of  Mines  and  Mining  in  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition, 
which  position  he  held  until  jts  close,  when  he  became  Librarian  and  Recorder 
for  the  Field  Columbian  Museum.  In  1897,  upon  competitive  examination, 
taken  by  about  eighty  applicants  in  the  principal  cities  of  the  United  States,  he, 
standing  the  highest,  was  appointed  and  now  is  chief  of  the  division  of  Archives 
and  Library  in  the  Coast  and  Geodetic  Survey  at  Washington. 


CHARLES  MILAN  BARRICKMAN. 

Charles  Milan  Barrickman  of  Pontiac,  111.,  was  born  December  28,  1862,  at 
Newton,  Livingston  county,  111.  His  father,  Benjamin  Barrickman,  came,  with 
his  wife,  Mary  A.  Barrickman,  to  Livingston  county  in  1832,  and  pursued  the 
occupation  of  a  farmer.  Their  son  Charles  was  afforded  every  opportunity  for 
securing  an  education.  After  passing  through  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
he  entered  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  at  Bloomington,  where  he  completed 
his  education.  After  leaving  the  university,  he  taught  school  for  two  years, 
studied  law,  and  after  an  examination  before  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1889.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law 
at  Pontiac,  where  he  soon  established  a  fine  reputation  as  a  lawyer,  secured  a 
good  practice  and  made  many  friends.  In  1894  Mr.  Barrickman  was  elected  to 
the  office  of  County  Judge,  was  re-elected  in  1898,  and  holds  that  position  at  the 
date  of  this  writing. 

Judge  Barrickman  has,  by  extensive  study,  fitted  himself  for  the  most  impor- 
tant public  positions  of  the  State.  He  is  keenly  alive  to  all  the  great  movements 
of  the  day,  keeps  well  posted,  not  only  in  regard  to  his  profession,  but  in  the 
great  march  of  public  events ;  he  is  an  untiring  worker  and  is  undoubtedly  one  of 
the  rising  men  of  the  State.  The  Judge  is  peculiarly  gifted  by  nature  for  making 
friends — affable,  agreeable,  assuring  in  his  address,  unpretentious,  but  always 
thoroughly  in  earnest.  He  rarely  ever  meets  a  man  but  what  they  part  as 
friends.  These  points  of  character,  supplemented  with  zeal  and  industry  in  the 
prosecution  of  just  ends,  fit  Judge  Barrickman  for  a  successful  career. 

As  a  judicial  officer  Judge  Barrickman  has  given  the  bar  and  the  public 
entire  satisfaction.  He  is  clear  in  his  perceptions  and  logical  and  incisive  in  his 
deductions.  On  the  bench  he  is  at  once  dignified  and  unostentatious.  His  pres- 
ence inspires  confidence  and  respect.  In  the  conduct  of  business  he  is  strictly 
impartial,  but  sympathetic  to  both  sviitors  and  their  counsel.  Judge  Barrickman 
politically  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  he  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  party,  and  never  fails  to  perform  his  part  in  the  political  campaigns 
of  the  State,  exerting  at  all  times  a  most  powerful  influence  for  the  success  of 
his  party.  The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  and  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club  of  Chicago. 

Charles  Milan  Barrickman  is  an  eminent  exemplar  of  that  high  citizenship 
that  cannot  be  restrained  to  the  limitations  of  any  single  state,  but  rather  looks 
out  and  beyond  as  is  concerned  with  the  fortunes  and  destiny  of  the  whole  land. 
As  both  judge  and  layman,  he  has  followed  the  loftiest  ideals  and  directed  his 
influence  toward  the  furtherance  of  those  principles  that  make  for  the  happiness 
and  uplifting  of  the  people.  On  June  16,  1890,  he  married  Miss  Rena  M.  Ten 
Eick,  an  estimable  lady  of  Bloomington,  111.  Their  hospitable  home  at  Pontiac 
is  a  model  of  domestic  felicity,  and  an  admirable  expression  of  that  high  idealism 
that  sustains  and  inspires  them  both.  To  the  literary  and  social  elite  of  that 
community  this  home  has  become  a  veritable  Mecca,  and  its  occupants  the 
objects  of  profound  and  affectionate  regard. 

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CHARLES  BOGARDUS. 

The  history  of  such  a  man  as  Colonel  Charles  Bogardus  increases  the  respect 
shown  to  all  those  who  have  been  the  architects  of  their  own  fortunes  and  who 
have  risen  to  prominence  in  whatever  work  they  have  undertaken.  His  life  is 
but  another  example  of  what  may  be  accomplished  when  a  determined  spirit  is 
at  the  helm. 

Colonel  Bogardus  has  tfeen  identified  with  the  political  affairs  of  Illinois 
as  one  of  the  Republican  leaders  for  years,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  members 
of  the  Senate  in  point  of  consecutive  service.  He  is  a  product  of  the  Empire 
State,  born  in  Cayuga  county,  March  28,  1841,  and  when  but  six  years  old  was 
left  an  orphan.  He  obtatined  a  fair  common  school  education  in  a  "catch-as- 
catch-can"  way,  and  began  working  in  a  city  store  at  the  age  of  twelve ;  remained 
nearly  four  years,  when  he  went  with  an  uncle,  a  merchant  in  western  New  York, 
as  clerk,  until  his  enlistment.  On  his  return  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  became 
a  partner  and  conducted  the  business  until  his  failing  health,  resulting  from  his 
army  wounds,  caused  him  to  sell  out  a  very  successful  business.  He  practiced 
industry  and  economy,  and  thus  accumulated  considerable  means,  a  good  stock 
of  experience  and  a  fair  share  of  knowledge  from  school  books. 

Prompted  by  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-first  New  York  Infantry  in  1862  and  was  elected  First  Lieutenant 
of  his  company.  He  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  the  same  year,  a  position  he 
filled  in  a  manner  that  reflected  great  credit  upon  himself,  and  later  he  was 
made  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  his  regiment,  and  was  the  youngest  field  officer 
commanding  in  his  brigade  or  division  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps.  Following 
this  he  was  brevetted  to  a  Colonelcy  "for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  before 
Petersburg,  Va."  He  was  twice  wounded,  once  very  severely,  and  captured  by 
the  enemy.  Colonel  Bogardus  participated  in  some  of  the  fiercest  and  bloodiest 
battles  of  the  war,  among  which  may  be  named  Mine  Run,  the  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania,  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Sailor's .  Creek  and  Appomattox.  In 
1872  he  came  to  theJPrairie  State  and  settled'. in  Ford  county,  where  he  has 
since  made  his  home,  and  where  he  has  the  unbounded  confidence  and  respect 
of  all.  In  1885  he  was  appointed  Colonel  and  Aide-de-Camp  by  Governor 
Oglesby,  and  was  reappointed  in  1889  by  Governor  Fifer.  Colonel  Bogardus  is 
a  practical  farmer  and  stock  raiser  and  has  dealt  extensively  in  farm  lands  as 
buyer  and  seller.  He  owns  and  operates  many  magnificent  farms  in  the  fertile 
prairies  of  eastern,  central  and  northern  Illinois.  The  Colonel  was  married  to 
Hannah  W.  Pells  of  Orleans  county,  New  York,  in  1862.  They  have  but  one 
child  living. 

Colonel  Bogardus  has  a  long  and  honorable  record  in  Illinois  politics, 
beginning  with  his  first  session  in  the  Illinois  House  in  1885,  an  experience 
that  tried  every  member  as  with  fire.  It  was  the  famous  session  when  General 
Logan  and  Colonel  Morrison  so  long  fought  for  election  as  United  States  Sen- 
ator, and  the  Legislature  was  evenly  divided  politically.  Senator  Bogardus 
demonstrated  his  ability  as  a  leader,  and  was  rewarded  with  a  return  to  the 
House  in  1887.  The  same  year  he  was  selected  chairman  of  the  Republican 
caucus.  In  1888  he  was  advanced  to  the  Senate,  and  in  the  sessions  of  1889, 
1893  and  1897  was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  make  up  the  Senate  committees 
for  the  Republicans.  In  1892  he  was  re-elected  to  the  Senate,  and  in  1895  was 
chosen  president  pro-tem  by  acclamation  in  the  Republican  caucus — the  highest 
place  in  the  gift  of  the  Senate.  In  1895,  in  the  absence  of  the  Governor  and 
Lieutenant-Governor,  he  was  Constitutional  Governor  for  some  time.  Mr. 
Bogardus  is  one  of  those  clear-headed,  constructive  and  able  men  whose  per- 
sistent industry,  comprehensive  grasp  of  details  and  power  to  marshal  them  for 
practical  results,  made  him  invaluable  in  committee,  where  legislation  is  per- 
fected and  all  important  measures  are  prepared.  During  the  late  war  with  Spain 
he  organized  a  regiment  of  splendid  men,  finely  officered,  but  was  unable  to  get 
them  to  the  front. 

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369 


ELMER  E.  BARRETT. 

Elmer  E.  Barrett  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  in  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  June  2, 
1863.  Mr.  Barrett  is  descended  from  Irish  stock  on  his  father's  side,  and  from 
Welsh  ancestry  through  his  mother.  His  paternal  ancestors  settled  in  this 
country  before  the  Revolution,  and  participated  in  that  great  struggle  for  inde- 
pendence. The  Barrett  family  was  represented  in  the  War  of  1812  also,  and 
in  the  late  Civil  War  as  well.  They  are  a  race  of  patriotic  people,  ever  ready  to 
risk  their  lives  for  their  country  in  the  defense  for  the  right.  Mr.  Barrett's 
father  was  James  Henry  Barrett,  and  his  mother,  before  her  marriage,  was  Sarah 
Hopkins. 

Elmer  E.  Barrett  was  afforded  every  opportunity  for  acquiring  a  good  edu- 
cation. He  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in 
1889,  and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Chicago,  where  he  soon  estab- 
lished a  lucrative  practice.  He  became  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Shope,  Mathis, 
Barrett  &  Rogers,  composed  of  Honorable  Simeon  P.  Shope,  Justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Illinois ;  John  C.  Mathis,  Esq. ;  Mr.  Barrett  and 
R.  M.  Rogers,  Esq.  This  firm  was,  from  the  start,  recognized  as  one  of  the 
ablest  law  firms  of  the  city.  Mr.  Barrett  took  an  active  interest  in  professional 
education  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Law,  this 
being  the  law  department  of  the  Lake  Forest  University.  He  has  been  one  of 
its  chief  executive  officers  since  its  organization,  arid  is  now  secretary  thereof. 
This  institution  is  one  of  the  four  largest  law  schools  in  the  United  States. 
Honorable  Joseph  M.  Baily,  one  of  Chicago's  most  distinguished  judges,  was 
its  first  dean.  He  held  this  position  until  his  death,  and  was  succeeded  as  dean 
by  Honorable  Thomas  Moran.  Mr.  Barrett  has  added  to  his  reputation  as  a 
lawyer  by  his  great  success  as  a  teacher.  He  has  been  largely  instrumental  in 
establishing  the  lines  of  instruction  of  this  institution ;  its  curriculum  is  broad 
and  thorough ;  it  is  not  bound  down  to  one  method,  but  has  adopted  the  most 
useful  features  of  all  the  systems  in  vogue. 

Mr.  Barrett  aims  to  teach  the  fundamental  principles  of  law  upon  which 
the  American  system  of  jurisprudence  rests,  and  to  teach  the  theory  and  practice 
of  law  making,  and  tke  principles  of  construction,  so  that  a  student,  passing 
through  this  institution,  will  be  qualified  to  make  his  way  in  the  courts.  The 
Chicago  College  of  Law,  under  the  influence  of  Mr.  Barrett,  advanced  the 
requirements  of  study  to  three  years  instead  of  two  as  the  basis  for  granting  the 
degree  of  Bachelor  of  Law.  He  is  president  of  the  Law  Journal  Print,  pub- 
lishers of  the  Chicago  Law  Journal,  one  of  the  best  and  best-known  legal  publi- 
cations of  the  country.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  the  Marquette 
and  the  Press  Clubs  and  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club.  He  is  also  a  governing 
member  of  the  Art  Institute  of  Chicago. 

Elmer  E.  Barrett  was  married  in  1883  to  Helen  Marie  Walters.  Their 
home  is  at  Western  Springs,  a  convenient  suburb  of  Chicago. 


REUBEN   MOORE  BENJAMIN. 

In  common  with  other  States  carved  out  of  the  Northwest  Territory,  Illi- 
nois, in  her  infancy  and  youth,  received  as  emigrants  many  sons  of  New  York 
State  who,  thoroughly  uniting  their  own  fortunes  to  hers,  gave  to  their  adopted' 
State  loyal  and  intelligent  service,  and  in  their  turn  waxed  strong  with  her 
growth  and  prospered  with  her  prosperity.  From  1820  to  1860  Illinois  received 
from  the  Empire  State  many  engaged  in  the  learned  professions,  and  particu- 
larly that  of  law.  Among  those  who  thus  sought  upon  the  fertile  prairies  of 
the  WTest  a  more  inviting  field  for  the  practice  of  law  than  was  afforded  in  their 
native  State,  was  Reuben  M.  Benjamin,  who  has  achieved  in  his  new  home 
an  unusual  degree  of  sucess  as  lawyer  and  judge.  He  was  born  at  Chatham 
Center,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  June  29,  1833 ;  the  youngest  son  of  Darius 
and  Martha  (Rogers)  Benjamin.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides  lived  in  Con- 
necticut in  colonial  times  and  he  comes  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock,  his 

370 


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grandfather,  Ebenezer  Benjamin,  being  a  captain  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 
Then,  too,  his  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  father  and  his 
maternal  grandfather,  Timothy  Rogers,  were  of  English,  while  his  maternal 
grandmother,  Sarah  (Moore)  Rogers,  was  of  Welsh  extraction. 

Reuben  M.  Benjamin  was  fitted  for  college  at  Kinderhook  Academy,  New 
York,  and  in  1853  was  graduated  with  honors  at  Amherst  College,  Massachu- 
setts. He  was  principal  of  Hopkins  Academy  at  Hadley,  Massachusetts,  from 
'53  to  '54,  a  student  in  Harvard  Law  School  from  '54  to  '55,  and  a  tutor  in 
Amherst  College  from  '55  to  '56.  In  April  of  the  last  named  year  he  went  to 
Bloomington,  111.,  and  in  the"  following  September,  upon  the  examination  cer- 
tificate of  Abraham  Lincoln,  was  licensed  to  practice  law.  Soon  after  this  he 
became  a  partner  with  General  A.  Gridley  and  Colonel  J.  H.  Wickizer,  with 
whom  he  remained  as  long  as  they  practiced  law.  In  1863  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Thomas  F.  Tipton,  afterwards  circuit  judge  and  member  of  Con- 
gress ;  and  since  then,  at  different  times,  he  has  been  associated  as  partner 
with  Jonathan  H.  Rowell,  member  of  Congress  for  several  terms ;  Lawrence 
Weldon,  one  of  the  judges  of  the  United  States  Court  of  Claims,  and  John  J. 
Morrissey.  In  1869  he  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  framed  the 
State  Constitution  of  1870,  and  two  years  later  he  was  one  of  the  counsel  for 
the  people  in  the  celebrated  Lexington  case  (67  111.  Rep.  n),  a  case  involving 
the  question  as  to  the  right  of  railroad  corporations  arbitrarily  to  fix  their 
charges.  He  was  subsequently  employed  as  special  counsel  for  the  State  Board 
of  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioners  and  assisted  the  Attorney  General 
in  the  prosecution  of  the  warehouse  case  (69  111.  Rep.  80),  which  was  taken 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  and  there  being  affirmed,  estab- 
lished the  constitutional  power  of  the  Legislature  to  regulate  railroad  and 
warehouse  charges  and  thereby  protect  the  public  against  imposition.  The 
Western  Jurist  says :  "It  is  probable  that  the  people  of  the  State  are  indebted 
for  the  results  of  this  agitation  to  Hon.  R.  M.  Benjamin,  of  Bloomington,  in  a 
greater  degree  than  to  any  other  single  individual."  As  member  of  the  Con- 
stitutional Convention,  and  as  counsel  in  these  cases,  he  made  most  convincing 
arguments  in  favor  of  the  rights  of  the  people. 

In  1873  Mr.  Benjamin  was  elected  without  opposition  to  the  office  of  County 
Judge  of  McLean  county;  was  re-elected  in  1877  and  in  1882.  He  preferred  not 
to  be  a  candidate  again  for  the  office,  and  accordingly  retired  from  the  bench 
at  the  close  of  his  third  term,  in  December,  1886.  Judge  Benjamin  has  ever 
been  a  student  of  his  profession,  and  his  knowledge  of  legal  principles  and  of 
precedents  is  comprehensive  and  accurate.  His  reasoning  is  sound,  his  deduc- 
tions logical,  and  he  is  remarkable  among  lawyers  for  the  wide  research  and 
provident  care  with  which  he  prepares  his  cases.  Upon  the  organization  of  the 
law  department  of  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University  in  1874,  Judge  Benjamin 
was  appointed  dean  of  the  faculty.  He  is  still  connected  with  the  school.  He 
has  published  the  following  works :  "Student's  Guide  to  Elementary  Law," 
"Principles  of  the  Law  of  Contracts,"  and  "Principles  of  the  Law  of  Sales" — 
which  are  used  in  several  of  the  leading  law  schools  of  the  country.  In  1880 
the  degree  of  LL.  D.  was  conferred  on  him  by  the  Illinois  Wesleyan  University. 
Judge  Benjamin  was  married  at  Chatham,  New  York,  September  15,  1856,  to 
Laura,  daughter  of  David  G.  Woodin,  who  for  many  years  was  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools  of  Columbia  county,  New  York. 


E'DWARD  J.  BRUNDAGE. 

Honorable  Edward  J.  Brundage  of  Chicago,  111.,  is  a  native  of  New  York 
State.  He  was  born  May  13,  1869,  in  the  town  of  Campbell.  The  Brundage 
family  are  old  settlers  of  the  western  portion  of  New  York,  chiefly  in  Steuben 
county.  His  father,  Victor  Brundag-e,  married  Maria  L.  Armstrong,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  New  York.  In  1880  they  removed  with  their  family  to  the  city 
of  Detroit,  Mich.  Young  Brundage  attended  the  public  schools  of  Detroit  until 
the  death  of  his  father  in  1883  when  he  left  school  and  sought  employment,  to 
assist  in  the  support  of  the  family.  He  was  employed  in  a  railroad  office,  where 

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373 


he  gave  entire  satisfaction,  so  that,  in  1885,  when  the  company  removed  its  gen- 
eral offices  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Brundage  being  then  sixteen  years  of  age,  came  to 
Chicago  and  remained  in  the  employment  of  the  company  until  1898. 

Never  neglecting  the  business  of  his  employer,  the  railroad  company,  he 
devoted  all  his  leisure  to  hard  study,  to  perfect  his  education,  that  he  might  be 
enabled  to  carry  out  his  plan  of  becoming  a  lawyer.  He  took  up  the  study  of 
law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  October,  1892.  He  then  entered  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law  and  graduated  with  honor  from  this  institution  in  1893. 

Mr.  Brundage  became  identified  with  the  Republican  party  during  his  early 
manhood,  and  has  been  an  active  political  worker,  particularly  during  the  cam- 
paign of  1896,  which  ended  in  the  triumphant  election  of  President  McKinley. 
Mr.  Brundage  has  made  a  wide  circle  of  friends  in  Chicago,  especially  in  the 
district  in  which  he  resides.  In  1898  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party 
of  the  Sixth  Senatorial  District,  as  a  candidate  for  the  General  Assembly,  and 
was  elected.  The  ability  of  Mr.  Brundage  for  public  duties  was  immediately 
recognized  by  his  associates,  and  in  the  distribution  of  committees  of  the  house 
he  was  made  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Engrossed  Bills,  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  committees  on  Corporations,  Insurance,  Parks  and  Boulevards 
and  Congressional  Apportionment.  Mr.  Brundage  performed  the  duties  of  rep- 
resentative so  well  that  his  constituents  have  nominated  him  to  the  office  of 
Senator,  and  he  is  now,  at  this  writing,  a  candidate  in  the  Sixth  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict. 

Mr.  Brundage  has  been  appointed  by  Governor  Tanner  as  vice-president 
of  the  Pan-American  Exposition  to  take  place  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  in  1901. 
It  is  expected  that  this  exposition  will  be  a  great  success  in  every  respect.  Gov- 
ernor Tanner  selected  Mr.  Brundage  for  the  position  of  vice-president,  believing 
that  he  would  have  the  ability  and  push  to  interest  the  people  of  Illinois  in  this 
great  undertaking. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Marquette  Club  of  Chicago ;  also  a  member  of  the 
Royal  League,  the  National  Union,  the  Order  of  Columbian  Knights,  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  He  is  now  an  officer  in  the  Lincoln 
Park  Commandery  of  Knights  Templar.  Mr.  Brundage  has  been  an  active 
member  of  all  these  associations  and  is  a  popular  man  with  his  associates.  Up 
to  this  time  Mr.  Brundage  has  remained  unmarried. 


WILLIAM   NICHOLS  BUTLER. 

Hon.  William  N.  Butler  of  Cairo,  111.,  was  born  August  16,  1856,  in  Berlin, 
Green  Lake  county,  Wis.  His  father  was  Comfort  Edgar  Butler ;  his  mother's 
name  before  marriage  was  Celestia  A.  Carter.  In  1859  Mr.  Butler  removed 
with  his  family  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  resided  until  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil 
War ;  he  then  enlisted  in  a  Pennsylvania  regiment  for  the  defense  of  the  country. 
In  due  course  he  enlisted  the  second  time  in  another  Pennsylvania  regiment  and 
served  during  the  war.  During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Butler  in  the  army  his  family 
removed  to  New  York  State  and  made  their  home  among  their  relatives  in 
Canandaigua.  In  January,  1869,  Mr.  Butler  went  to  the  State  of  Texas,  where 
he  expected  to  make  his  home.  He  removed  to  Illinois,  settling  at  the  town  of 
Anna,  Union  county ;  here  William  N.  Butler  grew  to  manhood.  After  attend- 
ing the  local  schools  at  home  he  entered  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Champaign, 
from  which  institution  he  graduated  June  7,  1879.  In  referring  to  this  early 
part  of  his  life  Mr.  Butler  is  always  pleased  to  recount  the  fact  that  he  worked 
at  various  employment  during  his  university  term  to  earn  money  to  pay  his 
way ;  he  worked  as  a  carpenter,  a  printer,  a  clerk  in  a  store  and  as  a  teacher ; 
never,  however,  neglecting  the  requirements  of  the  university  course.  Mr.  But- 
ler decided  to  study  law ;  he  had  the  acquantance  and  friendship  of  Judge  Monroe 
C.  Crawford  of  Jonesboro ;  under  his  instruction  he  began  his  studies.  In  the 
fall  of  1881  he  entered  the  Union  College  of  Law  of  Chicago;  it  happened  that 
he  was  a  classmate  and  seatmate  of  Hon.  W.  J.  Bryan.  In  1882  Mr.  Butler 
entered  the  senior  class  of  the  Albany  (New  York)  Law  School,  and  upon  gradu- 
ating in  1883  received  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Law. 

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In  August,  1883,  he  settled  at  Cairo,  111.,  and  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the 
Internal  Revenue  Service  under  Gen.  C.  W.  Pavey,  collector;  he  remained  in 
this  position  until  the  fall  of  1884,  when  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican 
party  of  Alexander  county  for  the  office  of  State's  Attorney  and  was  elected. 
Mr.  Butler  now  entered  upon  the  professional  career  he  had  labored  so  hard  to 
fit  himself  for,  and  which  had  for  years  been  his  ambition.  He  at  once  took 
rank  among  the  ablest  men  at  the  bar ;  the  fact  that  he  was  thrice  re-elected,  and 
filled  this  important  office  for  sixteen  years  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people,  is 
conclusive  evidence  of  his  ability  and  popularity.  Mr.  Butler  was  Corporation 
Counsel  for  the  city  of  Cairo  -for  two  years  from  1895,  and  has  also  been  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Education  for  six  years.  He  has  been  closely  identified  with 
the  official  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  Republican  party  of  his  county  and 
district.  He  was  chairman. of  the  Republican  Central  Committee  of  Alexander 
county  for  six  years ;  chairman  of  the  Republican  Committees  of  the  Supreme 
Court  District  and  of  the  Republican  Judicial  Committee  of  the  First  Circuit 
for  1889.  In  1888  he  was  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention  of  that  year.  Mr.  Butler  has  also  been  identified  with  the  Illinois 
National  Guard;  he  was  Captain  and  Adjutant  of  the  old  Ninth  Regiment.  He 
belongs  to  three  fraternal  societies — the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Probably  the  most  highly  appreciated  honor  conferred  upon  him 
was  the  presidency  of  the  Alumni  Association  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  which 
he  held  during  1888  and  1889,  and  again  in  1899-1900. 

Mr.  Butler,  although  not  a  member,  is  a  regular  attendant  upon  the  serv- 
ices of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  a  trustee  of  the  church  at  Cairo.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  Mattoon,  October  28,  1885,  at  Fairbury,  111.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Butler  have  an  interesting  family  of  six  children,  namely — Comfort  Straght,  born 
in  1887;  William  Glenn,  1890;  Franklin  Mattoon,  1892;  Mary,  1894;  Helen, 
1897,  and  John  Bruce,  1899. 

WILLIAM  J.  CALHOUN. 

William  J.  Calhoun  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  October  5,  1848,  in  Pittsburg, 
Penn.  He  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  father,  Robert  Calhoun,  was  born 
in  County  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He  was  a  descendant  of  the  Scotch  clan  known 
as  the  Colquohus.  He  emigrated  to  the  United  States  when  a  young  man,  and 
first  located  in  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  where  he  married  Sarah  A.  Knox.  Her  father 
was  also  of  Scotch  descent,  the  family  tree  extending  back  and  including  the 
celebrated  John  Knox  of  Scotland.  Her  father,  prior  to  his  emigration  to  the 
United  States,  was  an  officer  in  the  British  Army ;  her  grandfather  was  Captain 
John  Knox,  who  wrote  and  published  what  is  called  "Knox's  Diary,"  a  history 
of  the  French  and  English  wars  in  Canada,  in  which  he  participated.  Parkman 
in  his  histories  frequently  refers  thereto.  His  mother  died  in  1858.  Robert 
Calhoun  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  until  he  lost  his  health,  when  in 
1860  he  retired  to  a  farm  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  in  1866. 

William  J.  Calhoun  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  took  a  three 
year  course  of  study  at  Poland  Union  Seminary,  Poland,  Ohio.  He  came  to 
Illinois  in  1869,  settling  at  Arcola,  Douglas  county,  where  he  lived  some  two 
years ;  he  taught  country  schools,  worked  on  a  farm  and  commenced  the  study 
of  law.  He  removed  to  Danville,  111.;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1875,  and  the 
same  year  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  J.  B.  Mann  of  Danville.  The 
firm  had  a  large  practice.  Mr.  Calhoun  rose  rapidly  in  the  profession,  made 
many  friends,  and  was  popular  with  his  political  associates. 

In  1882  he  received  the  Republican  nomination  for  the  Legislature  and 
was  elected ;  he  served  one  term  and  declined  re-election.  His  legislative  career1 
gave  entire  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  In  1884  he  was  elected  State's 
Attorney  of  Vermillion  county,  and  held  that  office  for  one  term.  The  partner- 
ship with  Mr.  Mann  was  dissolved  during  this  period,  and  Mr.  Calhoun,  now 
well  established  in  his  profession,  took  rank  as  one  of  the  leading  lawyers 
practicing  at  the  bar.  In  1892  Mr.  Calhoun  was  appointed  General  Attorney 
of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad  Company,  and  remained  in  the  service 
of  that  corporation  until  March,  1898.  While  at  all  times  earnestly  devoted  to 

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his  profession,  and  always  reluctant  to  be  drawn  away  from  the  regular  practice 
of  the  law  by  the  acceptance  of  office,  he  has  been  an  earnest  and  active  Repub- 
lican, working  for  the  success  of  the  party  in  the  interest  of  good  government. 
In  1896  Mr.  Calhoun  was  a  delegate  from  Vermillion  county  to  the  Republican 
State  convention,  and  took  the  leading  part  in  that  exciting  convention  in  sup- 
port of  a  resolution  instructing  the  delegates  at  large  to  the  Republican  National 
convention  to  support  William  McKinley  for  the  Presidential  nomination.  Mr. 
Calhoun  exhibited  great  tact  and  judgment  in  his  management  of  this  question ; 
he  separated  it  absolutely  from  the  contests  over  the  State  nominations ;  no  one 
supporting  his  resolution  beqame  complicated  thereby  in  respect  to  any  other 
question.  His  resolution  was  adopted. 

The  success  of  the  campaign  brought  Mr.  Calhoun  prominently  forward 
as  a  Republican  leader  in  the  State,  and  his  close  friendship  with  President 
McKinley  added  nationally  to  his  influence  and  power.  Mr.  Calhoun  was  one 
of  the  leading  stump  orators  in  Illinois  during  the  campaign  of  1896,  and  sus- 
tained himself  admirably  before  the  people  as  an  eloquent  and  forceful  speaker. 
When  William  McKinley  became  President  he  was  anxious  to  have  Mr.  Calhoun 
identified  with  his  administration.  He  had  great  confidence  in  his  ability,  his 
judgment  and  his  loyalty,  and  believed  that  such  a  man  would  be  of  great  service 
to  the  country.  The  President  tendered  Mr.  Calhoun  the  appointment  of  Comp- 
troller of  the  Treasury,  which  he  declined ;  he  felt  that  he  would  not  be  justified 
in  giving  up  his  law  practice;  but  in  May,  1897,  Mr.  Calhoun  accepted  the 
appointment  of  the  American  Counsel  to  the  Joint  Commission  of  Spain  and 
the  United  States  to  investigate  the  circumstances  attending  the  death  in  Cuba 
of  Dr.  Ruiz,  an  alleged  American  citizen.  The  action  of  Mr.  Calhoun  in  this 
case  brought  to  light  and  emphasized  the  terrible  barbarity  of  Spanish  rule  in 
Cuba.  In  March,  1898,  Mr.  Calhoun  was  appointed  Interstate  Commerce  Com- 
missioner to  succeed  Hon.  William  R.  Morrison.  He  accepted  that  position, 
but  resigned  it  in  October,  1899,  to  re-enter  the  practice  of  law.  He  is  now  a 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Pam,  Calhoun  &  Glennon,  with  offices  in  the  Rookery 
in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Calhoun  married  Alice  Harmon,  December  30,  1875,  at  Danville,  111. 
Miss  Harmon  was  born  in  Mumford,  Monroe  county,  N.  Y.  Mrs.  Calhoun  died 
August  17,  1898,  leaving  surviving  her  two  daughters,  Marian  and  Corinne 
Calhoun. 

CHARLES  C-  CARNAHAN. 

Charles  C.  Carnahan  of  Chicago  is  a  self-made  man.  He  is  of  that  type  of 
strenuous  young  men  who,  by  their  own  native  ability,  energy 'and  upright 
character,  carve  for  themselves  successful  and  honorable  public  careers  and 
elevate  official  life.  He  has  risen  from  the  humble  walks  of  life  to  success  in 
the  legal  profession  and  to  bright  prospects  for  his  future  political  career. 

He  was  born  at  Cochran's  Mills,  a  small  village  in  western  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  3d  day  of  April,  1868.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the  village 
schools.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  taught  school  in  his  home  village  for  ten 
months.  He  received  his  collegiate  education  at  Hillsdale  College,  Hillsdale, 
Mich.  In  the  spring  of  1890  he  passed  the  preliminary  law  examination  in  Kit- 
tanning,  the  county  seat  of  his  home  county,  and  was  then  registered  as  a  law 
clerk  and  read  law  in  the  office  of  J.  W.  King,  a  prominent  attorney  there,  until 
the  fall  of  1891,  at  which  time  he  came  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Chicago 
College  of  Law,  a  branch  of  the  Lake  Forest  University,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  in  1892.  He  received  the  degree  of 
LL.B.  from  the  Lake  Forest  University  in  the  spring  of  1893. 

Immediately  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  opened  an  office  in  the  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce  building,  Chicago,  and  on  the  ist  of  January,  1893,  formed 
a  partnership  with  James  Heckman  under  the  firm  name  of  Heckman  &  Carna- 
han, which  partnership  continued  for  four  years  and  was  then  dissolved,  and 
the  firm  of  Heath,  Carnahan  &  Stoll  was  entered  into  in  the  spring  of  1897, 
which  continued  until  the  spring  of  1899,  and  was  then  dissolved  on  account  of 
Mr.  Heath,  the  senior  member  of  the  firm,  going  East  to  act  as  counsel  for  a 

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large  corporation.  The  present  firm  of  Carnahan,  Slusser  &  Hawkes  was 
shortly  thereafter  formed.  Mr.  Slusser  of  said  firm  is  the  present  State's  Attor- 
ney of  Du  Page  county,  and  the  firm  has  a  large  and  lucrative  civil  practice  in 
Chicago.  In  recent  years  Mr.  Carnahan  has  been  connected  with  some  of  the 
largest  litigation  in  Cook  county.  He  for  years  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Bar  Association  and  the  Chicago  Law  Institute,  is  a  member  of  the 
political  action  committee  of  the  Lincoln  Club  of  Chicago  and  identified  with 
a  number  of  societies.  He  was  married  in  1894  to  Katherine  A.  Hawkes,  and 
they  resided  for  a  time  in  the  suburb  of  Downers  Grove,  in  DuPage  county,  in 
which  county,  at  the  time  of  Mr.  Carnahan's  removal  to  the  city,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Republican  'County  Central  Committee.  In  1900  he  was  the 
Republican  nominee  for  Congress  in  the  Fifth  Congressional  District. 

Mr.  Carnahan  spent  his  early  days,  while  not  attending  school,  practically 
from  boyhood  and  until  he  entered  upon  his  collegiate  course,  clerking  in  his 
father's  general  store  in  his  home  village,  and  in  the  harvest  season  he  assisted 
in  taking  the  harvest  from  his  father's  farm  located  near  the  village.  He  springs 
from  good  old  American  stock,  some  of  his  people  dating  back  to  the  Revolu- 
tion, his  maternal  great-grandfather  having  received  at  the  hands  of  the  govern- 
ment a  large  tract  of  land,  on  which  the  village  of  Worthington  now  stands  in 
western  Pennsylvania,  for  services  rendered  the  government  during  the  Revo- 
lution. The  family  names  of  his  grandparents  are  respectively,  Carnahan  and 
Funk,  McKee  and  Henry.  His  parents,  William  H.  and  Maria  L.  Carnahan, 
now  reside  at  Apollo,  Pa.,  and  are  among  the  oldest  and  most  highly  respected 
citizens  in  the  county. 

HENRY  H.  CARR. 

Henry  H.  Carr,  of  Chicago,  was  born  June  20,  1844,  in  Northville,  LaSalle 
county,  111.  His  parents  returned  to  New  York,  their  native  state,  when  he  was 
a  child,  but  when  he  was  about  nine  years  old  they  again  came  to  Illinois,  and 
settled  in  LaSalle  county.  The  father  was  a  man  of  fine  business  sense  and 
great  enterprise.  He  founded  the  city  of  Sandwich,  111.,  and  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  and  grain  business. 

Henry  H.  Carr  grew  up  amid  the  busy  life  in  which  his  father  was  engaged, 
and  was  taught  the  rudiments  of  a  successful  business  career.  He  attended  the 
best  schools  of  his  neighborhood,  was  a  studious  boy,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
entered  a  commercial  college  at  Chicago,  and  studied  during  the  winter  of  1859- 
1860.  Completing  his  course,  he  returned  home  and  went  to  work  in  his  father's 
store.  When  eighteen  years  of  age,  with  the  consent  of  his  parents,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  H,  One  Hundred  and  Fifth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  for  three 
years.  His  regiment  was  chiefly  engaged  in  the  campaigns  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  and  during  his  three  years'  service  it  took  part  in  nearly  all  the 
battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea,  up  the 
coast,  and  participated  in  the  grand  review  of  the  Federal  armies  at  Washington 
at  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Chicago  in  June,  1865. 

After  leaving  the  army  Mr.  Carr  decided  to  go  west ;  he  secured  a  position 
with  a  large  western  supply  firm  at  Leavenworth,  Kan.,  a  shipping  point  which 
then  bid  fair  to  grow  into  permanent  importance.  The  completion  of  the  Union 
Pacific  railroad  changed  all  this,  and  Mr.  Carr  returned  to  Chicago  and  took  a 
position  in  Martin  O'Brien's  Art  Emporium.  In  1867  he  moved  to  Quincy, 
111.,  where  he  remained  three  years  with  the  wholesale  and  retail  house  of  W.  H. 
Johnson  &  Co.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Chicago  and  engaged  with  Field,  Leiter 
&  Co.  There  he  remained  but  a  short  time.  An  opening  occurred  in  the  Board 
of  Trade  firm  of  E.  F.  Pulsifer  &  Co.,  and  he  secured  an  interest  therein,  and 
was  connected  with  that  commission  house  for  six  years.  In  the  spring  of  1877 
his  health  became  impaired,  and  he  was  obliged  to  seek  a  respite  from  business 
cares.  Mr.  Carr  then  made  several  trips  to  the  Black  Hills,  combining  business 
with  pleasure.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  engaged  in  sheep  raising  in  Texas,  but  in 
the  following  spring  returned  to  Chicago.  Now  perfectly  restored  in  health, 
he  sought  a  new  connection  in  the  grain  trade,  and  as  a  result  was  soon  asso- 
ciated with  Norman  B.  Ream.  In  1884  Mr.  Ream  withdrew  from  active  interest 

380 


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in  the  concern,  when  the  firm  of  H.  H.  Carr  &  Co.  was  established,  with  N.  B. 
Ream  as  special  partner.  These  relations  continued  for  two  years,  when  Mr. 
Ream  withdrew.  Thereupon  Mr.  Carr  departed  from  the  old-fashioned  methods 
of  trade  and  originated  the  system  of  direct  consignments  among  the  farmers. 
The  movement,  slow  at  first,  soon  acquired  momentum,  until  to-day  the  firm  of 
which  he  is  at  the  head  stands  unrivaled  among  its  class.  When  he  began  to 
advocate  his  shipping  reform  he  encountered  all  sorts  of  opposition.  The  coun- 
try buyers,  seeing  in  his  success  the  downfall  of  their  business,  fought  him  bit- 
terly at  every  point.  He  was  sneered  at  and  ridiculed  as  "The  Farmer's  Friend." 

Mr.  Carr  is  a  Republican  of  the  old  school.  He  has  persistently  refused^ 
to  become  a  candidate  for  office,  yet  he  is  always  found  to  be  working  for  the' 
success  of  the  Republican  party  and  the  advancement  of  good,  sound  Republican 
principles.  He  is  a  public-spirited  man  and  has  done  much  to  promote  business 
interests  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  life  member  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Asso- 
ciation, and  belongs  to  a  number  of  social  and  business  clubs.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  several  fraternal  societies.  For  several  years  he  was  secretary  of 
the  Grain  Receivers'  Association  and  did  much  to  assist  in  improving  the  ter- 
minal facilities  of  the  railroads  entering  Chicago. 

Henry  H.  Carr  was  married  March  I,  1877,  to  Mary  Jane  Hobbs  of  Chicago. 
They  have  two  children,  Maude  and  Mabelle  B.  Carr. 


THEODORE  G.  CASE. 

Among  the  noted  lawyers  of  the  State  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is 
a  native  of  New  York,  his  birth  occurring  in  Castletqn,  July  13,  1853,  where 
he  received  an  academic  education.  In  early  manhood  he  engaged  for  a  time 
in  railroading  in  Texas  and  elsewhere,  but  soon  returned  to  New  York  and 
devoted  himself  assiduously  to  the  study  of  law.  He  first  read  in  the  office  of 
Linn  &  Babbitt  of  Jersey  City,  but  later  in  that  of  the  famous  William  M.  Evarts, 
from  which  two  sources  he  acquired  the  foundation  of  a  splendid  legal  education. 
Succeeding  his  work  in  these  two  offices  he  took  a  full  course  in  the  Law  School 
of  the  University  of  New  York,  finally  graduating  with  distinguished  honors. 
He  soon  began  practicing  at  Green  Bay,  Wis.,  and  at  once  took  a  front  rank 
among  western  practitioners.  He  became  one  of  the  solicitors  of  the  Farmers' 
Loan  and  Trust  Company,  and  was  assigned  to  conduct  the  foreclosure  of  that 
company's  first  and  second  mortgages  on  the  Green  Bay  &  Minnesota  rail- 
road's property  and  appurtenances  in  Wisconsin.  Opposing  him  were  some  of 
the  brightest  lawyers  in  the  State,  but  Mr.  Case  succeeded  in  securing  for  his 
client  a  decree  for  $6,300,000.  Many  other  important  cases  came  under  his 
management.  He  was  engaged  on  one  side  or  the  other  in  nearly  all  the  greatest 
cases  which  came  before  the  local  court.  One  of  the  most  important  was  Jen- 
nings vs.  Green  Bay  &  Minnesota  railway,  in  which  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
State  sustained  Mr.  Case's  claim  that  mandamus  would  lie  against  a  municipality 
to  enforce  issuance  of  bonds  voted  to  aid  in  building  a  railroad.  This  point  was 
then  new,  but  has  now  come  into  general  practice,  both  in  State  and  in  Federal 
courts.  In  1885  he  resigned  his  position  as  general  counsel  for  the  Green  Bay, 
Winona  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Company,  the  purchasers  of  the  property  of  the 
Green  Bay  &  Minnesota  Railroad  Company,  and  moved  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
where  he  represented  the  trustees  and  bondholders  of  and  secured  a  decree 
against  the  St.  Louis,  Hannibal  &  Keokuk  Railroad  Company  for  over  $1,250,- 
ooo.  While  at  St.  Louis  Mr.  Case  won  some  of  his  most  notable  victories 
against  such  eminent  men  as  John  B.  Henderson,  B.  Gratz  Brown,  Patrick  Dyer 
and  ex-Governor  Reynolds.  None  but  a  lawyer  of  the  highest  ability,  the  most 
consummate  sagacity,  and  the  widest  range  of  learning,  could  have  held  his  own 
against  the  odds  that  Mr.  Case  was  compelled  to  face.  That  he  successfully  did 
so  and  that  he  surpassed  many  of  them  as  an  adroit  lawyer  of  great  versatility 
prove  him  to  be  one  of  the  most  successful,  and  therefore  one  of  the  best, 
lawyers  in  the  West.  The  results  of  his  excellent  work  are  to  be  seen  in  many 
volumes  of  State  and  Federal  reports.  On  pages  36,  471  and  7fx)  of  Volume  22 
of  the  Federal  Reporter  may  be  read  some  of  his  remarkable  successes.  The 

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383 


one  on  page  471  where  Justice  Brewer  reversed  Judge  Treat  in  the  United 
States  Circuit  Court  in  favor  of  all  the  contentions  of  Mr.  Case  in  the  case  of 
Blair,  Trustee,  vs.  St.  Louis,  Hannibal  &  Keokuk  railroad,  is  a  marked  evidence 
of  the  correctness  of  Mr.  Case's  legal  acumen  and  judgment. 

In  1886  Mr.  Case  came  to  Chicago  and  began  active  work  in  the  local  courts. 
Though  his  practice  has  been  general,  he  has  to  some  extent  made  criminal  and 
personal  injury  cases  his  specialty.  One  of  the  notable  cases  conducted  by  him 
here  was  that  of  Holdom,  etc.,  vs.  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen.  In  1889 
he  secured  a  ruling  in  the  Cook  County  Criminal  Court  that  has  since  been  in 
constant  practice.  He  scored  another  important  victory  in  the  case  of  Bowman 
vs.  Bowman,  24  111.  App.  165.  His  work  in  the  Schwartz,  Painter,  Sutter  and 
Ryan  murder  cases  would  alone  make  any  lawyer  famous.  His  great  cases  are 
too  numerous  to  specify  here.  Many  of  his  personal  injury  cases  are  the  most 
notable  in  the  history  of  the  bar  of  the  West.  In  one  instance  he  obtained  a 
verdict  for  $50,000,  the  largest  ever  secured  in  the  West.  Through  his  instru- 
mentality the  Short  Cause  Calendar  Law  became  a  reality.  It  is  not  too  much 
to  say  that  Mr.  Case  is  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers  in  the  country. 


ETHELBERT  CALLAHAN. 

Ethelbert  Callahan  of  Robinson,  Crawford  county,  111.,  was  born  December 
17,  1829,  in  Jersey,  Licking  county,  Ohio.  John  Callahan,  his  father,  was  born 
in  Union  county,  Pa.,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  mother,  Margaret 
Brownx  was  born  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  August  25,  1805,  and  was  of  English 
descent.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Callahan,  the  father  and  mother  of  Ethelbert,  had  re- 
ceived the  common  school  educations  of  that  period,  were  people  of  respecta- 
bility, honest  and  industrious,  and  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  sent  their  son  to  the  common  schools  of  Ohio,  and  were  deeply 
interested  in  giving  him  the  best  possible  education,  jHe  soon  acquired  a  love 
of  books,  and  was  especially  devoted  to  the  study  of  history,  ancient  and  modern. 

When  Ethelbert  Callahan  was  fifteen  years  of  age  a  circumstance  occurred 
which  no  doubt  gave  direction  to  his  whole  life.  He  happened  to  be  at  Newark, 
Ohio,  during  a  term  of  the  Circuit  Court,  w7hen  a  trial  came  off,  in  which  Henry 
Stansbery  and  Thomas  Ewing,  two  of  the  greatest  lawyers  of  the  State,  were 
opposing  counsel.  This  contest  of  these  intellectual  legal  athletes  aroused  in- 
terest in  young  Ethelbert,  and  he  began  to  think  of  making  himself  a  lawyer. 
Being  ambitious  of  self-support,  and  unwilling  to  depend  on  his  father,  who  had 
met  with  some  financial  reverses,  at  twenty  years  of  age  he  went  from  his  home 
in  Ohio  to  Crawford  county,  111.,  reaching  there  in  March,  1849.  He  obtained 
employment  as  a  school  teacher  during  the  winter  months,  and  worked  upon  a 
farm  during  summer  for  two  years.  He  then  secured  employment  in  a  retail 
store  and  continued  in  this  business  for  two  years.  During  these  years  he  had 
not  neglected  his  education,  he  had  extended  his  knowledge  as  a  school  man, 
and  had  devoted  much  of  his  time  to  standard  literature.  In  1853  he  took  up 
newspaper  work  and  published  the  "Wabash  Sentinel,"  at  Hutsonville.  In  1854 
he  edited  the  "Marshall  Telegraph,"  published  at  Marshall,  Clark  county,  111., 
and  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  discussions  growing  out  of  the  "Know 
v  Nothing"  campaign  of  that  year.  In  1857  Mr.  Callahan  was  elected  Justice  of 
the  Peace.  This  position  gave  him  the  opportunity  and  the  time  which  he  had 
long  been  looking  forward  to.  He  began  the  study  of  law,  and  devoted  himself 
assiduously  to  the  task.  He  was  admitted  to  the  baV  and  licensed  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  in  1859.  1°  J"ne>  1861,  Mr.  Callahan  removed  to 
Robinson  and  began  the  practice  of  law.  In  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
Master  in  Chancery  of  Crawford  county. 

Mr.  Callahan's  career  as  a  lawyer  has  been  successful.  In  every  court 
where  he  appears  he  is  recognized  as  a  lawyer  of  unquestioned  ability.  Like 
most  lawyers  practicing  in  the  smaller  cities,  Mr.  Callahan  practices  all  branches 
of  the  profession.  The  Chancery  Docket,  the  Civil  Docket  and  the  Criminal 
Docket  will  have  his  name  entered  opposite  many  cases.  He  is  untiring  in  his 
efforts  to  serve  his  clients.  He  has  been  the  leading  counsel  for  the  defence  in 

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some  of  the  most  important  murder  cases  that  have  come  to  trial  in  his  portion 
of  the  State.  In  the  trial  of  such  cases,  in  the  preparation  of  the  instructions 
to  the  court,  and  in  forensic  efforts  before  the  jury  he  has  shown  himself  to  be 
a  man  of  ability. 

Mr.  Callahan  became  interested  in  political  questions  early  in  life.  His' 
attitude  in  politics  was  such  that  he  naturally  allied  himself  with  the  Anti- 
Nebraska  movement  in  1854.  He  was  full  of  the  political  opinions  upon  which 
the  Republican  party  was  established,  and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
party  in  his  county.  In  July,  1856,  he  made  the  first  Republican  speech  in  Craw- 
ford county,  in  a  Quaker  church  on  "Quaker  Lane."  He  ardently  espoused 
the  cause  of  Freemont,  Bissell  and  the  whole  Republican  ticket,  and  with  George 
W.  Peck  and  James  H.  Steele,  made  a  school  house  canvass  of  Crawford  county. 
Mr.  Callahan  also  made  a  number  of  speeches  that  year  in  other  counties  in 
the  State.  He  was  appointed  by  Governor  Oglesby  a  member  of  the  first  State 
Board  of  Equalization.  Mr.  Callahan  has  been  four  times  elected  to  the  Illinois 
Legislature,  namely:  To  the  Twrenty-ninth,  Thirty-sixth,  Thirty-seventh  and 
Thirty-eighth  General  Assemblies.  He  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  important 
legislation  of  those  sessions.  He  has  been  a  delegate  to  a  number  of  the  State 
Republican  conventions ;  twice  chosen  as  a  Presidential  Elector  for  his  Con- 
gressional District,  and  was  twice  elected  to  that  position,  in  1880  and  in  1888. 
Mr.  Callahan  has  shown  himself  to  be  a  public-spirited  man,  having  advocated 
and  assisted  all  public  improvements  in  his  section  of  the  State.  He  was  one. 
of  the  projectors  of  the  Paris  &  Danville  Railroad,  and  was  a  member  of  the" 
construction  company  that  built  the  road  from  Danville  to  Lawrenceville.  111. 

Mr.  Callahan  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  when  twelve  years 
of  age,  and  has  continued  his  membership  with  that  church.  He  was  a  delegate 
to  the  General  Conference  of  the  church  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  in  1872,  and  was 
an  Alternate  Delegate  to  the  General  Conference  at  Chicago  in  1900.  Having 
been  raised  on  a  farm  he  has  never  lost  his  love  for  the  fields  and  growing  crops, 
and  as  a  result  Mr.  Callahan  has  invested  most  of  his  savings  in  farm  land.  He 
is  above  the  average  size,  being  six  feet  one  inch  in  height,  and  possesses  a 
powerful  frame,  and,  although  weighing  240  pounds,  is  a  man  of  activity  and 
easy  carriage. 

Ethelbert  Callahan  married  Mrs.  Mary  B.  Jones,  June  27,  1854.  Mrs. 
Callahan's  maiden  name  was  Barlow.  She  is  a  native  of  Crawford  county ;  her 
parents  were  raised  in  Kentucky,  and  were  related  to  the  Marshall  family.  His 
daughter  Mary  Callahan  was  a  member  of  the  Ladies'  Auxiliary  to  the  World's 
Eair  in  1893  from  Illinois. 

DONALD  M.  CARTER. 

Donald  M.  Carter  of  Chicago,  was  born  September  10,  1868,  at  Collins- 
ville,  Madison  County,  111.  His  father,  Henry  T.  Carter,  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, and  came  to  Illinois  in  his  youth.  He  married  Mariam  Smith,  the  mother 
of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  Henry  T.  Carter  died  in  1876,  leaving  his  son, 
then  eight  years  years  of  age,  to  be  reared  and  educated  by  his  mother.  Mrs. 
Carter  was  a  woman  of  discretion  and  good  judgment,  and  was  very  anxious 
that  her  children  should  have  every  possible  facility  for  receiving  an  education, 
that  she  could  afford  them. 

The  common  schools  in  Madison  County  were  of  a  high  class,  and  in  these 
Donald  M.  Carter  laid  a  solid  foundation  for  an  education.  He  then  entered  the 
high  school  and  graduated  with  honor.  For  a  time  he  attended  a  commercial 
college  in  St.  Louis,  but  was  not  especially  attracted  by  this  line  of  education  and 
soon  gave  it  up.  He  entered  the  Iowa  State  college  at  Ames, 
Iowa,  taking  the  course  in  mechanical  engineering,  giving  special 
attention  to  electrical  work.  He  graduated  from  this  institution 
in  1891  with  the  degree  of  B.  M.  E.  He  at  once  obtained  employment  as  an 
engineer  and  continued  in  this  service  until  1893.  He  had  now  attained  his 
twenty-fifth  year,  had  associated  with  many  prominent,  educated  men,  and  de- 
cided that  his  true  field  was  that  of  the  law.  He  entered  the  law  office  of  Francis 
W.  Parker,  of  Chicago,  and  began  the  study  of  law.  He  attended  the  night  law 

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school  of  the  Chicago  College  of  Law  and  finished  a  course  in  that  institution  in 
1895,  when,  upon  the  usual  examination,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  licensed 
by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state  of  Illinois.  Not  content  with  this  preparation, 
Mr.  Carter  took  a  post  graduate  course  in  the  Law  department  in  Lake  Forest 
University,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  1896  with  the  degree  of  L.  L.  B. 
He  now  felt  qualified  to  undertake  the  important  duties  of  a  law  office  in  Chicago, 
and  soon  found  an  opportunity  for  taking  an  active  hand  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession.  Mr.  Parker  was  called  to  Europe  on  important  business  in  1897, 
and  Mr.  Carter  was  given  charge  of  his  office  and  practice.  Upon  the  return 
of  Mr.  Parker  from  Europe,  h,e  was  so  well  satisfied  with  the  services  rendered 
during  his  absence  that  he  invited  Mr.  Carter  to  a  partnership  in  his  business,  and 
the  firm  of  Parker  &  Carter  was  established,  where  they  now  have  offices,  at  No. 
1410  Marquette  Building,  Chicago. 

Mr.  Carter  deservedly  stands  high  with  his  professional  brethren  at  the 
Chicago  bar.  He  looks  back  upon  the  days  when  he  was  acquiring  an  education 
and  feels  a  profound  pleasure  and  gratitude  at  the  encouragement  received  from 
his  mother  and  her  persistent  efforts  for  securing  him  an  education.  Mrs. 
Carter,  his  mother,  is  still  living  at  this  writing  and  has  great  pride  in  the  honor- 
able career  and  success  of  her  son.  It  is  proper  to  state  that  while  Mr.  Carter 
was  studying  at  the  Iowa  State  college,  he  took  a  four  years'  course  in  military 
drill,  and  became  so  proficient  in  military  affairs  that  he  was  commissioned  cap- 
tain in  the  Iowa  militia.  Since  coming  to  Chicago,  Mr.  Carter  has  become  a 
member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  the  Hamilton  Club  and  the  Royal  Arcanum. 
In  politics,  Mr.  Carter  is  a  Republican.  This,  of  course,  will  be  readily  under- 
stood from  the  fact  that  he  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club  of  Chicago,  an 
institution  organized  particularly  in  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party,  and 
conducted  in  the  most  liberal,  intelligent  and  energetic  manner  for  promoting 
the  success  of  that  great  party.  Mr.  Carter  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
principles  of  the  party,  is  proud  of  its  record,  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its 
success  at  the  polls. 

EUGENE  GARY. 

Judge  Eugene  Cary  was  born  in  Boston,  Erie  County,  N.  Y.,  February  20, 
1835.  He  is  descended  from  some  of  the  first  settlers  of  the  Plymouth  Colony, 
who  came  to  this  country  early  in  the  seventeenth  century.  His  ancestors  all 
bore  an  honorable  and  loyal  part  in  their  country's  service  and  history.  The 
first  sixteen  years  of  his  life  were  passed  on  his  father's  farm,  and  the  education 
he  received  during  this  time  was  such  as  the  country  district  school  afforded; 
he  was  an  apt  student  and  readily  mastered  the  rudiments,  thus  laying  the 
foundation  for  a  substantial  education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  started  out  on 
his  own  resources.  He  taught  school  several  terms,  employing  his  leisure 
hours  in  studying  law.  He  then  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge  David  Taylor 
at  Sheboygan,  Wis.,  and  later  that  of  Judge  James  Sheldon  and  Judge  Nathan 
K.  Hall  at  Buffalo.  He  began  the  practice  of  law  at  Sheboygan  when  twenty- 
one  years  old.  He  was  soon  elected  City  Attorney,  and  in  1857,  when  twenty- 
two  years  old,  was  made  County  Judge  of  Sheboygan  County. 

Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  he  at  once  enlisted  and  served  as 
Captain  of  the  First  Wisconsin  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  later  as  Judge  Advocate 
on  the  staff  of  the  General  Commanding  the  first  division  of  the  Fourteenth 
Army  Corps,  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  Soon  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
Judge  Cary  settled  in  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  served  one  term  in  the  State  Senate 
and  one  term  as  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court.  The  Judge  had  two  brothers 
serving  in  the  Union  Army  during  the  war,  both  surgeons,  one  of  whom  died 
in  the  service;  an  uncle  was  a  soldier  in  the  American  War  of  1812  and  was 
killed  in  battle,  and  his  Grandfather  Cary  served  in  the  Revolutionary  Army ; 
thus  it  is  seen  that  Judge  Cary  belongs  to  a  patriotic  family,  a  fact  of  which  he 
may  be  justly  proud. 

In  1857,  while  practicing  law  in  Sheboygan,  Judge  Cary  was  also  local 
agent  for  the  Aetna  and  the  Hartford  Insurance  Companies.  After  the  war, 

388 


389 


when  living  at  Nashville,  he  became  Tennessee  State  Agent  for  the  Aetna-  In 
October,  1871,  he  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  organized  and  managed  the  West- 
ern Department  of  the  Imperial  Insurance  Company.  Two  years  later  he 
accepted  the  management  of  the  Western  Department,  at  Chicago,  of  the 
German  American  Insurance  Company,  which  position  he  has  successfully  held 
for  twenty-seven  years.  Judge  Cary  is  a  cautious  and  conservative  underwriter, 
and  the  success  of  the  company  under  his  charge  is  ample  testimony  of  the 
value  and  efficiency  of  his  methods.  He  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  under- 
writers in  the  United  States,  and  is  always  called  upon  to  serve  on  important 
committees  of  the  various  underwriting  organizations,  having  been  twice  elected 
to  the  Presidency  of  the  Western  Union,  the  most  powerful  for  good  of  all  the 
organizations  of  fire  insurance  men. 

Judge  Eugene  Cary  is  an  ardent  Republican,  takes  a  deep  interest  in  all 
that  pertains  to  the  welfare  of  his  country,  and  has  always  been  found  ready  to 
do  his  whole  duty  as  a  citizen,  either  as  a  lawyer,  a  judge,  a  legislator,  or  a  busi- 
ness man.  He  was  solicited  in  1883  to  accept  the  nomination  for  Mayor  of 
the  city  of  Chicago  on  the  Republican  ticket.  He  made  an  aggressive  cam- 
paign, and  although  he  failed  to  secure  the  office,  it  was  generally  conceded 
that  he  received  a  large  majority  of  the  legal  votes  cast,  but  was  defeated  by 
the  peculiar  "counting  out"  method  then  in  vogue  in  Chicago. 

Judge  Eugene  Cary  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  friends  in  the  various 
social  organizations  and  clubs  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  served  one  term 
as  Commander  of  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  one  term  as 
President  of  the  Commercial  Club  of  Chicago,  the  leading  business  club  of  the 
West,  and  in  January,  1900,  was  elected  President  of  the  Union  League  Club, 
the  foremost  social  and  political  club  of  Chicago. 


FREDERICK  E.  COYNE. 

Mr.  Coyne  was  born  in  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  in  1860.  In  early  life  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  but  upon  reaching  the  age  of  twelve  years  was  obliged 
to  go  to  work.  He  was  one  of  a  large  family,  and  through  the  misfortune  and  ill 
health  of  his  father  found  himself,  thus  early  in  life,  thrown  to  a  large  extent 
upon  his  own  resources.  His  early  life  was  uneventful,  but  was  characterized  by 
his  efforts  to  secure  an  education,  and  by  the  hard  work  necessary  to  sustain  him- 
self. One  of  his  first  occupations  was  to  sell  newspapers,  6ut  he  soon  secured  a 
position  as  clerk  in  a  store,  and  in  1879,  when  but  nineteen  years  of  age,  he  con- 
cluded that  the  west  would  afford  him  better  opportunities  than  the  east,  and 
accordingly  went  to  Kansas  City,  but  not  meeting  the  favorable  opening  antici- 
pated, he  returned  for  a  while  to  New  Jersey.  In  1883  he  came  to  Chicago,  and 
ere  long  began  a  system  of  furnishing  quick  popular  lunches  in  the  business 
center  of  the  city.  This  business  grew  rapidly  until  the  name  of  Coyne  was 
synonymous  with  superior  bakery  products  and  lunches.  His  present  business 
may  be  said  to  be  wholesale  bakery,  but  he  is  also  proprietor  of  two  large 
lunch  rooms,  located  respectively  at  179  Lake  street  and  164  Madison  street. 

He  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  was  old  enough  to  know  the  nature  of 
political  policies.  His  political  principles  may  be  said  to  have  been  inherited 
from  his  father,  who  was  an  unswerving  Republican.  Mr.  Coyne  has  never 
sought  public  office,  but  his  services  during  the  National  Campaign  of  1896  were 
so  eminent  and  effective  that  President  McKinley,  in  recognition  thereof,  ap- 
pointed him  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue,  First  District  of  Illinois,  which  posi- 
tion he  yet  holds.  The  receipts  from  this  office  for  the  last  fiscal  year  were  $14,- 
748,000  as  against  $5,700,000  the  preceding  year.  Mr.  Coyne  is  a  member  of  the 
Union  League,  Hamilton,  Marquette,  and  Menoken  Clubs. 

He  was  married  in  1886  to  Pauline  Neihaus  of  Chicago,  a  native  of  Indiana. 
They  have  four  children,  two  boys  and  two  girls,  ranging  in  age  from  two  and 
one-half  years  to  twelve  years,  and  their  home  at  795  Warren  avenue  is  a  very 
happy  one  to  which  Mr.  Coyne  is  very  much  devoted. 

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391 


WILLIAM  G.  COCHRAN. 

The  present  Circuit  Judge  in  the  Sixth  Judicial  Circuit  of  Illinois  is  William 
G.  Cochran,  who  has  distinguished  himself  in  the  judicial  affairs  of  the  State. 
He  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  November  13,  1844,  and  is  now  a  resident 
of  Sullivan,  Moultrie  county,  111.  His  father,  Andrew  Cochran,  followed  the 
occupation  of  farming,  and  was  an  upright  and  respected  citizen  of  their  com- 
munity. The  father  was  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  many  years,  which  fact  had 
much  to  do  in  turning  the  mind  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  in  the  direction 
of  the  legal  profession.  In  fact,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  son,  while  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  father,  formed  his  determination  to  become  a  lawyer.  He 
attended  the  district  schools  for  about  twelve  months  in  all,  and  as  he  expressed 
it,  "that  was  the  extent  of  my  school  education."  As  a  boy  he  was  strong  and 
active,  did  not  fear  hard  work,  and  enjoyed  fun  as  well  as  any  boy  in  the  State, 
worked  hard  on  the  farm,  feeding  many  head  of  cattle  and  in  general  conducting 
the  laborious  task  of  routine  farming,  continuing  thus  through  his  boyhood. 
He  says  of  himself  that  "I  could  eat  anything  set  before  me,  and  was  never 
troubled  about  the  kind  of  food,  but  always  wanted  quantity."  As  a  boy  and 
as  a  young  man  he  was  not  addicted  to  drink. 

At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  enlisted  in  the  Union  army  and  served  three  years, 
at  the  expiration  of  which  time  he  was  honorably  mustered  out.  He  paticipated 
in  many  arduous  campaigns  and  bloody  battles,  and  did  not  receive  a  scratch 
during  the  whole  war.  He  came  to  Illinois  as  early  as  1849  ln  a  wagon,  and 
settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  north  of  Lovington,  Moultrie  county,  and  there  his 
parents  lived  until  their  respective  deaths.  After  his  return  from  the  war  in 
1865  he  began  farming  again.  In  September,  1866,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Charlotte  A.  Keyes,  of  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  and  moved  on  a  farm  south 
of  Lovington,  where  he  resided  until  January  i,  1873,  when  he  moved  into  Lov- 
ington and  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  He  continued  thus  for  about  three 
years,  when  he  began  the  study  of  law  alone.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  on 
May  23,  1879.  -He-practiced  in  Moultrie  and  adjoining  counties  until  June 
7,  1897,  when  he  was  elected  Circuit  Judge  as  above  stated.  Previous  to  this, 
in  1888,  he  was  brought  forward  by  the  Republicans  of  his  county  as  a  candidate 
for  the  House  of  Representatives,  made  the  canvass  and  was  elected.  He  took 
his  seat  on  January  17,  1889,  and  served  two  years  to  the  satisfaction  of  his 
constituents.  At  a  special  session  held  in  1890,  so  prominent  was  he  in  the 
Legislature,  he  was  elected  Speaker  of  the  House,  and  was  re-elected  in  1894 
and  1895.  In  1896  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature,  but  resigned  in  June, 
1897,  to  accept  the  position  of  Circuit  Judge. 

He  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  soundest  lawyers  and  ablest 
judges  in  the  State.  His  decisions  are  well  known  for  the  strength  of  the  posi- 
tions taken  by  him.  In  May,  1896,  he  was  elected  Commander  of  the  G.  A.  R. 
for  Illinois  and  served  one  year.  In  1897  Governor  Tanner  appointed  him 
Trustee  of  the  Soldier's  Orphan's  Home  at  Normal.  He  was  elected  President 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that  institution,  which  position  he  now  holds.  While 
in  the  Legislature  he  was  placed  upon  some  of  the  most  important  committees, 
such  as  the  Judiciary,  Judicial  Department  and  Internal  Revenue,  Civil  Service, 
etc.  He  served  as  chairman  of  several  of  these  committees.  From  his  earliest 
boyhood  he  was  opposed  to  slavery,  and  has  been  a  Republican  since  he  en- 
tered the  army.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic,  Odd  Fellows,  and  G.  A.  R. 
Societies.  He  is  a  Methodist  and  was  a  lay  delegate  to  the  general  conference 
which  met  in  Chicago,  May,  1900.  He  is  very  fond  of  his  family  and  home, 
and  takes  great  pleasure  in  talking  with  his  old  comrades  in  arms.  In  several 
important  campaigns  of  the  Republican  party  he  has  taken  the  stump,  and  has 
proved  a  powerful  and  convincing  speaker. 

Mrs.  Cochran  died  December  14,  1899,  leaving  five  children  surviving  her, 
three  sons  and  two  daughters.  The  death  of  Mrs.  Cochran  was  a  great  blow 
to  the  family,  especially  to  her  husband.  Mrs.  Cochran  was  a  woman  of  fine 
sense  and  judgment,  was  a  most  faithful  wife  and  mother,  and  Judge  Cochran 
feels,  and  is  frank  to  say,  that  his  success  in  life  has  been  largely  due  to  the  faith 
that  she  had  in  him,  and  the  encouragement  and  support  she  gave  him  in 

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every  laudable  effort  he  made  to  rise  in  his  profession  and  in  political  life.  The 
Judge  is  now  striving  to  give  his  children  a  better  opportunity  for  obtaining 
education  and  knowledge  than  he  had  himself. 


JAMES  H.  CLARK. 

In  the  midst  of  the  failures  and  disasters  o_f  life  it  is  a  pleasure  to  review  the 
career  of  James  H.  Clark  and^o  recognize  tlie  push  and  determination  which 
have  brought  to  bear  to  yield  such  good  returns.  The  record  of  his  life  is  one 
of  interest,  for  it  shows  what  can  be  accomplished  when  one  possesses  the  deter- 
mination to  forge  ahead  and  has  the  wisdom  to  make  the  most  of  opportunities 
which  present  themselves.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  Putnam 
county,  February  26,  1836,  and  now  has  a  pleasant  home  at  Mattoon,  111.  His 
father,  John  Clark,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ky.,  August  13,  1805,  and 
died  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  July  19,  1899.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was 
Elizabeth  Newman,  was  born  in  Virginia,  September  26,  1808,  and  died  at  Mat- 
toon,  111.,  January  14,  1885.  When  but  four  years  old  she  moved  with  her  parents 
from  the  Old  Dominion  to  Washington  county,  Ky. ;  grew  to  womanhood  and 
was  there  married  to  John  Clark  in  1826.  While  a  resident  of  Putnam  county, 
John  Clark  became  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  now 
the  famous  DePauw  University  of  Greencastle,  Ind.,  and  contributed  one  of  the 
first  $100  toward  its  establishment.  Agricultural  pursuits  was  his  chosen  calling 
in  life.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion  in  1861  Mr.  Clark,  with  his  four 
sons,  was  an  ardent  Union  man.  Four  of  the  sons  entered  the  Union  Army. 
One  died  ten  days  after  his  time  was  out  while  marching  with  Sherman  to  At- 
lanta, but  the  others  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  receiving  honorable  dis- 
charges. 

The  vigorous  climate  of  his  native  county  and  the  frugal  and  sturdy  habits 
and  occupations  of  his  parents  gave  to  James  H.  Clark  a  sound  constitution, 
which  has  had  much  to  do  with  his  success  in  life.  He  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools,  made  good  use  of  the  opportunities  afforded  him,  and  then  entered 
the  Indiana  Asbury  University,  where  he  took  the  scientific  course  for  two  years. 
Like  many  other  prominent  men,  Mr.  Clark's  desire,  as  a  means  to  an  end,  was 
to  teach,  and  he  wielded  the  birch  for  some  time.  Later  he  gave  this  up  and 
engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  but  soon  sold  out  and  went  to  Mattoon,  111., 
where  he  engaged  in  the  same  occupation,  meeting  with  unusual  success.  This 
was  in  1861,  when  excitement  was  at  its  height.  The  Democracy  of  Coles  and1 
adjoining  counties  were  so  opposed  to  the  war  that  it  became  necessary  for 
all  union  men  to  organize  for  defense  of  both  city  and  property.  This  was  done 
through  the  Union  League,  which  organization  Mr.  Clark  was  most  active  in 
sustaining.  In  this  way  he  was  brought  into  politics  and  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postmaster  from  President  Grant  in  1869,  and  re-appointment  to  the 
same  position  in  1873.  President  Hayes  and  President  Garfield  gave  him  the 
same  position  during  their  administrations,  and  he  only  retired  in  1885,  when 
President  Cleveland  came  into  power,  making  sixteen  consecutive  years. 

His  first  vote  was  cast  for  President  Lincoln  in  1864,  and  since  then  he  has 
been  an  active  supporter  of  the  Republican  party.  In  18/2  he  was  first  made 
a  member  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee,  which  position  he  held 
until  1892,  when  he  was  made  chairman  of  the  committee,  retiring  in  1894,  when 
his  time  was  out.  In  1890  he  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  as  Bank 
Examiner  for  Kentucky,  a  position  he  held  for  two  years,  resigning  on  account 
of  sickness  of  his  wife.  With  others  he  organized  the  Mattoon  State  Savings 
Bank,  May  22,  1893,  and  was  made  president,  a  position  he  still  holds.  Socially 
Mr.  Clark  is  a  Knight  Templar  in  the  Masonic  Fraternity.  He  is  also  an  active 
and  earnest  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  On  the  8th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1864,  Mr.  Clark  married  Samaritha  Tyler,  daughter  of  Amos  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lawton)  Tyler.  She  died  May  17,  1892,  at  Mattoon,  111.  On  the  3oth  of 
August,  1893,  Mr.  Clark  married  Nellie  G.  Tuttle,  daughter  of  Theodore  and 
Abigail  Tuttle.  She  was  born  and  educated  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.  They  are 
the  parents  of  three  children — James  Holbert,  Gladys  Elizabeth  and  Arthur  Tut- 
tle Clark. 

394 


395 


HOPE  REED  CODY. 

Hope  Reed  Cody  was  born  in  Naperville,  111.,  April  14,  1870,  the  youngest 
son  of  Hiram  H.  and  P.  E.  (Sedgwick)  Cody.  His  father  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Du  Page  county,  served  as  its  County  Clerk,  County  Judge,  and 
afterwards  was  for  many  years  Circuit  Judge  of  the  Twelfth  Judicial  District, 
which  comprises  the  counties  adjacent  and  contiguous  to  Cook  county;  Judge 
Cody  was  also  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Constitutional  Convention  in  1870. 
Hope  Reed  Cody  obtained  his  early  education  as  a  student  at  the  Northwestern 
College  of  Naperville,  from  which'  institution  he  graduated  in  1888,  obtaining 
the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science.  He  was  the  youngest  student  who,  up  to 
that  time,  had  ever  graduated  from  that  college  and  was  president  of  his  class. 
For  a  brief  period  after  his  graduation  he  worked  as  a  reporter  upon  the  staff 
of  the  Chicago  Times,  resigning  that  position  to  enter  the  Union  College  of 
Law  (the  law  department  of  Northwestern  University),  graduating  in  1890, 
but  was,  on  account  of  his  youth,  compelled  to  wait  until  April,  1891,  before 
he  could  obtain  his  license  from  the  Supreme  Court  to  practice  law.  In  1891  he 
became  an  active  member  of  the  well  known  law  firm  of  Hiram  H.  Cody  & 
Sons,  composed  of  former  Judge  Hiram  H.  Cody,  Arthur  B.  Cody  and  Hope 
Reed  Cody.  In  his  practice  he  met  with  more  than  usual  success  and  was  a 
studious  lawyer  and  ready  speaker. 

Although  coming  from  Democratic  stock,  upon  reaching  years  of  discretion 
Mr.  Cody  became  a  pronounced  Republican  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Republican  politics  of  Cook  county.  In  March,  1898,  he  was  elected  President 
of  the  Hamilton  Club,  the  leading  Republican  club  of  the  West,  and  under  his 
administration  the  club  not  only  tripled  its  membership,  but  paid  off  a  debt 
of  more  than  $7,000,  in  addition  to  contributing  liberally  from  its  treasury 
towards  the  Republican  campaigns  of  the  fall  of  1898  and  the  spring  of  1899. 
His  record  in  this  organization  constituted  a  signal  triumph,  and  evidenced  the 
power  of  intellect  and  heart  which  would  have  made  possible  a  brilliant  career 
in  the  higher  places  of  political  preferment.  As  president  of  the  club  he  under- 
took many  enterprises  never  before  attempted  and  each  was  a  pronounced 
success  owing  for  the  most  part  to  his  industry,  tact  and  the  ability  to  com- 
mand the  co-operation  of  others.  In  all  that  he  did  he  took  high  but  prac- 
tical ground,  and  commanded  not  alone  admiration  without  envy,  but  the  most 
unselfish  devotion.  In  December,  1898",  Mr.  Cody  was  appointed  by  Judge 
Orrin  N.  Carter  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Election  Commissioners  of  the  City 
of  Chicago  and  Town  of  Cicero,  and  was  immediately  elected  chairman  of  that 
board,  which  position  he  occupied  until  his  death.  While  a  partisan,  his  rulings 
as  chairman  of  the  board  were  so  clear  and  equitable  that  neither  Democrats 
nor  Republicans  found  any  room  for  adverse  criticism. 

Mr.  Cody  was  a  Mason,  and  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  National 
Union,  Royal  Arcanum,  the  Royal  League  and  the  Phi  Delta  Phi  Fraternity. 
In  1897  he  was  elected  regent  of  the  Garden  City  Council,  No.  202,  Royal  Ar- 
canum, being  the  largest  council  west  of  New  York,  numbering  over  thirteen 
hundred  members,  and  in  the  history  of  that  council  covering  a  period  of  seven- 
teen years  he  was  the  only  regent  who  was  ever  honored  by  re-election.  He 
was  also  prominent  in  club  and  social  life,  being  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
Club,  Chicago  Athletic  Association,  Hamilton,  Marquette  and  Law  Clubs. 

In  religion  Mr.  Cody  was  a  Congregationalist  and  a  member  of  Plymouth 
Church.  In  1893  he  was  married  to  Alta  Virginia  Houston,  of  Cincinnati,  O., 
one  of  the  leaders  in  the  select  musical  circles  of  that  city.  At  the  time  of  their 
marriage  Mrs.  Cody  was  the  contralto  soloist  at  the  Union  Park  Congrega- 
tionalist Church,  of  Chicago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cody  had  one  child,  Arthur 
Huston  Cody,  now  nearly  five  years  of  age. 

Mr.  Cody's  death  occurred  at  the  Chicago  Hospital,  near  his  residence, 
340  Oakwood  Boulevard,  Chicago,  on  the  7th  of  November,  1899,  after  an 
operation  for  appendicitis,  following  an  illness  of  about  two  weeks.  Funeral 

396 


397 


services  were  held  at  Plymouth  Church,  Chicago,  November  9,  at  which  ad- 
dresses were  made  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Gunsaulus,  D.  D.,  Judge  Orrin  N.  Carter 
and  Hon.  James  R.  Mann.  No  young  man  ever  passed  away  in  Chicago  to 
receive  such  marked  respect  for  his  memory  as  was  shown  at  these  services. 
The  remains  were  interred  at  Naperville,  111.  Mr.  Cody's  death  was  a  great 
shock  and  surprise  to  the  public.  Extended  newspaper  notices,  both  biographical 
and  editorial,  were  given  him.  A  memorial  meeting  was  held  by  the  Hamilton 
Club,  at  which  numerous  addresses  by  its  prominent  members  attested  the 
unusual  affection  they  had  for  him,  and  acceded  the  wonderful  hold  he  had 
upon  the  minds  and  hearts  ofc  the  members.  Resolutions  were  adopted  by' 
various  societies  to  which  he  belonged  and  the  general  expression  of  sorrow 
showed  how  wide  was  his  acquaintance  with  the  public  and  what  heartfelt  grief 
was  felt  at  his  death.  Few  men  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  have  reached  the 
prominent  place  in  public -life  attained  by  Mr.  Cody. 


WILLIAM   F.  CALHOUN. 

Hon.  William  F.  Calhoun,  of  Dcatur,  111.,  was  born  in  Perry  County,  Penn., 
November  21,  1844,  on  his  father's  farm.  His  parents  were  John  M.  Calhoun 
and  Catherine  Calhoun.  His  father  died  in  1857,  and  his  mother  is  still  living 
and  resides  in  Geneseo,  111.  The  ancestors  of  the  Calhoun  family  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  from  the  north  of  Ireland  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  Wil- 
liam F.  Calhoun  was  taught  to  work  on  the  farm  and  assisted  in  the  support 
of  the  family  after  his  father's  death.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  academies  o?  his  native  county,  and  soon  became  a  teacher. 

In  June,  1862,  before  Mr.  Calhoun  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  H,  I33d  Penn.  Vols.,  and  served  with  his  regiment  in  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  until  the  expiration  of  its  term  of  service,  and  was  mustered  out 
in  June,  1863.  He  soon  after  enlisted  in  Company  K,  2oth  Penn.  Cavalry.  This 
regiment  was  assigned  to  the  middle  military  division  and  served  under  Gen- 
erals Siegel,  Hunter  and  Sheridan.  Mr.  Calhoun  as  orderly  sergeant  of  his 
company  participated  with  his  regiment  in  Sheridan's  great  movement  in  April, 
1865,  without  the  loss  of  a  day  from  sickness  during  the  whole  of  his  service, 
and  was  at  Appomattox,  April  9,  1865,  when  Lee  surrendered.  After  his  dis- 
charge from  the  army  Mr.  Calhoun  removed  to  Illinois,  in  October,  1865,  locat- 
ing in  La  Salle  County,  where  he  studied  dentistry  and  practiced  his  profession 
until  1869. 

Mr.  Calhoun  has  always  been  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  a  constant  supporter  of  its  candidates.  He  identified  himself 
with  the  party  immediately  upon  reaching  Illinois,  and  cast  his  first  vote  in  the 
election  of  1866  when  the  ticket  was  headed  by  John  A.  Logan  for  congressman 
at  large.  In  1870  Mr.  Calhoun  removed  to  De  Witt  County.  In  1882  he  was 
nominated  by  the  Republican  party  for  the  legislature  in  the  3Oth  senatorial  dis- 
trict composed  of  Champaign,  Piatt  and  DeWitt  Counties,  and  was  elected.  He 
was  re-elected  in  1884  and  1886;  he  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  immediate  legis- 
lation of  the  state,  and  became  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  halls  of  legislation.  In 
1887  he  reached  the  highest  honor  of  a  member  of  the  legislature  of  Illinois,  that 
of  being  elected  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  Mr.  Calhoun  was  a 
member  of  the  legislature  at  the  time  of  the  great  Logan  contest  for  the  senator- 
ship,  and  was  one  of  the  managers  of  that  campaign,  which  resulted  in  his  elec- 
tion in  1885.  Mr.  Calhoun  became  so  deeply  interested  in  the  politics  of  the 
state  that  in  1889  he  abandoned  the  profession  of  dentistry,  and  removed  to 
Decatur,  Illinois,  and  embarked  in  the  newspaper  business.  He  is  now  the  polit- 
ical editor  of  the  "Decatur  Herald,"  and  is  a  large  stockholder  in  the  Company. 
This  is  one  of  the  most  influential  papers  in  central  Illinois. 

Mr.  Calhoun  is  now  postmaster  of  Decatur.  He  was  appointed  to  that 
office  in  1897  by  President  McKinley.  William  F.  Calhoun  was  married  in  1879 
to  Miss  Blanche  Derthick.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Calhoun  are  popular  people  at 
Decatur,  Illinois,  and  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

398 


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399 


IRA  CLIFTON  COPLEY. 

Ira  C.  Copley  of  Aurora,  111.,  was  born  October  25,  1864,  on  a  farm  near 
Altona,  Knox  county,  111.  His  father,  Ira  13.  Copley,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  the 
western  end  of  the  Catskill  Mountains  in  the  State  of  New  York.  He  received 
his  education  there,  and  when  twenty-four  years  of  age  came  to  Illinois,  settling 
in  what  afterwards  became  Copley  Township  in  Knox  county.  Mr.  Copley 
married  Ellen  Whiting  in  1853.  Mrs.  Copley  was  born  in  West  Hartford,  Conn. 
She  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  at  Miss  Porter's  School  for  Girls 
at  Farmington,  Conn.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  she  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
fathers'  family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Copley  were  descended  from  good  New  England 
stock.  They  settled  at  Aurora,  Illinois,  in  1867,  where  they  had  a  wide  circle  of 
acquaintances  and  friends,  and  where  they  raised  their  family  of  three  daughters 
and  one  son.  Mr.  Copley  was  a  man  of  great  enterprise  and  industry,  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  was  operating  the  gas  works  in  the  city  of  Aurora. 

Ira  C.  Copley  was  afforded  every  opportunity  for  receiving  an  education. 
He  first  attended  the  public  and  high  schools  at  Aurora,  graduating  from  the 
high  school  in  1881.  He  took  a  preparatory  course  for  college  in  the  Jennings 
Seminary  at  Aurora,  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  1883.  He  then  en- 
tered Yale  University,  and  was  graduated  there  in  1887.  He  then  entered  the 
Union  College  of  Law,  Chicago,  in  October,  1887,  actively  pursuing  his  studies 
at  that  College  until  February,  1889,  when  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  with- 
draw from  the  school  to  take  the  management  of  the  Aurora  Gas  Light  Com- 
pany. Before  entering  the  Law  School,  Mr.  Copley  was  in  the  law  office  of 
Messrs.  Barnum,  Rubens  &  Aims,  Chicago,  111.,  where  he  began  the  study  of 
law.  Although  Mr.  Copley  had  a  taste  for  the  law,  and  had  thoroughly  laid  his 
plans  for  entering  that  profession,  he  reluctantly  turned  aside  from  this  profes- 
sion to  enter  upon  the  management  of  a  valuable  property  in  which  his  family 
was  largely  interested.  In  a  business  way,  Mr.  Copley  has  devoted  his  entire 
time  to  the  gas  and  electric  lighting  business,  since  February,  1889.  Through 
his  management  the  two  gas  companies  and  the  two  electric  lighting  companies 
in  the  city  of  Aurora  were  consolidated  under  one  management,  of  which  com- 
pany he  now  has  charge.  In  1897  Mr.  Copley  bought  an  interest  in  the  Joliet 
Gas  Light  Company  of  Joliet,  111.,  and  became  the  general  manager  of  that  cor- 
poration, a  position  which  he  still  holds.  Mr.  Copley  has  secured  a  franchise  in 
the  village  of  La  Grange,  111.,  for  the  erection  of  a  gas  lighting  plant,  which  is 
now  being  built. 

In  politics  Mr.  Copley  is  a  Republican,  his  father  and  mother  at  an  early 
date  were  Whigs.  When  the  Republican  party  was  organized  they  embraced 
its  principles,  and  Mr.  Copley  always  voted  the  Republican  ticket.  His  children 
were  raised  in  the  Republican  faith,  and  as  soon  as  Ira  C.  Copley  arrived  at  man- 
hood, he  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  organization.  He  has  never  held 
a  civil  office,  either  elective  or  appointive;  his  identification  with  politics  was  that 
of  a  citizen  anxious  to  promote  good  government.  He  represented  his  Con- 
gressional District  on  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  from  1894  to 
1898,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  was  for  two  years 
Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  In  1896  Mr.  Copley  was  elected  President 
of  the  Illinois  League  of  Republican  Clubs  at  its  Peoria  Convention.  He  held 
this  position  for  two  years  and  declined  re-election. 

Mr.  Copley  identified  himself  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard.  He  was  a 
private  of  Company  "B"  3rd  Regiment,  for  three  years,  from  1880;  Captain  of 
Co.  "I"  in  1893 ;  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  Inspector  of  Rifle  Practice,  on  the  Staff 
of  Brig.  General  Andrew  Welch ;  Commanding  3rd  Brigade  I.  N.  G.  from  1894 
to  1899.  Col.  Copley  retired  from  the  service  upon  the  resignation  of  Gen. 
Welch.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Board  of  the  Aurora  Public 
Library,  and  has  been  for  the  past  ten  years.  He  was  an  alumni  member  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees  of  Jennings  Seminary,  1892  to  1897.  Mr.  Copley  has  been 

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a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  since  1889.  Is  a  Sir  Knight,  and  a  member 
of  the  Shrine.  He  has  been  a  Knight  of  Pythias  since  1890,  but  has  never  held 
office  in  either  of  these  organizations.  Mr.  Copley  has  traveled  extensively  in 
his  native  country,  and  has  made  one  tour  through  foreign  lands. 

Ira  C.  Copley  was  married  in  March,  1892,  to  Edith  Strohm  of  Los  Angeles, 
Cal.  Her  father,  who  was  of  German  extraction,  was  born  in  Canada,  her 
mother  was  born  in  Sweden.  Mrs.  Copley  is  a  lady  of  splendid  education,  and  is 
in  every  way  suited  to  be  the  wife  of  so  energetic  and  enterprising  a  man.  The 
career  of  Col.  Ira  C.  Copley  from  the  time  he  entered  college  to  the  present  hour 
has  been  one  of  unbroken  success.  In  every  field  of  endeavor  he  has  shown  him- 
self capable.  .He  now  takes  rank  with  men  of  the  greatest  business  experience 
and  sagacity. 


CHARLES  SYDNEY  CUTTING. 

Charles  Sydney  Cutting  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  March  i,  1854,  at  High- 
gate  Springs,  Vt.  His  father,  Charles  A.  Cutting,  and  mother,  Laura  E.  Averill, 
were  both  born  in  New  England ;  they  are  descended  from  early  English  emi- 
grants who  came  to  America  for  conscience  sake,  the  Averili's  being  members  of 
the  Society  of  Friends  commonly  called  "Quakers."  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cutting  re- 
moved to  Oregon  and  settled  at  Salem,  the  capital,  where  their  son,  Charles  S. 
Cutting,  received  his  education  at  Wilamette  University,  in  the  classical  course. 

At  seventeen  years  of  age,  Mr.  Cutting  removed  to  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  where 
he  was  employed  as  editor  of  the  Cedar  Rapids  Times.  He  continued  in  this 
position  for  some  time,  but  at  the  age  of  twenty  he  found  himself  principal  of  the 
high  school  at  Palatine,  Cook  county,  111.  He  held  this  position  for  a  period  of 
six  years.  He  began  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  the  late  Judge  Knicker- 
bocker, and  after  taking  the  usual  examination  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880. 
His  first  law  partnership  was  with  Judge  Williamson.,  Like  most  men  who  have 
ever  performed  editorial  work,  he  retained  his  fondness  for  literary  pursuits,  and 
has  from  time  to  time  engaged  in  newspaper  work.  Mr.  Cutting  resided  in  Pal- 
atine, 111.,  from  18/4  to  1895,  and  has  practiced  the  profession  of  law  since  1881, 
and  is  now  at  the  head  of  the  well  known  firm  of  Cutting,  Castle  &  Williams.  He 
was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  in  Cook  county,  and  held  that  important  posi- 
tion from  1887  until  1890.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Cook  County  Board  of  Edu- 
cation for  nine  years,  was  President  of  the  Board  for  three  years,  and  only  retired 
when  the  Board  was  discontinued.  He  was  also  President  of  the  Palatine  Board 
of  Education  for  three  years.  Removing  to  Austin,  in  the  town  of  Cicero,  in 
1895,  he  was  soon  elected  Town  Attorney,  and  held 'that  position  for  two  years. 
He  is  one  of  the  best  known  men  at  the  Chicago  bar.  •••  He  has  a  fine,  well  bal- 
anced, judicial  mind,  ami  is  by  natural  gift  and  careful  study  well  fitted  either  for 
the  practice  of  the  law  or  its  administration  on  the  bench.  He  has  had  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice. 

Mr.  Cutting  is  a  popular  man  with  many  friends.  His  nomination  as  a 
candidate  for  Probate  Judge  in  1900  came  to  him  without  solicitation  or  effort 
on  his  part,  in  fact,  he  was  out  of  the  country  when  nominated.  This  fact  shows 
the  hold  he  has  upon  the  people  and  the  Republican  party.  It  was  strictly  a  case 
of  the  office  seeking  the  man.  Mr.  Cutting  is  a  forceful  speaker ;  clear  and  logi- 
cal in  his  propositions,  he  impresses  his  audience  with  his  sincerity,  and  carries 
conviction  by  his  earnest  eloquence.  Mr.  Cutting  united  with  the  Republican 
party  in  his  youth ;  has  given  it  his  earnest  support  ever  since.  He  cast  his  first 
vote  for  Hayes  for  President  in  1876.  Mr.  Cutting  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton 
Club,  has  united  with  the  Masonic  Fraternity ;  he  is  a  Past  Master  and  has  at- 
tained the  32nd  degree ;  he  is  a  Knight  Templar,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  attends  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Charles  Sydney  Cutting  was  married  June  27,  1876,  to  Annie  E.  Lytle.  They 
have  one  son,  Robert  M.  Cutting,  eighteen  years  of  age,  now  a  student  of  the 
University  of  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cutting  are  members  of  the  Oaks  Social 
Club  of  Austin.  They  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  have 
a  delightful  home  which  is  the  center  of  an  agreeable  society. 

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WINFIELD  S-  COY. 

Winfield  S.  Coy  was  born  July  8,  1842,  on  a  farm  near  the  village  of  Pitcher, 
Chenango  county,  N.  Y.  His  father,  John  Coy,  was  a  descendant  of  Samuel  Coy, 
who  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1630.  His  mother,  Almira  Pierce,  was  a  cousin 
of  President  Franklin  Pierce  and  a  descendant  of  Thomas  Pierce,  who  came  to 
this  country  from  England  in  1633.  In  1856  John  Coy  removed  to  Illinois  and 
settled  at  Kaneville,  Kane  county,  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coy  both  died.  Win- 
field  S.  Coy  received  his  education  in  New  \ork  State.  He  attended  public  and 
private  schools,  entered  Homer  Academy,  and  graduated  with  honor  at  Union 
College.  He  entered  the  Albany  Law  School,  where  he  pursued  the  course  of 
law  and  graduated  from  that  institution.  In  1863  he  was  admitted  to  the  prac- 
tice of  law  by  the  Supreme  Courts  of  New  York  and  Illinois.  Being  now  fully 
prepared  for'the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession,  he  settled  at  Yorkville,  Ken- 
dall county,  111. 

Mr.  Coy  had  early  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party,  and  in  1863 
was  elected  County  Commissioner  of  Schools  in  Kendall  county,  when  he  was 
little  more  than  twenty-one  years  old.  In  1865  he  was  elected  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Schools;  this  brought  him  prominently  forward,  and  in  1867,  at  the 
state  convention  of  county  superintendents  of  schools,  he  was  elected  president. 
In  December,  1868,  he  was  made  President  of  the  Illinois  State  Teachers'  Con- 
vention, and  in  January,  1869,  he  was  appointed,  by  Governor  Palmer,  a  member 
of  the  State  Board  of  Education.  Mr.  Coy  was  an  earnest  and  intelligent  worker 
for  the  advancement  of  education  in  the  state.  Although  engaged  actively  in 
school  work,  Mr.  Coy  did  not  neglect  his  law  practice,  which  grew  upon  him 
and  became  large  and  important.  Seeking  a  larger  field  for  his  legal  practice, 
in  the  fall  of  1869  Mr.  Coy  removed  to  Bloomington,  McLean  county,  111.,  and 
was  on  one  side  or  the  other  of  a  large  part  of  the  important  litigation  that  was 
carried  on  during  his  residence  there.  In  1881,  he  was  employed  by  several 
private  corporations  in  Chicago  to  take  charge  of  their  legal  business,  and  he  re- 
moved to  that  city  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Since  removing  to  Chicago,  he  has  tried  law  suits  in  all  of  the  counties  of 
Illinois  except  two.  He  has  a  large  practice  in  the  state  of  Indiana,  has  tried 
cases  in  the  Supreme  Courts  of  Ohio,  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Missouri  and 
Kansas  and  also  in  the  United  States  Courts  in  most  of  those  states.  Mr.  Coy 
assisted  in  the  formation  of  the  Bar  Association  of  Illinois,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Bar  Association.  It  was  his  good  fortune  to  become  a  guest  at  the 
Fox  River  House,  in  the  city  of  Ottawa,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1857,  and  after 
supper,  the  kind  landlady,  Mrs.  Buel,  told  him  that  Judge  Scates,  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  other  gentlemen  were  in  the  parlor,  and  invited  him  to  go  in.  He  went  into 
the  parlor  and  was  introduced  by  her,  to  Mr.  Lincoln,  Judge  Scates,  Judge  Dick- 
ey, A.  W.  Caverly,  Burton  C.  Cook,  O.  W.  Browning,  R  .S.  Blackwell  and  some 
others.  These  gentlemen  treated  him  with  great  kindness,  and  advised  him  to 
become  a  lawyer.  He  left  that  parlor  with  a  strong  determination  to  fit  himself 
for  the  learned  profession  to  which  those  estimable  gentlemen  belonged.  As  a 
result  of  that  meeting,  Mr.  Coy  became  an  ardent  admirer  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  and  it 
caused  him  to  come  from  an  eastern  state,  where  he  was  attending  college,  to 
Illinois,  to  hear  the  joint  debate  between  Mr.  Lincoln  and  Mr.  Douglas  at  Otta- 
wa, in  the  fall  of  1858.  During  the  campaign  of  1860,  Mr.  Coy,  though  only 
eighteen  years  of  age,  belonged  to  a  company  of  "Wide  Awakes,"  and  made  sev- 
eral campaign  speeches.  During  his  residence  in  Yorkville,  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Republican  County  Central  Committee  and  a  delegate  to  all  County  and  State 
conventions.  He  was  chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Convention  of  Mc- 
Lean county  in  1871,  and  was  repeatedly  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  County,  State 
and  National  Conventions  while  a  resident  of  that  county.  In  Chicago,  Mr. 
Coy  has  been  a  resident  of  the  i8th  Ward,  and  an  officer  of  the  i8th  Ward 
Republican  Club.  His  counsel  is  always  sought  when  any  question  of  import- 
ance arises,  and  his  time  and  money  are  freely  given  when  opportunity  offers  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party.  He  usually  represents  his  ward, 
as  a  delegate,  in  the  County,  City  and  State  Conventions  of  the  party. 

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Mr.  Coy  has  been  a  director  of  the  Veteran  Union  League,  which  has  been 
an  influential  Republican  organization  in  Chicago.  In  March,  1897,  he  was 
unanimously  elected  President  of  the  Lincoln  Club  of  Chicago,  and  unanimously 
re-elected  in  March,  1898.  Under  his  management,  the  Lincoln  Club  became  the 
largest,  most  popular,  and  most  influential  Republican  club  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Coy  is  now  president  of  the  Republican  Legion  of  the  5th  congressional  district. 
He  has  never  been  a  candidate  for  office  since  he  has  resided  in  the  city  of 
Chicago;  he  has  frequently  been  solicited  to  become  a  candidate  for  Congress, 
and  for  judicial  positions,  but  has  declined. 

Mr.  Coy  has  always  been  distinguished  for  his  kindness  to  young  people, 
and  probably  no  citizen  of  Chicago  is  visited  by  so  many  young  people  who  are 
seeking  advice  and  assistance.  He  is  president  of  the  West  Side  Bureau  of  As- 
sociated Charities. 


ISAAC  CLEMENTS. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Clements  family  in  America  came  from  England  with 
Lord  Baltimore  and  had  a  "King's  Patent"  to  locate  "sixteen  square  miles  of 
land  anywhere  in  Lord  Baltimore's  dominion."  He  selected  a  tract  on  the 
eastern  shore  of  Chesapeake  Bay,  whence  the  family  spread  west  and  south. 
The  father  of  Captain  Isaac  was  also  Isaac,  and  the  mother  was  Nancy  Burt. 
Both  parents  were  born  in  1790  in  Maryland.  The  grandfather  served  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  and  the  father  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  soon  after- 
ward moved  to  near  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  a  little  later  to  Franklin  county,  Ind., 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 

Captain  Isaac  Clements,  now  residing  at  Danville,  111.,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Ind.,  March  31,  1837.  His  early  education  was  meager,  but  when  four- 
teen years  old  attended  a  private  school,  where  he  sawed  wood  and  swept  out 
the  schoolroom  to  pay  his  tuition.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  teaching 
to  get  means  to  attend  college.  He  entered  Asbury  (now  DePauw)  University 
in  September,  1854,  and  was  graduated  in  1859,  delivering  the  Latin  oration 
of  his  class.  During  vacations  he  taught  school  to  pay  his  way  through  college. 
While  thus  engaged  he  studied  law.  He  caiiie  to  Illinois  in  1859,  anc^  the 
following  winter  taught  at  Thebes,  Alexander  county,  to  obtain  means  to  buy 
law  books.  In  the  spring  of  1860  he  opened  a  la\y_  office  at  Carbondale,  and  in 
the  presidential  campaign  of  that  year  took  an  active  part  as  a  "Douglas  man." 
In  the  troublous  times  succeeding  Lincoln's  election  and  inauguration  he  was 
a  pronounced  "Union  man."  After  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  a  strong  secession 
sentiment  was  manifested  in  southern  Illinois.  Captain  Clements  strongly  corn- 
batted  this,  taking  part  in  many  "Union"  meetings,  one  of  the  first  being  in 
Carbondale,  April  22,  1861,  followed  with  similar  meetings  in  the  neighboring 
country  schoolliouses.  The  result  was  to  strengthen  the  Union  sentiment  vastly 
in  that  vicinity. 

In  May  he  began  raising  a  company  to  meet  the  expected  call  for  volunteers 
and  soon  had  the  number  necessary.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Cairo,  111.,  July 
27,  1861,  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  G,  Ninth  Illinois  Infantry.  He 
served  the  term  of  enlistment — three  years — and  was  in  many  bloody  engage- 
ments. At  Fort  Donelson  his  regiment  lost  200  killed  and  wounded,  and  at 
Shiloh  it  lost  366  killed  and  wounded,  the  heaviest  loss  suffered  by  any  regiment 
in  the  Federal  service  in  any  battle  of  the  war.  Capt.  Clements  was  wounded 
twice  in  this  battle.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Corinth,  October  3  and  4, 
1862,  where  he  also  received  a  wound.  He  continued  to  serve  with  his  regi- 
ment, taking  part  in  the  advance  on  Atlanta.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  August  23,  1864,  having  served  over  three  years  and  having  received 
three  wounds. 

He  now  found  himself  identified  with  the  "Union  men,"  and  accordingly 
supported  Lincoln  for  President  instead  of  McClellan  in  1864.  Since  that  date 
he  has  affiliated  with  the  Republican  party.  In  1872  he  was  elected  to  Congress 
from  the  Eighteenth  district  and  served  one  term.  In  1877  he  was  appointed 
by  Governor  Cullom  one  of  the  commissioners  to  locate,  erect  and  operate  the 
Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary,  and  in  this  capacity  labored  for  twelve  years, 

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under  Governors  Cullom,  Oglesby  and  Fifer.  He  resigned  in  the  spring  of 
1890  to  accept  the  position  of  agent  for  the  payment  of  United  States  Pensions 
at  Chicago,  under  the  appointment  of  President  Harrison.  He  lost  the  position 
in  1893  under  President  Cleveland.  In  December,  1898,  he  was  tendered  the 
position  of  Governor  of  the  Danville  Branch  of  the  National  Home  for  Dis- 
abled Veteran  Soldiers,  which  offer  he  accepted  January  6,  1899,  and  as  such 
he  is  now  officiating.  In  November,  1864,  he  married  Josie  Nutt,  only  daughter 
of  Rev.  Cyrus  Nutt,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  president  of  the  Indiana  State  University. 


EDWARD  C.  CURTIS. 

Hon.  Edward  C.  Curtis  of  Grant  Park,  Kankakee  County,  Illinois,  was  born  on  a 
farm  in  Kankakee  County,  August  12,  1865.  His  father,  Alonzo  Curtis,  was 
born  in  New  York  State,  and  a  descendant  of  an  old  family  of  that  name,  who 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  at  the  head  of  Lake  Champlain.  The  Battle 
of  Bennington  was  fought  on  the  old  Curtis  homestead.  Alonzo  Curtis  married 
Elizabeth  Campbell.  Mr.  Curtis  removed  to  Illinois  in  1852  and  engaged  in 
farming,  but  in  1870  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Grant  Park.  Ed- 
ward C.  Curtis,  after  passing  through  the  village  school,  entered  De  Pauw  Uni- 
versity at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  spending  several  years  there ;  he  afterwards 
graduated  from  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston.  During  vacations  he 
returned  to  his  father's  home  at  Grant  Park,  and  clerked  in  his  father's  store. 
Upon  leaving  college  he  took  charge  of  the  mercantile  branch  of  his  father's  busi- 
ness. In  a  short  time  a  banking  department  was  added,  and  the  Grant  Park 
Bank  was  organized,  Mr.  Curtis  being  the  cashier.  The  business  of  this  bank 
grew,  and  it  became  an  important  financial  institution,  so  that  in  1898  it  was  or- 
ganized under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  as  a  national  bank,  Mr.  Curtis  con- 
tinuing as  cashier.  Mr.  Curtis  is  a  thorough  business  man  and  enjoys  the  trust 
and  confidence  of  all  those  with  whom  he  deals  in  business. 

Edward  C.  Curtis  from  his  early  manhood  has  been  a  Republican  in  politics. 
He  is  a  close  student  of  all  political  subjects,  is  thoroughly  up  on  the  principles, 
achievements,  and  history  of  the  Republican  party,  and  has  been  active  in  pro- 
moting its  success.  In  1894  Mr.  Curtis  received  the  nomination  of  the  Republi- 
can party  for  the  legislature  and  was  elected  from  the  i6th  senatorial  district. 
Upon  entering  the  legislature  he  was  at  once  accorded  a  leading  position  by  his 
Republican  colleagues.  He  took  a  firm  stand  in  favor  of  economy  in  public 
expenditures.  Mr.  Curtis  at  once  established  a  character  which  lifted  him  above 
even  the  suspicion  of  legislative  corruption.  In  1896  he  was  again  nominated 
for  the  legislature  in  his  district,  and  was  elected  by  an  increased  majority.  When 
the  legislature  met  in  January,  1897,  the  friends  of  Mr.  Curtis  brought  him  for- 
ward for  speaker,  and  his  hold  was  so  firm  upon  his  party  friends,  that  he  re- 
ceived the  caucus  nomination  for  speaker  by  acclamation,  all  other  candidates 
having  withdrawn  in  his  favor.  In  1898  he  was  nominated  for  the  third  time, 
atlhough  he  met  with  bitter  personal  opposition.  At  the  session  of  the  legis- 
lature in  1899,  Mr.  Curtis  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Appro- 
priations. As  Speaker  of  the  House  during  the  session  of  1897,  he  was  con- 
fronted with  formidable  opposition  by  his  political  opponents,  who,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  preventing  legislation  upon  measures  which  they  did  not  approve, 
adopted  the  dilatory  tactics  of  refusing  to  vote,  although  being  present  in  the 
House.  Mr.  Curtis,  without  hesitation,  declined  to  allow  the  business  of  legis- 
lation to  be  thus  interfered  with,  and,  like  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Reed,  late  Speaker 
of  the  National  House  of  Representatives,  Speaker  Curtis  counted  the  sufficient 
number  of  members  present,  who  had  refused  to  vote  to  constitute  a  quorum, 
and  had  their  names  entered  on  the  journal.  This  action,  of  course,  excited  in- 
tense opposition  on  the  part  of  the  Democratic  minority,  but  Speaker  Curtis 
firmly  enforced  the  rule. 

Edward  C.  Curtis  was  married  in  1897,  to  Miss  M.  Etha  Griffin.  They  have 
one  son.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  live  at  Grant  Park,  111.  Mrs.  Curtis  is  an  experi- 
enced and  delightful  home  keeper,  and  they  have  a  wide  circle  of  appreciating 
friends. 

408 


409 


JOSEPH  O.  CUNNINGHAM. 

Joseph  O.  Cunningham  was  born  December  12,  1830,  in  Lancaster,  Erie 
County,  N.  Y.  His  ancestors  were  old  settlers  in  the  state  of  New  York.  His 
father's  name  was  Hiram  W.  Cunningham,  and  his  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Eunice  Brown.  His  great-grandfather  was  Thomas  Cunningham  who  married 
Lucy  Hutchinson.  They  lived  and  died  in  Milford,  Otsego  County,  New  York. 
Hiram  W.  Cunningham  removed  with  his  family  to  thfe  state  j)f  Ohio.  He  sent 
his  son,  Joseph,  to  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived,  and  his 
preliminary  education  was  gained  in  a  little  log  school  house.  The  teachers  of 
that  day  devoted  themselves  assiduously  to  teaching  the  children  spelling,  read- 
ing, writing,  arithmetic,  grammar,  geography  and  history.  Young  Cunning- 
ham learned  all  this,  and  was  also  taught  algebra.  He  studied  in  Baldwin 
Academy  at  Bera,  O.,  and  completed  a  literary  course  in  Oberlin  College.  He 
had  taken  time  during  the  progress  of  his  education  to  engage  in  teaching,  and 
after  leaving  college  he  went  to  Vermillion  County,  Ind.,  where  he  was  employed 
for  a  time  as  a  teacher,  devoting  his  leisure  hours  to  the  study  of  law.  Mr.  Cun- 
ningham removed  to  Urbana,  111.,  June  i8th,  1853,  and  purchased  the  "Urbana 
Union,"  an  independent  newspaper.  It  was  the  first  paper  published  in  Cham- 
paign County. 

Mr.  Cunningham  identified  himself  with  the  great  anti-Nebraska  movement 
in  politics  in  1856,  and  the  "Urbana  Union"  became  a  Republican  paper,  and  at 
that  time  was  the  only  Republican  newspaper  published  between  Kankakee  and 
Cairo.  Mr.  Cunningham  made  the  "Union"  a  paper  of  influence  and  power,  al- 
though at  that  time  the  advocacy  of  Republican  principles  was  in  some  portion 
of  the  state  very  unpopular.  In  1856  Mr.  Cunningham  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
and  decided  to  devote  himself  entirely  to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He 
therefore  severed  his  connection  with  the  "Urbana  Union"  and  sold  out  his  in- 
terest in  it.  To  fit  himself  more  fully  for  the  practice  of  law,  he  attended  the  law 
school  at  Cleveland,  O.,  and  on  the  ist  day  of  May,  1859,  opened  an  office  at 
Urbana,^  Illinois,  at  which  place  he  has  been  in  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion down  to  the  present  time.  He  was  elected  County  Judge  of  Champaign 
County  and  served  in  that  office  from  1861  to  1865.  Judge  Cunningham  per- 
formed the  duties  of  this  important  position  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  pub- 
lic, and  greatly  increased  his  reputation  and  standing  as  a  lawyer.  He  is  an 
active  and  able  practitioner  at  the  bar,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the  leading  law 
firm  of  Cunningham  &  Boggs.  Judge  Cunningham  aided  in  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  parry  of  Illinois.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  first  Republican  con- 
vention at  lUoomington,  May  29th,  1856,  and  was  present  at  a  meeting  at  Bloom- 
ington.  May  29,  1900,  being  the  44th  anniversary  of  the  first  Republican  con- 
vention. His  portrait  with  that  of  Governor  Palmer  taken  at  the  time  will  be 
found  in  this  book. 

Jooseph  O.  Cunningham  was  married  October  13,  1853,  to  Miss  Mary  Mc- 
Conoughey  of  Bainbridge,  Ohio.  Judge  Cunningham  is  president  of  the  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Champaign  County,  and  a  member  of  the  state  Historical  Society, 
and  has  taken  great  interest  in  historical  subjects.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Clarksfield,  Ohio,  Memorial  Society  before  which  he  has  delivered  a  number 
of  addresses.  Judge  Cunningham  became  a  member  of  Iris  Lodge  E.  &  A.  M. 
at  Cleveland,  is  now  a  member  of  the  Urbana  Lodge  of  which  he  has  been  master 
for  six  years,  and  has  been  its  representative  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  Judge  Cun- 
ningham was  a  member  of  the  first  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Illi- 
nois, appointed  by  Governor  Oglesby  and  re-appointed  by  Governor  Palmer. 

The  Judge  has  a  pleasant  home  at  Urbana,  Illinois,  and  a  wide  circle  of 
friends. 


410 


X 


411 


LORIN   C.  COLLINS,  JR. 

Tracing  his  ancestry  in  this  country  back  to  the  Mayflower,  Judge  Lorin 
C.  Collins  possesses  all  those  characteristics  which  made  that  little  band  of 
determined  men  and  women  cross  the  ocean  and  brave  the  terrors  of  an  un- 
known and  almost  unexplored  region.  Gifted  with  ability  of  a  superior  order 
and  with  a  positive  purpose  *in  life,  Judge  Collins  is  now  recognized  as  one  of 
the  foremost  legal  lights  of  this  country.  He  is  a  native  of  Windsor,  Connec- 
ticut, born  August,  1848,  and  the  son  of  Lorin  C.  Collins  and  Mary  (Bemis) 
Collins.  The  parents  were  also  of  American  descent  and  for  many  years  the 
father  was  a  prominent  and  influential  minister  of  the  Gospel,  espousing  the 
faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  with  which  he  remained  in  harmony 
until  a  disbelief  in  the  question  of  eternal  punishment  on  his  part  led  him  to 
withdraw.  This  was  while  he  was  a  leading  member  of  the  Minnesota  Con- 
ference, and  the  independence  and  self-reliance  thus  manifested  in  the  char- 
acter of  the  father  was  in  a  striking  degree  transmitted  to  the  son,  who  is  dis- 
posed to  reach  independent  conclusions  by  independent  investigation,  and  to 
reinforce  his  convictions  by  the  appropriate  conduct  regardless  of  what  the 
results  to  himself  may  be.  In  the  year  1852  the  parents  removed  to  St.  Paul 
and  would  doubtless  have  traveled  still  farther  towards  the  setting  sun  had 
that  city  not  then  been  considered  the  end  of  the  world  in  that  direction. 

When  twenty  years  old  Judge  Collins  came  to  Chicago,  attended  North- 
western University  at  Evanston,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1872,  and  having 
previously  had  a  thorough  preparatory  training  in  the  Ohio  Wesleyan  Uni- 
evrsity,  he  entered  the  law  office  of  the  then  influential  firm  of  Clarkson  &  Van 
Schaack,  of  Chicago,  with  which  he  remained  until  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
1874.  Directly  afterward  he  became  a  prominent  figure  in  the  public  mind  and 
ranked  among  the  foremost  as  an  effective  organizer,  a  deep  thinker  and  an 
eloquent  advocate.  Politics  claimed  a  fair  share  of  his  attention  and  Judge 
Collins  speedily  achieved  distinction  as  a  legislator.  He  was  first  elected  to 
the  Legislature  in  1878,  and  re-elected  twice  in  succession.  His  remarkable 
command  of  language,  power  of  discrimination  and  prompt  decision  has  won 
him  an  enviable  position  in  the  legal  fraternity  and  has  made  him  a  coadjutor 
to  be  desired  and  an  antagonist  to  be  feared.  In  1883  he  was  chosen  Speaker 
of  the  Illinois  House  of  Representatives,  being  but  thirty-five  years  old  at  that 
time,  and  he  discharged  the  exacting  and  onerous  duties  of  that  position  in  a 
manner  that  reflected  credit  to  himself  and  the  general  public.  In  1884  he 
was  made  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County  by  appointment,  and  so 
worthily  did  he  discharge  the  duties  incumbent  upon  this  position  that  upon 
the  expiration  of  the  unexpired  term  for  which  he  was  appointed  the  people 
cordially  endorsed  his  work  and  elected  him  for  the  succeeding  term.  At  the 
end  of  this  term  he  was  re-elected  to  a  position  to  which  it  had  long  been  rec- 
ognized he  occupied  to  adorn  and  dignify.  As  a  politician  his  services  had  been 
repeatedly  recognized  by  preferment  and  he  reflects  much  credit  upon  his  party. 
His  public  acts  have  been  characterized  by  the  same  sterling  qualities  of  mind 
and  heart  that  give  tone  and  direction  to  his  private  life  and  the  confidence 
placed  in  him  by  the  public  has  not  been  misplaced.  His  marriage  to  Miss 
Nellie  Robb  occurred  in  1873,  and  they  are  the  parents  of  three  interesting 
children. 

The  Judge  has  shown  his  appreciation  of  secret  organizations  by  becom- 
ing a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity  and  has  advanced  to  the  high  degree 
of  Knight  Templar  in  that  ancient  and  honorable  body.  He  is  also  a  distin- 
guished and  active  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  the  American  Wheel- 
men, Hamilton,  Washington  Park,  Chicago,  and  the  American  Yacht  Clubs, 
in  all  of  which  he  takes  great  delight  and  finds  an  honored  and  an  influential 
place.  He  enjoys  their  social  features  and  contributes  to  render  them  enjoy- 
able to  all. 


412 


413 


SETH  FLOYD  CREWS. 

This  well  known  representative  of  the  Chicago  bar  and  eminent  citizen  ami 
Republican  was  born  March  29,  1847,  in  Wayne  county,  111.,  on  a  farm,  but  while 
yet  a  lad  was  taken  by  his  parents  from  the  farm  and  placed  in  school.  He  had 
had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  right  leg,  and  had  no  alternative  but  attempt  a 
professional  career,  and  therefore  chose  the  law.  His  parents  had  previously 
lived  in  Kentucky,  but  finally  emigrated  to  Southern  Illinois,  where  the  subject 
of  this  sketch. grew  up  and  was  educated.  Having  completed  his  literary  educa- 
tion, and  .having^  had  some  preliminary  instruction  therein,  he  began  regularly 
the  study  of  law  and  after  the  usual  course  took  the  examination  and  was  duly 
admitted  to  the  bar.  He  began  the  practice  in  his  native  county  of  Fairfield  in 
the  month  of  March,  1870,  and  from  the  start  had  a  fair  clientage. 

In  June,  1873,  he  removed  to  Mt.  Vernon,  Jefferson  county,  where  he  re- 
sumed the  practice  and  where  he  steadily  expanded  his  profits  from  his  profession 
and  his  popularity  as  a  speaker  and  his  activities  in  the  ranks  of  the  Republican 
party.  Pie  soon  became  the  strongest  and  most  successful  practitioner  in  that 
part  of  the  State,  and  desiring  to  increase  his  practice  and  widen  his  fields  of  use- 
fulness and  the  sphere  of  his  activities  he  came  to  Chicago  in  June,  1883,  and  con- 
tinued earnestly,  actively  and  successfully  to  practice  his  profession.  He  has 
been  engaged  on  many  of  the  most  important  cases  ever  adjudicated  in  this  city 
and  has  displayed  the  most  signal  capacity  for  the  intricate  and  perplexing  ques- 
tions falling itro  the  lot  of  the  lawyer  to  untangle.  Not  being  permitted  by  his 
misfortune  to^take  part  in  many  of  the  pursuits  to  which  others  may  aspire,  he 
has  applied  himself  with  extraordinary  devotion  and  fidelity  to  his  profession  and 
has  masteredlTniany  phases  of  professional  skill  unknown  to  many  of  his  pro- 
fessional brethren.  One  important  case  in  which  he  displayed  the  most  consum- 
mate ability  was  that  of  Gehr  vs.  the  Mexican  Central  Railway  Company.  Mr. 
Crews  represented  the  plaintiff  who  sued  for  damages  for  false  imprisonment  in 
the  Republic  of  Mexico.  The  case  was  an  important  one  and  attracted  wide  at- 
tention and  interest  in  both  countries,  as  many  questions  of  international  im- 
portance were  involved.  As  a  matter  of  fact  the  case  required  in  the  contending 
lawyers  a  complete  and  absolute  knowledge  and  mastery  of  the  law  of  both  coun- 
tries and  of  international  rights.  After  a  long  and  stubborn  fight  in  which  great 
ability  and  learning  were  displayed  on  both  sides  Mr.  Gehr  was  awarded  a  verdict 
of  $40,000.  Another  great  case  in  which  Mr.  Crews  was  engaged  was  the  trial 
of  Mrs.  Meckie  L.  Rawson,  the  banker's  wife,  for  shooting  her  husband's  lawyer 
in  a  court  room  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Crews  appeared  for  the  defendant  and  dis- 
played great  skill  and  excellent  judgment  in  the  various  steps  of  the  adroit  de- 
fense. His  power  with  a  jury  is  very  great,  owing  to  his  rare  conversational 
gifts,  his  persuasive  oratory  and  his  apt  and  telling  illustrations  and  stories. 

It  is  doubtful  if  Chicago  has  at  the  present  time  a  more  capable  trial  lawyer 
judged  from  all  standards  than  Mr.  Crews.  His  arguments  are  extremely  logi- 
cal and  convincing,  and  are  always  so  artfully  interwoven  with  wit  and  pathos  that 
few  in  the  city  can  make  any  headway  against  him  before  a  jury.  While  at 
Mount  Vernon,  in  the  fall  of  1876,  he  was  elected  State's  attorney  of  Jefferson 
county  and  in  that  position  began  to  show  that  adroitness  which  has  distinguished 
his  subsequent  professional  career.  At  the  end  of  one  term  he  declined  a  re- 
nomination.  In  the  fall  of  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  and 
served  with  distinction  one  term.  In  politics  he  has  ever  been  a  strict  Republi- 
can and  in  many  campaigns  has  rendered  valuable  services  to  his  party.  His 
profession  has,  however,  engrossed  the  greater  part  of  his  attention  and  energies. 
He  was  married  in  1870  to  Miss  Helena  R.  Slocumb.  They  have  three  boys  and 
two  girls. 


414 


415 


EDWARD  MARSHALL  CRAIG. 

Edward  Marshall  Craig  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  February  ist,  1860. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Ireland,  of  Scottish  descent,  and  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica in  1842;  they  settled  in  Philadelphia.  Benjamin  Craig,  the  father,  was  a 
dyer  by  trade,  and  conducted  a  large  establishment  of  that  kind  in  Philadelphia. 
He  was  very  active  in  the  old  Volunteer  Fire  Department  and  took  a  prominent 
part  in  politics,  being  a  staunch  Republican.  He  died-in  1876.  His  wife  who 
had  a  family  of  seven  children — five  boys  and  two  girls — died  in  1865,  thus  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  left  an  orphan  at  an  early  age. 

He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Philadelphia  and  laid  the  foundation  of  a 
good  English  education,  but  the  death  of  his  father  made  it  necessary  for  him 
to  leave  school  and  enter  upon  the  active  duties  of  life.  He  obtained  a  position 
with  John  Sparhakk,  a  prominent  attorney  of  Philadelphia,  and  remained  with 
him  for  three  years.  By  this  time  he  was  a  rugged  young  man  full  of  life  and 
energy,  and  ambitious  to  make  his  way  in  the  world.  He  worked  for  a  time  in 
a  wheel  and  spoke  factory ;  a  woolen  mill ;  a  stone  yard ;  in  a  flour  and  feed  store 
and  in  the  livery  business.  When  nineteen  years  of  age  he  decided  to  learn  a 
trade,  and  he  became  a  steamfitter.  He  worked  at  this  trade,  gaining  the  confi- 
dence of  his  employers  and  fellow  workmen  until  he  became  president  of  the 
Steam  Fitters  Union  of  Philadelphia.  James  P.  Wood  &  Co.,  with  whom  he 
learned  the  trade,  recognizing  his  ability,  gave  him  charge  of  the  work  in  some 
of  the  largest  buildings  in  Philadelphia  and  all  parts  of  the  country.  During  all 
these  years  Mr.  Craig  did  not  neglect  the  improvement  of  his  mind,  and  it  was 
because  of  his  rapid  acquisition  of  knowledge  that  he  became  a  leader  amongst 
those  with  whom  he  associated. 

Upon  reaching  his  majority  he  became  identified  with  the  Republican  party. 
In  1884  he  took  a  leading  part  in  the  political  canvas  in  Philadelphia  for  Elaine 
and  Logan;  he  was  a  member  of  his  ward  committee.  Two  years  later  he  or- 
ganized the  West  End  Republican  Club  of  the  i8th  ward, — three  hundred  strong, 
— and  was  its  president  for  four  years.  In  1888  Mr.  Craig  was  elected  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  from  the  i6th  district  of  Philadelphia.  A 
district  in  which  the  extensive  ship  building  interests  of  that  city  are  located,  and 
which  is  commonly  known  in  Philadelphia  as  Fishtown,  on  account  of  the  large 
number  of  population  being  fishermen ;  during  his  service  in  the  Legislature 
several  obnoxious  fishing  bills  were  introduced,  which  he  strongly  opposed  and 
succeeded  in  defeating. . 

In  March,  1890,  Mr.  Craig  came  to  Chicago  as  the  Western  agent  of  the 
Pierce,  Butler  &  Pierce,  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  He  continued 
with  this  firm  until  it  was  consolidated  with  the  American  Boiler  Co.,  of  which 
he  took  charge,  and  which  was  the  strongest  concern  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States.  In  1897  Mr.  Craig  resigned  his  position  to  establish  a  business  of  his 
own.  In  1898  he  was  elected  general  manager  of  the  Master  Steam  Fitters'  As- 
sociation of  Chicago,  and  was  re-elected  in  1899  and  1900.  He  is  also  secretary  of 
the  Western  League  of  Master  Steam  Fitters.  During  the  great  strike  of  1900 
in  Chicago,  Mr.  Craig  took  an  active  part  in  the  settlement  of  the  controversy, 
being  a  member  of  the  Madden  Committee. 

Mr.  Craig  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  organization  as  soon  as  he 
became  a  citizen  of  Chicago.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  campaign  commit- 
tee of  the  loth  ward  and  is  always  active  in  promoting  the  success  of  his  party. 
Mr.  Craig  aided  in  organizing  the  Cook  County  Republican  Marching  Club  in 
1894,  and  was  elected  financial  secretary,  declining  to  accept  any  compensation 
for  services.  In  1897  he  was  unanimously  elected  president,  and  is  now  serving 
his  fourth  term,  being  re-elected  each  year  to  succeed  himself.  Mr.  Craig  be- 
longs to  the  Masonic  Fraternity  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  strong  eastern  orders,  Knights  of  the  Golden  Eagle,  Knights  of  the 
Mystic  Chain,  and  Knights  of  Friendship. 

416 


417 


Edward  Marshall  Craig  was  married  December  9,  1878,  to  Tillie  M.  Stengel 
of  Philadelphia.  They  have  two  children  William  H.,  and  B.  Clarence  Craig. 
It  was  through  Mr.  Craig's  efforts  that  the  Dolliver  boom  was  sprung  upon  the 
country,  just  prior  to  the  national  Republican  convention  of  1900,  at  the  head  of 
the  marching  club  that  organized  300  strong,  went  to  Philadelphia  and  would 
have  succeeded  in  nominating  Dolliver  had  Gov.  Roosevelt  declined  to  accept  the 
nomination  for  Vice-President. 


SAMUEL  J.  DREW. 

This  distinguished  citizen,  who  resides  at  Joliet,  III.,  is  a  native  of  England, 
having  been  born  at  Tipton,  Staffordshire,  April  22,  1864.  His  parents  are 
Joseph  and  Sarah  Drew,  who  came  to  America  early  in  1882,  and  with  limited 
opportunities  made  many  sacrifices  in  support  of  their  faith  that  their  son  Samuel 
J.  would  make  an  able,  honest  and  useful  citizen.  His  education  was  limited 
to  what  schooling  he  could  obtain  previous  to,  his  thirteenth  year,  at  which  time 
he  was  obliged  to  commence  work,  his  first  place  being  in  a  coal  mine.  Blessed 
by  nature  with  a  keen  and  discriminating  mind  and  possessing  a  passion  for 
study,  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  he  took  up  a  system  of  study  in  the  even- 
ings after  his  day's  work  was  done,  and  in  this  manner  managed  to  widely  inform 
himself  not  only  on  the  contents  of  the  "books,  but  qn  many  miscellaneous 
branches  of  information  that  have  proved  of  great  value  to  him  in  subsequent 
years.  This  course  of  study  was  continued  notwithstanding  the  fact  that  he 
worked  from  eight  to  fourteen  hours,  a  day  in  the  mines.  He  even  carried  the 
books  into  the  mines  to  read  during  a  lull  in  the  work.  He  says  that  he  had 
his  share  of  sport,  but  made  it  a  rule  to  study  or  do  his  duty  first  and  play  after- 
ward. 

In  March,  1882,  he  came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Braidwood,  Will 
County,  Illinois.  He  worked  in  the  coal  mines  until  August,  1886,  by  which 
time  he  managed  to  save  a  small  sum  of  money,  and  this,  together  with  what 
his  parents  furnished,  enabled  him  to  take  a  business  course  at  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School,  Valparaiso,  Ind.,  graduating  in  August,  1887.  His 
money  was  exhausted,  but  he  managed  to  become  an  expert  stenographer  and 
typewriter,  and  as  such  acted  as  Court  Reporter,  and  later  as  chief  clerk  of  the 
Illinois  Steel  Co.  He  is  now  practicing  law  at  Joliet  and  has  a  large  clientage. 

The  foundation  of  his  belief  in  the  righteousness  of  labor  was  laid  in  the 
coal  mines  where  he  did  his  first  independent  labor,  and  where  his  observation 
and  study  indicated  the  necessity  of  reform  in  labor  customs  and  legislation. 
Since  that  day  the  miners  have  been  his  warm  and  outspoken  friends,  and  he 
has  made  a  profound  study  of  their  trials,  needs  and  home  requirements.  Upon 
coming  of  age  he  found  that  he  had  become  an  intense  American.  TEe  Stars 
and  Stripes  became  the  symbol  of  his  nationality.  He  had  learned  to  love 
America,  as  he  says,  because  it  enabled  him  to  move  higher  and  gives  the  poor 
man  an  equal  chance.  His  position  as  stenographer  probably  led  him  to  the 
study  of  law,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Coming  to  the  United  States 
under  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  became  a  citizen  upon  reaching  his  majority. 
He  is  proud  of  this  fact.  From  the  start  to  the  present  he  has  been  an  unswerv- 
ing and  enthusiastic  Republican  and  a  persistent  and  undaunted  friend  of  labor. 
From  the  first  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  believing  it  to  be  his  duty.  He 
was  elected  Town  Clerk  of  Joliet  and  served  from  1896  to  1898  inclusive.  In 
the  latter  year  so  prominent  had  he  become  that  he  was  nominated  for  repre- 
sentative of  the  Twenty-fifth  district.  He  rose  from  the  ranks  of  labor  and  was 
chosen  to  represent  that  element  in  the  Legislature.  He  was  elected  by  a  large 
majority  and  became  one  of  the  most  useful  members  of  the  house.  He  was 
appointed  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Labor  and  Industrial  Affairs,  and 
was  second  on  Mines  and  Mining ;  as  such'  he  had  practical  control  of  labor 
legislation.  He  was  largely  instrumental  in  securing  the  passage  of  bills  on 
Revision  of  Mining  Laws,  Arbitration,  Union  Labels,  Free  Employment  Bu- 
reaus, and  Forbidding  Importation  of  Labor.  The  latter  bill  was  an"  extremely 

418 


419 


important  piece  of  legislation,  and  a  radical  departure  in  labor  laws.  For  years 
it  had  been  the  custom,  and  on  the  slightest  pretext,  to  bring  men  under  guard, 
from  another  State  to  take  the  place  of  the  regular  workmen  employed  in  Illi- 
nois. Then  on  frivolous  grounds  the  employer  would  call  for  the  State  Militia, 
who  were  used,  presumably,  to  protect  life  and  property,  but  actually  operated 
as  a  means  to  overawe  and  subdue  the  workingmen.  The  lowest  class  of  men 
and  guards  were  imported  into  this  State  to  take  the  place  of  respectable  citizens. 
Mr.  Drew  had  had  actual  experience  in  being  driven  from  home  under  such 
circumstances,  and  determined  that  his  chief  care  in  the  Legislature  should  be 
a  law  forbidding  this.  His  bill,  commonly  known  as  the  "Drew  Bill,"  strikes 
at  this  evil,  and  he  claims  it  effectually  stops  this  infamous  practice.  All  kinds 
of  trouble  greeted  the  advent  of  this  measure,  but  labor's  friends,  headed  by 
Mr.  Drew,  stood  to  their  guns  and  the  passage  of  this  measure  was  demanded 
as  a  right  belonging  to  labor.  Mr.  Drew,  during  an  exciting  debate,  defended 
this  measure  and  it  finally  passed  the  House  by  a  large  majority.  It  then  went 
to  the  Senate  and  opposition  greeted  its  appearance.  Mr.  Drew  followed  the 
bill  and  never  rested  until  it  finally  passed  the  Senate  and  became  a  law.  It  is 
the  first  law  of  the  land  ever  enacted  in  the  United  States  and  Mr.  Drew  is 
proud  of  the  fact  that  the  Republican  party  by  the  passage  of  this  measure, 
demonstrated  that  it  was  labor's  true  friend.  He  is  proud  of  the  labor  laws 
passed,  and  says  the  proudest  moments  of  his  life  were  when  this  and  other 
labor  laws  finally  passed  both  House  and  Senate. 

Mr.  Drew  is  highly  respected  and  trusted  by  the  community  in  which  he 
lives.  He  is  a  Methodist,  a  Mason,  Knight  of  Pythias  and  a  member  oFotlier 
secret  societies.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Lizzie  B.  Parsons,  of  Braidwood. 
They  have  one  child,  a  girl,  whose  name  is  Alberta  L. 


JOHN   C.  CORBUS. 

Dr.  John  C.  Corbus  of  Mendota,  111.,  was  born  in  Millersburgh,  O.,  Septem- 
ber 30,  1833.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  His  mother  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  families  of  each  coming  to  this  country  prior  to  the  Revolution,  and 
were  participants  in  the  same.  Dr.  Corbus  received  an  academic  education,  de- 
voting himself  earnestly  to  scientific  studies,  graduating  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  Western  Reserve  University,  Cleveland,  O.  Was  married  to  Miner- 
va C.  McFarland  of  Wayne  county,  O.,  by  whom  he  had  four  children,  Frank  G. 
Corbus,  John  Corbus,  Jr.,  and  Robert  C.  Corbus,  and  Ella  M.  Corbus.  Minerva 
Corbus  died  December,  1891.  In  February,  1893,  Dr.  Corbus  married  Helen  E. 
Ruggles. 

Removing  to  Illinois  in  1856  he  settled  at  Melugin's  Grove,  Lee  county, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  when  he  entered  the  service  as  First  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  75th 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry.  Prior  to  this  he  was  one  of  the  surgeons  selected 
by  Governor  Yates  to  go  to  the  battlefield  of  Shiloh  to  render  medical  and  surgi- 
cal aid  to  Illinois  troops.  Dr.  Corbus  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  surgeon,  but 
was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of  ill-health.  On  his  return  from  the  army 
he  settled  in  Mendota,  where  he  practiced  medicine  for  thirty-five  years. 

Dr.  Corbus  has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party  since  its  organiza- 
tion, and  has  given  it  his  earnest  support;  he  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
President  in  1860.  Wedded  to  the  medical  profession,  and  devoting  his  constant 
thought  to  that  science,  he  had  left  to  others  the  active  management  of  party 
affairs,  but  has  always  performed  the  duty  of  a  citizen  in  attending  the  elections 
and  frequently  attending  County  and  State  Conventions  of  his  party.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  Medical  Society ;  the  North  Central  Medical  Illinois  Soci- 
ety ;  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  a  Companion  of  the  Loyal  Legion. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  for  twenty-three  years, 
acting  as  President  of  the  Board  a  portion  of  the  time. 

At  present  Dr.  Corbus  is  Superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Eastern  Hospital 
for  the  Insane,  located  at  Hospital,  Kankakee  county,  111. 

420 


421 


AQUILLA  J.  DAUGHERTY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Hamilton,  O.,  December 
6,  1842  and  is  now  residing  in  Peoria,  111.  His  father  was  James  Daugherty, 
and  his  mother  formerly  Elizabeth  Doty.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by  trade  and 
a  farmer.  He  became  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  county  (having  removed  to 
Hamilton),  and  later  became  Mayor  of  that  city  and  finally  Auditor  of  the  county. 
James  Daugherty  was  born  in  1814,  and  his  father,  John  Daugherty,  served  in  the 
war  of  1812-14.  The  wife  of  the  latter  was  formerly  Esther  Ward.  The  family 
originally  came  over  with  Lord  Baltimore,  the  name  then  being  spelled  Dough- 
erty. Elizabeth  Doty  was  descended  from  Edward  Doty,  who  came  over  in  the 
Mayflower  in  1620.  Her  father  was  Zina  Doty  who  was  the  son  of  John  Doty, 
the  descendants  of  whom  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  settlement  of  the  Miami 
Valley.  The  father  of  John  was  Joseph  and  of  the  latter  was  Samuel,  and  of  the 
latter  was  Edward  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower. 

Aquilla  J.  Daugherty  was  educated  at  Hamilton,  and  at  Miami  University, 
Oxford,  O.  His  ambition  was  to  study  and  practice  law,  but  his  father's  failure 
in  business  compelled  him  to  seek  employment  for  support,  and  for  some  time 
he  suffered  many  discouragements  and  hardships.  He  began  work  with  the 
Ohio  State  Journal  at  Columbus,  and  later  with  the  "Cincinnati  Commercial." 
He  soon  after  secured  a  position  as  war  correspondent  under  Geo.  D.  Prentice 
of  the  "Louisville  Journal"  and  represented  at  different  times  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  the  Louisville  Journal  and  the  Cincinnati  Ga- 
zette. He  wrote  under  the  nom-de-plume  of  "Quill."  While  he  was  at  Mur- 
freesboro  a  bitter  criticism  of  Gen.  Rosecrans  appeared  in  the  Louisville  Journal 
over  the  signature  of  "Quill"  and  trie  subject  was  arrested  as  the  author,  but  Mr. 
Prentice  of  the  Journal  procured  his  release  from  arrest,  by  showing  that  a  cer- 
tain colonel  was  the  writer.  The  latter  was  cashiered  and  driven  from  the 
army,  and  subject  was  given  special  privileges  previously  denied  him.  On 
another  occasion  Gen.  Logan  ordered  his  arrest  for  excoriating  certain  officials 
for  dishonorable  practices.  When  Gen.  Grant  took  command  at  Chattanooga 
he  sent  for  Mr.  Daugherty  and  asked  many  questions  concerning  his  observa- 
tions and  experiences,  complimented  him  and  finally  gave  him  a  pass  which  read 
"Pass  the  bearer,  A.  J.  Daugherty,  correspondent  of  the  Louisville  Journal,  with- 
in and  through  the  lines  of  all  the  armies,  free  of  charge  for  himself  and  horse,  on 
all  railroads  and  steamboats  under  military  control.  "  This  was  prized  very 
highly,  as  it  was  the  most  liberal  pass  ever  granted  to  a  newspaper  correspond- 
ent in  that  department.  Mr.  Daugherty  showed  this  pass  to  Gen.  Logan  when 
the  latter  had  him  arrested,  and  requested  that  tEe  General  would  investigate  his 
charges  before  excluding  him  from  the  army.  This  was  done,  and  Mr.  Daugh- 
erty was  completely  exonerated.  Gen.  Logan  invited  him  to  make  his  home. at 
his  headquarters  which  invitation  was  accepted  and  Mr.  Daugherty  remained' 
with  Gen.  Logan  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Later  he  was  permitted  to  supply 
the  soldiers  with  papers  at  five  cents  each  in  the  armies  ol  Generals  Logan,  Sheri- 
dan, Thomas  and  Sherman,  to  overturn  a  pernicious  system  previously  existing 
whereunder  the  soldiers  were  charged  ten  cents  a  copy.  He  was  with  Rose- 
crans at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  and  witnessed  the  struggle  of  Gen.  Thomas 
to  hold  the  enemy  in  check.  He  went  with  Gen.  Grant  from  Chattanooga  to 
Atlanta,  reporting  all  the  battles  and  movements.  He  then  came  back  to  Nash- 
ville and  witnessed  Thomas  crush  Hood.  He  was  then  with  Sherman  in  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas  and  later  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington. 

After  the  war  he  was  connected  with  the  Indianapolis  Journal,  taught  school 
five  years  in  Hancock  County,  served  on  the  Board  of  Supervisors,  ran  for 
County  Sheriff  far  ahead  of  his  ticket,  and  in  1875  became  stenographer  for  the 
T.  P.  &  W.  Ry.  From  1875  to  1890  he  held  many  positions  in  the  railway  and 
fast  freight  line  service.  He  became  interested  in  politics  and  was  appointed 
United  States  Consul  at  Callao,  Peru.  In  1893  he  engaged  in  the  grain  business 

422 


t/          S 


423 


at  Peoria.  He  was  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  1894.  and  later  was  elected  to 
the  Illinois  assembly  and  re-elected  in  1896.  In  1898  he  secured  his  present  po- 
sition as  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  in  the  5th  Illinois  district.  He  is  prom- 
inent in  social  affairs,  and  is  a  wide  and  thoughtful  reader  on  all  current  subjects. 
In  1876  he  married  Margaret  E.  Crawford,  and  one  daughter,  Willa  C.,  was 
born  to  this  union,  but  died  in  infancy.  His  wife  dying  in  1881,  he  was  married 
ten  years  later  to  Miss  Jennie  Loosely  Plahn  of  Beardstown.  A  son,  Hale 
Plahn,  was  born  to  this  union  at  the  Consulate  in  Peru,  September  15,  1892. 


GEORGE  PERRIN  DAVIS. 

George  P.  Davis  of  Bloomington,  111.,  was  born  June  3,  1842,  at  Blooming- 
ton.  Mr.  Davis  is  the  son  of  Judge  David  Davis,  late  of  the  Supreme  bench  of 
the  United  States,  and  one  of  the  most  distinguished  citizens  of  Illinois.  Judge 
Davis  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  but  was  mainly  educated  in  Massachusetts, 
where  in  1838  he  married  Sarah  W.  Walker,  daughter  of  Judge  Walker  of  Len- 
nox, Mass.  She  accompanied  her  husband  to  his  home  at  Bloomington,  111. 
She  was  a  woman  in  every  way  worthy  to  be  the  wife  of  so  able  and  distinguished 
a  man  as  was  her  husband.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 
Judge  Davis  anxious  to  afford  his  son,  George,  the  best  possible  opportunity  for 
gaining  an  education,  placed  him  at  Deacon  A.  Hikie's  school  at  Lee,  Mass., 
where  he  remained  for  some  time.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Beloit,  Wis.,  and 
was  in  college  at  that  place  for  two  years.  He  then  entered  Williams  College, 
Mass.,  and  graduated  therefrom  in  1864.  He  then  entered  the  Law  School  of 
the  University  of  Michigan,  and  graduated  in  1867. 

After  returning  to  Bloomington,  Mr.  Davis  formed  a  partnership  for  the 
practice  of  la^w  with  William  H.  Hanna.  Mr.  Davis  had  chosen  the  law  as  his 
profession,  and  had  devoted  much  time  and  labor  in  preparing  himself  for  that 
profession,  but  he  soon  became  fully  satisfied  that  it  was  to  his  interest  and  to  the 
interest  of  his  father  that  he  should  give  up  the  profession  of  law,  and  devote 
himself  solely  to  the  management  of  his  father's  landed  estates.  At  an  early 
day  Judge  Davis  began  the  purchase  of  lands  in  McLean  County,  and  in  the 
course  of  a  few  years  he  had  acquired  large  bodies  of  rich  land.  It  was  to  the 
care  and  development  of  this  property  that  George  P.  Davis,  upon  the  advice  of 
his  father,  decided  to  devote  his  time  and  attention.  McLean  County,  as  is  well 
known,  is  agriculturally  the  richest  county  in  the  State  of  Illinois.  The  produc- 
tion of  grain  and  the  feeding  of  cattle  have  been  conducted  upon  a  very 
large  scale,  and  Mr.  Davis  is  known  to  have  been  one  of  the  largest  cattle  feeders 
in  the  county.  In  this  business  he  has  been  identified  with  Lyman  W.  Betts, 
and  later  with  E.  H.  Hyneman  and  others.  These  business  operations  have  been 
large,  and  in  conducting  them  Mr.  Davis  has  exhibited  a  high  degree  of  execu- 
tive and  financial  ability.  Mr.  Davis  has  never  been  a  seeker  after  office.  He 
was,  however,  elected  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  McLean  County, 
from  Bloomington  Township,  and  has  occupied  that  position  for  some  twenty 
years.  He  has  brought  to  the  conduct  of  the  public  affairs  of  the  County  the 
same  business  sagacity  and  judgment  that  he  applies  to  his  own  affairs,  and  has 
consequently  been  able  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  to  the  entire  satisfac- 
tion of  the  public. 

Mr.  Davis  has  been  a  member  of  the  McLean  Historical  Society  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  and  upon  the  death  of  Judge  J.  M.  Scott  he  was  elected  President 
of  the  Society.  The  McLean  County  Historical  Society  was  organized  March 
19,  1892,  with  Hon.  .John  M.  Scott  as  President ;  J.  B.  Orendorff,  Vice  President ; 
George  Perrin  Davis,  Treasurer,  and  Ezra  M.  Prince,  Secretary.  Mr.  Davis 
bore  an  honorable  part  in  the  labors  of  this  Society,  and  in  1899  the  first  volume 
issued  by  it  was  published,  being  the  War  record  of  McLean  County  with  other 
papers.  It  is  a  book  of  some  600  pages,  well  illustrated  by  the  portraits  of  promi- 
nent citizens  of  the  county,  gives  a  full  and  interesting  history  of  the  military 
affairs  of  McLean  County,  and  numerous  sketches  of  its  early  settlers.  The 
work  is  highly  creditable  to  the  McLean  County  Historical  Society. 

424 


<f 


425 


George  P.  Davis  married  Ella  Hanna  of  Attica,  Indiana,  in  the  year  1869. 
They  have  three  children,  namely :  Mrs.  Alice  D.  Andrews,  wife  of  Dr.  E.  Wyllys- 
Andrews,  of  Chicago,  111.;  and  David  Davis  and  Mercer  Davis.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends ;  they  have  a  pleasant  home,  and  dispense  a 
generous  hospitality. 

Mr.  Davis  in  politics  is  a  Republican.  He  believes  in  the  principles  of  the 
party,  is  proud  of  its  achievements  and  of  its  history,  and  gives  an  earnest  sup- 
port to  its  candidates. 


ORRIS  BISSELL  DODGE. 

Orris  Bissell  Dodge  of  Dixon,  111.,  was  born  at  Twinsburg,  O.,  December  8,. 
1838.  His  ancestors  were  English  and  Welch,  who  came  to  America  before  the 
Revolution.  His  great-grandfather  was  killed  at  the  Battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  His 
grandfather,  a  posthumous  child,  was  born  during  the  Revolution,  and  his  father, 
John  Weeks  Dodge,  who  married  Susan  Bissell,  was  a  pioneer  settler  in  Ohio. 
He  became  a  successful  merchant  and  afterward  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854,. 
where,  at  the  age  of  87,  he  died  in  1895.  His  mother  iied  at  the  age  of  67.  They 
were  of  sturdy  New  England  type,  of  high  moral  worth  and  left  a  deep  impres- 
sion upon  the  communities  in  which  they  lived. 

Orris  B.  Dodge  is  one  of  a  family  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  dead. 
His  sister,  Mrs.  Augusta  Dodge  Beard,  now  resides  at  Rantoul,  111.  Mr.  Dodge 
was  educated  at  Bissell  Seminary,  Twinsburg,  Ohio,  and  Shaw  Seminary,  East 
Cleveland.  He  was  a  good  student.  When  not  in  school  he  was  actively 
engaged  with  his  father  in  the  store  and  in  the  buying  and  selling  of  horses,  of 
which  he  was  fond,  and  of  cattle  and  other  stock.  At  the  age  of  16  he  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Champaign  County,  where  he  spent  four  years  in  assisting 
to  establish  a  new  prairie  farm,  engaging  in  all  kinds  of  necessary  work  for  the 
accomplishment  of  that  end.  At  the  age  of  twenty  he  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandise at  Rantoul,  first  with  a  partner  and  afterward  alone.  For  eight  years 
he  was  the  leading  merchant  of  that  place.  In  1867  he  removed  to  Dixon  and 
successfully  engaged  in  the  dry-goods  business  for  seven  years.  He  established' 
the  one-price  cash  system.  In  1874  he  became  interested  in  the  Grand  Detour 
Plow  Company,  which  was  established  in  1837,  six  miles  above  Dixon  on  Rock 
River,  but  was  removed  to  Dixon  in  1869.  The  company  was  incorporated  in 
1879,  and  Mr.  Dodge  was  made  its  secretary  and  treasurer,  holding  that  position 
for  twenty-five  years.  He  is  now  the  president  of  the  company.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  successful  enterprises  of  the  city  of  Dixon. 

In  1860  Mr.  Dodgi-  cast  his  first  vote  for  Stephen  A.  Douglas  for  president. 
When  the  CivlTwarbroke  out,  he  followed  that  great  leader  in  support  of  the 
Union  cause,  and  like  the  great  mass  of  the  war  Democrats  of  Illinois,  Jie  sup- 
ported Abraham  Lincoln  for  re-election  in  1864,  and  has  been  a  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party  ever  since.  Mr.  Dodge  has  not  been  a  seeker  after  office, 
but  fully  comprehending  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  he  has  supported 
its  measures  and  its  candidates  with  a  view  of  giving  the  country  good  govern- 
ment. Mr.  Dodge  served  four  years  in  the  City  Council  of  Dixon,  and  was 
chairman  of  the  committee  which  had  charge  of  putting  in  the  water  works.  He 
has  been  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association,  an  active  member  of  the 
Lee  County  Lecture  Association,  the  Shakespeare,  Chautatiqua  and  other  liter- 
ary clubs.  He  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  the  Public  Library  at  Dixon  in 
1895,  and  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Directors. 

Mr.  Dodge  is  a  most  public-spirited  man.  He  is  now  erecting  a  new  library 
building  at  a  cost  of  over  $20,000,  and  when  completed  will  deed  the  lot  and 
building  to  the  city  on  condition  only  that  it  shall  be  maintained  by  them  as  a 
public  library  forever.  He  has  traveled  largely  in  his  own  country,  and  has  made 
two  trips  to  Europe,  visiting  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  Germany,  Switzerland, 
Holland,  Belgium  and  France.  While  Mr.  Dodge  was  reared  a  Congrega- 

426 


427 


tionalist  by  his  parents,  after  moving  to  Dixon  he  united  with  St.  Luke's  Epis- 
copal, of  which  he  is  now  a  senior  warden,  and  for  thirty  years  has  been  a 
member  of  the  vestry.  He  was  a  member  of  the  building  committee  which 
erected  the  beautiful  stone  church  which  they  now  occupy.  He  has  also  donated 
a  lot  for  the  erection  of  a  rectory. 

Orris  B.  Dodge  was  married  June  27,  1872,  to  Annie  More  of  Polo,  111., 
who  descended  from  a  large  and  noted  Scotch  family.  They  have  two  children, 
Annie  Louise  Dodge,  now  a. student  in  the  University  of  Chicago,  and  John 
Orris  Dodge,  now  in  the  mechanical  engineering  department  of  Cornell  Uni- 
versity. Mr.  Dodge  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  was  initiated  by 
his  father,  and  has  taken  the  Chapter  and  Templar  degrees.  He  was  past- 
master,  high  priest  and  eminent  commander  of  these  bodies.  Airs.  Dodge  is 
a  woman  of  education,  and  takes  great  interest  in  public  and  educational  subjects. 
She  has  been  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  Republican  party  from  her  youth, 
and  has  aided  her  husband  in  every  good  work.  She  is  president  of  the  Phidian 
Art  Club  of  Dixon. 


M. LESTER  COFFEEN. 

M.  Lester  Coffeen  is  a  native  of  the  Empire  State,  having  been  born  at 
Antwerp,  Jefferson  county,  December  20,  1850,  and  since  1869  has  been  a 
resident  of  Chicago.  His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  of  New  England,  and 
class  among  the  foremost  citizens  of  force,  energy,  influence  and  ability  of  the 
early  periods  of  our  history.  His  great  grandfather — Capt.  John  Coffeen,  the 
first  settler  of  Cavendish,  Vt. — was  a  Revolutionary  soldier,  a  member  of  Ver- 
mont's first  constitutional  convention  and  many  times  a  member  of  its  legisla- 
tive gatherings.  William  Coffeen,  grandfather,  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  1812, 
and  William  L.  G.  Coffeen,  his  father,  were  both  prominent  and  respected  citi- 
zens of  the  State  of  New  York.  William  L.  G.  Coffeen  came  to  Illinois  in  1860 
and  died  a  few  years  afterward  at  Libertyville.  The  mother  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  whose  maiden  name  was  Helen  Lester,  originated  the  establishment 
of  fresh-air  homes  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago  for  poor  working  women  and 
children,  and  the  last  few  years  of  her  life  were  spent  in  the  support  of  this 
worthy  charity.  She  died  at  Hinsdale,  111.,  1898. 

M.  Lester  Coffeen  attended  the  Normal  School,  at  Normal,  McLean 
county,  111.,  and  afterwards  entered  the  law  department  of  the  old  Chicago 
University,  from  which  he  graduated  with  the  class  of  1871.  His  law  studies 
were  continued  in  the  office  of  Van  Arman  &  Vallette  for  a  time,  afterwards 
acquiring  a  thorough  practical  knowledge  of  practice  by  serving  as  a  clerk  in 
the  Superior  Court  Clerk's  office.  He  was  for  a  short  time  associated  with 
the  late  Emery_JA._Storrs,  and  in  1887  became  a  member  of  the  law  firm  with 
which  he  has  ever  since  been  connected,  Tenney,  McConnell,  Coffeen  &  Hard- 
ing. This  is  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  successful  law  firms  of  Chicago, 
with  an  extensive  practice  in  both  the  State  and  Federal  Courts. 

In  politics  Mr.  Coffeen  has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  ardently  adheres 
to  the  principles  of  the  party,  and  is  proud  of  its  history  and  its  achievements, 
and  although  performing  his  individual  duty  as  a  citizen  at  the  polls,  he  has 
not  been  active  in  party  work.  Mr.  Coffeen  took  an  active  part  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Hamilton  Club,  and  was  its  first  vice-president,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  Chicago  Club.  He  was  married  in  December,  1877,  to  Martha  Martin. 
They  have  three  children,  two  daughters  and  a  son,  Henry  Martin  Coffeen,  who 
is  now  a  student  of  Yale  University,  of  the  graduating  class  of  1902.  He  occu- 
pies with  his  family  a  fine  residence  on  Calumet  Avenue,  Chicago,  and  has  at 
Kenilworth,  111.,  a  handsome  country  place. 


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429 


ARTHUR  DIXON. 

Arthur  Dixon  is  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Chicago.  He  has  been 
prominently  connected  with  the  city  government  and  the  business  interests  of  the 
city  for  many  years,  and  has  established  a  reputation  for  integrity,  public  spirit 
and  enterprise,  which  has  made  his  name  a  household  word  with  the  people.  Mr. 
Dixon  came  to  Chicago  in  1861,  when  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He  first 
engaged  in  the  business  of  a  grocer,  and  continued  that  for  some  time,  but  he 
.soon  appreciated  the  fact  that  there  was  a  great  opening  in  Chicago  for  a  large 
transfer  and  general  teaming  business.  He  established  himself  at  299  Fifth 
Avenue,  and  the  business  proved  to.be  a  success  from  the  start.  Mr.  Dixon  has 
devoted  much  time  to  the  interests  of  the  city,  to  the  politics  of  the  State  and 
nation,  and  to  social  affairs,  but  he  has  never  for  a  moment  neglected  his  express 
.and  transfer  business.  That  has  been  pushed  with  energy  year  by  year  until  it 
has  grown  to  be  the  largest  business  of  the  kind  west  of  New  York  City.  The 
Arthur  Dixon  Transfer  Co.  has  a  capital  of  $250,000,  they  have  a  large  array  of 
wagons  and  horses,  and  their  stables  are  arranged  to  accommodate  over  five  hun- 
dred horses.  They  also  have  extensive  facilities  for  the  storage  of  merchandise. 
The  company  handles  the  bulk  of  the  railroad  transfer  business  of  Chicago,  and 
do  a  large  warehousing  and  forwarding  business.  The  main  office  of  this  com- 
pany has  never  been  removed  from  299  Fifth  Avenue.  This  transfer  company 
is  notably  a  Dixon  institution.  Arthur  Dixon  is  the  President,  while  his  two 
sons,  George  W.  Dixon,  and  T.  J.  Dixon  are  respectively  Secretary  and  Treas- 
urer, and  General  Manager. 

In  1867  Mr.  Dixon  was  elected  Alderman  from  the  2nd  Ward  on  the  same 
ticket  with  Mayor  Rice.  He  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  of  Alderman  so 
well  that  at  the  ensuing  election  he  was  re-elected,  and  for  twenty-four  years  by 
the  voice  and  vote  of  his  fellow  citizens  he  held  the  office  of  Alderman  of  the  city 
of  Chicago.  In  1874  Mr.  Dixon  was  chosen  President  of  the  City  Council,  was 
re-elected  from  time  to  time  and  filled  that  responsible  post  for  six  years.  He 
also  served  at  various  times  as  Chairman  of  the  Finance  and  other  important 
Committees.  When  Congress  decided  that  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition 
should  be  held  at  Chicago,  Mr.  Dixon  was  appointed  by  the  Mayor  as  a  member 
of  the  Executive  Committee  of  Arrangements  for  the  Exposition.  He  was  on 
the  Committee  and  took  an  active  part  in  framing  and  passing  the  Ordinance  au- 
thorizing a  loan  of  $5,000,000  to  the  city  for  promoting  the  Exposition.  In 
April,.  1892,  Mr.  Dixon  was  selected  as  a  Director  in  the  Board  of  the  World's 
Columbian  Directory.  He  performed  the  duties  of  these  important  positions 
with  zeal  and  intelligence,  and  contributed  his  full  share  to  the  success  of  the 
Exposition. 

Mr.  Dixon  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  in  politics,  like  in  everything  else, 
he  has  been  an  active  member.  It  has  never  been  his  practice  to  remain  at  his 
office  or  at  his  home  when  political  work  was  to  be  done,  and  leave  some  one 
else  to  perform  his  part  of  that  work.  He  has  always  felt  that  as  the  public 
affairs  of  this  country  must  necessarily  be  conducted  through  the  instrumental- 
ity of  political  parties,  and  by  party  organization,  that  it  was  the  duty  of  every 
voter  to  take  part  in  these  proceedings,  and  not  leave  to  others  the  performance 
of  that  duty.  Mr.  Dixon  has  been  a  delegate  to  and  participated  in  the  delibera- 
tions of  Republican  Conventions  of  Cook  County,  and  also  of  State  and  Na- 
tional Conventions.  For  twenty  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  County  Central 
Committee  and  two  years  its  chairman.  In  the  long  to  be  remembered  National 
Convention  of  1880  when  General  Garfield  was  nominated  to  the  Presidency, 
Arthur  Dixon  was  an  Alternate  from  the  first  Congressional  District.  In  1870 
Mr.  Dixon  was  elected  as  a  representative  from  the  96th  District  to  the  27th 
General  Assembly  of  Illinois.  He  was  a  hard  working  and  efficient  member,  and 
represented  his  District  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  his  constituents.  It  is  an  in- 

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431 


teresting  episode  in  the  life  of  Mr.  Dixon  that  when,  in  1891,  after  a  service  of 
twenty-four  years  as  an  Alderman  he  voluntarily  declined  re-election,  and  re- 
tired from  that  service  he  was  presented  by  the  city  of  Chicago  a  series  of  reso- 
lutions commending  and  endorsing  his  long  and  efficient  services  to  the  city. 
These  resolutions  were  beautifully  engraved  and  handsomely  bound.  This  was 
a  mark  of  public  approval  rarely  ever  conferred  upon  a  man  retiring  from  public 
life,  and  was  tendered  to  Mr.  Dixon  not  as  a  partisan  act,  but  as  a  free  will  offer- 
ing of  the  city  as  a  recognition  for  his  long  and  valuable  services  to  the  city. 

Arthur  Dixon  was  married  to  Ann  Carson  of  Pittsburg,  Penn.,  in  1862. 
They  have  a  family  of  seven  sons  and  seven  daughters.  The  home  life  of  this 
large  and  interesting  famliy  is  the  best  evidence  of  the  good  qualities  of  head 
and  heart  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dixon.  In  addition  to  his  great  transfer  business,  Mr. 
Dixon  is  interested  in  other  important  matters  of  business.  He  is  a  director  of 
the  Chicago  &  Grand  Trunk  R.  R.  Co.,  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Co.,  of 
the  Metropolitan  National  Bank,  and  of  the  Consolidated  Stone  Co.  In  a  social 
way  he  has  identified  himself  with  the  Union  League  Club,  the  Sheridan  Club, 
the  Hamilton  Club,  of  which  he  has  been  president,  the  Calumet  Club  and  the 
Historical  Society.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  old  Methodist  Church  in  Chi- 
cago for  over  twenty-seven  years.  During  this  time  the  church  has  assisted  in 
building  over  twenty  Methodist  churches. 


GEORGE  W.  DIXON. 

George  W.  Dixon  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Chicago.  He  attended 
the  common  school,  and  won  the  medal  prize  for  scholarship.  In  1885  he  grad- 
uated from  the  West  Division  High  School,  then  entered  the  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity, from  which  institution  he  was  graduated  in  1889.  He  entered  the  law 
department  of  the  same  institution,  and  completed  the  course  in  the  class  of  1892. 
He  was  elected  President  of  the  graduating  class,  and  represented  it  before  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  where  he  was  granted  a  license  to  practice  law.  Mr. 
Dixon  is  a  man  of  fine  business  qualifications,  of  sound  judgment,  and  a  high 
sense  of  business  honor.  Intellectually  he  has  the  highest  standing;  he  makes 
staunch  friends  of  all  those  with  whom  he  comes  in  contact,  his  business  success 
and  popularity  has,  therefore,  a  substantial  foundation.  Mr.  Dixon  is  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer  of  the  Dixon  Transfer  Company,  at  299  Fifth  Avenue.  The 
business  of  this  company  is  large  and  constantly  increasing.  Some  idea  may  be 
gained  of  the  business  of  this  company  when  it  is  known  that  the  capital  stock 
of  the  company  once  $25,000  has  been  increased  to  $250,000.  This  company 
handles  the  bulk  of  the  railroad  transfer  business  of  Chicago,  besides  doing  a 
very  large  forwarding  and  warehouse  business.  Although  Mr.  Dixon  is  con- 
stantly occupied  and  at  times  overwhelmed  with  his  great  business,  he  does  not 
neglect  those  important  duties  every  citizen  owes  to  society  in  general  and  to 
himself  in  particular. 

In  politics  Mr.  Dixon  is  a  Republican.  He  identified  himself  with  that  great 
party  in  his  early  manhood,  and  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the  principles  of  the 
party,  its  policies  of  government,  and  has  an  admiration  for  its  great  history.  Mr. 
Dixon  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  the  Hamilton  Club,  the  University 
Club,  the  Chicago  Athletic  Association,  and  the  Chicago  Tennis  Club.  He  was 
Secretary  of  the  Hamilton  Club  in  1894-5,  and  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Political  Action  in  1898-9.  Mr.  Dixon  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity, is  a  member  of  Garden  City  Lodge  No.  141,  and  is  also  a  Royal  Arch 
Mason,  belonging  to  Washington  Chapter  No.  43.  He  has  been  initiated  to  the 
thirty-second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite  on  Oriental  Consistory,  and  is  a  Sir 
Knight  in  Apollo  Commandery.  Mr.  Dixon  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  is  an  active  church  worker,  and  is  Superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  of  his  Church.  As  is  well  known,  Mr.  Dixon  belongs  to  one  of 
the  old  and  prominent  families  of  Chicago,  his  father,  Arthur  Dixon,  being  one 
of  the  most  influential  and  respected  citizens  of  Chicago. 

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433 


CHARLES  H.  DEERE. 

The  history  of  a  state  as  well  as  that  of  a  nation  is  chiefly  the  chronicle  of  the 
lives  and  deeds  of  those  who  have  conferred  honor  and  dignity  upon  society  and 
have  benefited  the  people  at  large.  The  world  judges  the  character  of  a  com- 
munity by  that  of  its  representative  citizens  and  yields  its  tributes  of  admiration 
and  respect  to  genius.  Charles  H.  Deere  bears  a  name  that  is  known  through- 
out the  country  and  is  now  at  the  head  of  an  industry  that  has  been  a  blessing 
to  the  agricultural  class  of  this  country,  as  well  as  a  source  of  financial  benefit 
to  himself  and  family.  He  is  a  native  Vermonter,  born  in  Hancock,  Addison 
County,  March  28,  1837,  and  is  the  only  living  son  of  the  late  Hon.  John 
Deere. 

Charles  H.  Deere's  early  scholastic  training  was  received  in  the  common 
schools  of  Grand  Detour  and  Moline,  and  later  he  attended  Knox  and  Iowa 
Academies.  In  1854  he  graduated  from  the  Bell  Commercial  College,  of  Chi- 
cago, and  was  now  fitted  for  a  business  career.  Naturally  he  became  interested 
in  the  extensive  plow  works  of  which  his  father  was  the  originator  and  the  con- 
trolling spirit.  He  inherited  much  of  his  father's  excellent  business  qualities 
and  soon  showed  that  he  was  a  man  of  judgment  and  ability.  He  was  first  assist- 
ant and  then  head  book-keeper,  then  traveler  and  purchaser  for  the  firm.  When 
the  business  was  incorporated  in  1868  he  became  vice-president  and  general 
manager,  thus  serving  until  his  father's  death,  when  he  succeeded  to  the  presi- 
dency. Since  then  he  has  not  only  been  the  nominal  head,  but  has  been  the 
power  that  has  made  this  immense  organization  a  financial  success.  He  is  also 
the  founder  of  the  Deere  and  Mahsur  Company  corn  planter  works,  president 
of  the  Moline  Water  Power  Company,  director  in  other  works  in  Moline,  as  well 
as  in  the  large  branch  houses  of  Deere  &  Company  in  Kansas  City,  Minneapolis, 
Des  Moines,  Council  Bluffs,  San  Francisco,  and  other  points. 

For  a  number  of  years  Mr.  Deere  was  chairman  of  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  appointed  by  the  governor,  but  later  he  re- 
signed. He  was  the  second  man  appointed  as  State  Commissioner  of  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition,  and  was  a  Commissioner  to  the  Exposition  in 
Vienna,  in  1873,  f°r  tne  state  of  Illinois.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  Republican 
and  was  chosen  an  elector  at  large  in  the  presidential  campaign  of  1888.  Fre- 
quently he  has  been  urged  to  accept  nominations  for  important  political  offices, 
but  has  refused  to  allow  his  name  to  be  used,  though  never  failing  in  his  support 
of  the  party.  In  1862  Mr.  Deere  married  Miss  Mary  Little  Dickinson,  of  Chi- 
cago, where  she  is  well  known  and  much  admired.  Since  her  marriage  Mrs. 
Deere  has  identified  herself  with  the  interests  of  the  community  in  a  very  charac- 
teristic manner,  and  her  ready  sympathy  for  all  worthy  movements  and  her  un- 
swerving adherence  to  principle  and  duty  have  won  her  the  respect  and  love  of 
all.  She  is  a  most  gracious  and  entertaining  hostess,  and  many  friends  and  dis- 
tinguished guests  from  all  parts  of  the  country  are  royally  welcomed  at  their 
beautiful  home,  "Overlook."  The  Misses  Deere  were  educated  in  New  York 
City,  are  extensive  travelers  and  are  bright,  attractive  young  ladies,  well  known 
in  the  society  circles  of  New  York,  Chicago  and  Washington.  The  elder  daugh- 
ter married  William  Dwight  Wiman,  of  New  York  City,  and  the  second  is  now 
Mrs.  William  Butterworth.  Mr.  Deere  is  a  man  of  liberal  ideas,  having  traveled 
extensively  in  this  country  and  abroad,  and  has  many  friends  in  all  classes. 


434 


435 


EDWARD  A.  DICKER. 

One  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  Illinois  is  Edward  A.  Dicker,  present  Mas- 
ter in  Chancery  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County,  Illinois.  He  is  the  eldest 
son  of  Osmond  Dicker  and  Mary  Ann  (Cotton)  Dicker,  and  was  born  in  Stough- 
ton,  Norfolk  County,  Mass.,  June  18,  1855.  The  rudiments  of  his  education 
were  obtained  in  his  native  State,  but  in  the  fall  of  1866,  he  moved  to  the  town 
of  Grafton,  Ozaukee  County,  Wisconsin,  and  two  years  later  moved  to  Chicago, 
at  which  time  he  was  not  quite  thirteen  years  of  age,  and  here  he  has  ever  since 
resided.  Possessing,  by  nature,  a  strong  and  critical  mind,  he  became  in  love 
with  his  books  from  early  boyhood.  As  he  grew  older,  and  as  his  mind  ex- 
panded, he  felt  himself  able  of  accomplishing  better  results  with  a  good  education 
than  without  one,  and  accordingly  he  prosecuted  his  studies  with  much  affection 
and  diligence,  first  at  the  Wells  School  and  in  June,  1869,  in  the  High  School, 
which  he  attended  continuously  until  1872. 

Upon  leaving  school  he  was  full  of  resources,  sound  in  body,  keen  and  able 
in  mind,  and  ready  for  any  emergency  which  the  waves  of  life  might  present. 
At  first  he  secured  employment  for  several  years  in  the  office  of  the  "Mail,"  and 
afterwards  was  connectted  with  the  "Post  and  Mail,"  but  spent,  during  the  mean- 
time, his  leisure  hours  in  the  study  of  law,  which  profession  he  designed  to  pur- 
sue through  life.  In  1876  he  entered  the  law  office  of  Samuel  Kerr  of  this 
city,  and  two  years  later,  having  thoroughly  prepared  himself,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  Succeeding  this  he  was  for  a  year  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  Miller  & 
Frost  of  this  city,  but  in  1880  began  an  independent  practice.  Two  years  later  he 
entered  into  partnership  with  Henry  M.  Matthews  for  the  general  practice  of  law, 
which  partnership  continued  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  and  profit  of  the  members 
until  December,  1894,  when  it  was  dissolved,  and  on  January  I,  1895,  a  part- 
nership was  formed  with  Harry  H.  Carpenter.  This  association  has  continued 
until  the  present  time  under  the  name  of  Dicker  &  Carpenter. 

Mr.  Dicker  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  having  cast  his  first 
vote,  after  coming  of  age,  for  Monroe  Heath  for  Mayor  of  Chicago,  and  since 
that  date  has  voted  the  straight  Republican  ticket.  On  December  i,  1887,  he 
was  appointed  by  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County,  a  Master  in  Chancery,  and 
has  occupied  with  great  success  that  position  ever  since.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Bar  Association,  the  Law  Club,  and  served  one  term  as  Director  of  the  Law  In- 
stitute. He  is  a  member  and  Director  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  in  Chicago, 
and  member  and  vice-president  of  the  Mencken  Club,  a  member  of  the  Hamilton 
Club,  and  a  member  of  the  Royal  Arcanum.  He  is  a  Universalist,  having  been 
connected  with  the  Church  of  the  Redeemer  of  this  city  since  1868.  For  several 
years  past  he  has  been  treasurer  of  that  society. 

He  was  married  on  May  3rd,  1882,  to  Miss  Jennie  E.  Woodard,  daughter  of 
Willard  Woodard,  who  in  his  life  time  served  one  term  in  the  State  Senate  in 
Illinois,  and  as  President  of  the  West  Chicago  Park  Board  for  several  terms. 
Her  mother  was  Lavina  Ellery,  a  granddaughter  of  William  Ellery,  and  a  grand- 
niece  of  Josiah  Bartlett,  both  signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  They 
have  four  children,  one  daughter  and  three  sons,  ranging  from  six  to  sixteen 
years  of  age. 


436 


437 


EDWARD  H.  ELWELL. 

The  business  of  life  insurance  in  the  United  States  has  become  so  vast 
and  so  important  that  it  has  called  into  service  some  of  the  brightest  minds 
and  some  of  the  most  indefatigable  workers  in  the  country.  The  problems 
to  be  confronted  and  overcome  embrace  hard  study  and  careful  investigation, 
and  it  is  noted  that  those  men  who  have  come  to  the  front  in  insurance  circles 
and  placed  themselves  among  the  leaders  of  important  reforms  and  improved 
methods  are  men  of  far  more  than  ordinary  ability  and  capacity  for  hard  work. 
Such  a  man  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  descended  from  members  of 
the  family  who  first  came  to  America  in  the  year  1635  and  settled  in  Salem  and 
Gloucester,  Mass.  They  were  members  of  that  large  class  who  were  forced 
to  leave  Europe  to  escape  religious  persecution  and  came  to  America  to  set  up 
a  church  of  their  own  faith  and  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dictates  of 
their  own  conscience.  As  the  years  rolled  around  the  family  gradually  became 
numerous  and  scattered  until  those  of  the  name  npw  number  many  hundreds  and 
have  become  identified  with  public  affairs  in  all  sections  of  the  country. 

The  subject  of  this  memoir  was  born  in  Maine,  in  the  town  of  Buxton, 
November  9,  1845,  on  a  farm  which  had  been  settled  by  his  paternal  grand- 
father late  in  the  seventeenth  century  and  which  is  yet  owned  and  controlled  by 
the  father  of  this  subject.  Upon  this  farm  he  grew  to  manhood  and  passed 
through  the  usual  experiences  of  farmer's  boys,  working  at  the  general  routine 
of  the  place  and  attending  school  in  the  winter  months  and  finally  fitting  himself 
for  college  at  a  Pine  Tree  State  academy.  He  applied  himself  so  eagerly  and 
so  incessantly  that  he  impaired  his  health  and  for  a  time  was  forced  to  relinquish 
his  studies,  but  soon  afterward  began  to  teach  school,  continuing  thus  for  two 
years.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  entered  Brown's  Commercial  College, 
at  Portland,  Maine,  but  in  about  two  months  the  building  was  destroyed  by  fire, 
which  occurrence  for  a  time  put  a  stop  to  further  plans  looking  toward  a  com- 
mercial education.  In  1867,  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  he  took  a 
step  which  has  been  of  great  importance  to  his  whole  after  life.  He  became  a 
life  insurance  solicitor  and  from  the  start  was  very  successful.  His  natural  gifts 
gave  him  great  advantage  over  the  ordinary  solicitor,  for  he  was  plausible, 
tactful,  persistent,  energetic,  argumentative  and  convincing.  But  these  qualities 
would  have  made  him  successful  in  many  other  occupations  had  he  chosen  to 
follow  them.  At  first  he  was  required  to  confine  his  efforts  to  his  native  State, 
but  in  1868  he  was  assigned  to  the  position  of  General  Agent  for  the  States  of 
Maine,  New  Hampshire  and  Vermont.  Two  years  later  he  removed  to  Detroit, 
where  he  continued  the  same  business,  but  read  law  in  the  meantime.  In  1882 
he  became  connected  with  the  Michigan  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  and  in 
this  capacity  did  some  of  his  most  effective  and  important  work.  He  was  soon 
placed  in  charge  of  the  Northwestern  Department  of  the  company  at  Chicago 
and  since  then  has  been  very  successful  in  expanding  the  business  of  the  com- 
pany to  many  other  States  and  in  vastly  increasing  the  business  of  the  company 
in  the  several  States.  He  is  very  prominent  in  insurance  circles,  and  by  good 
management  has  succeeded  in  accumulating  a  comfortable  fortune. 

He  is  a  director  of  the  Michigan  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Masonic  order,  of  the  Sons  of  the  Revolution  and  Sons  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution,  and  occupies  an  important  position  in  the  social  ranks  of  Chi- 
cago. From  his  boyhood  he  has  been  a  strict  Republican,  taking  at  all  times 
a  keen  interest  in  the  success  of  the  party  and  doing  many  things  to  aid  its 
progress.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club.  He  was  married  in  1882  to 
Miss  Nettie  L.  Tuttle,  of  Durham,  Maine.  They  have  two  children,  Russell  T. 
and  Grace  E. 


438 


439 


THOMAS  DILLER. 

Thomas  Diller  of  Sterling,  Illinois,  was  born  July  14,  1845,  at  New  Holland, 
Pennsylvania.  His  father,  Charles  Diller,  of  North  German  descent,  married 
Ann  Elizabeth  Thompson,  a  protestant  descendant  from  the  North  of  Ireland. 
They  removed  to  Illinois  in  1850  and  settled  on  a  farm,  erected  a  log  house, 
broke  prairie  and  raised  the  usual  crops  of  the  country.  Thomas  Diller  began 
assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  when  nine  years  of  age.  He  worked  during  the 
spring  and  summer  and  went  to  school  during  the  winter  until  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  He  soon  acquired  the  habit  of  reading,  and  devoted  himself  to  many 
good  books  that  came  in  his  way. 

When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  young  Diller  was  anxious  to  enter  the  army. 
He  enlisted  three  times  before  he  was  accepted,  his  father  and  mother  interpos- 
ing at  the  first  and  second  enlistments,  but  at  17  years  he  enlisted  in  Company 
"D"  75th  Illinois  Infantry.  He  took  part  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, returned  North  with  General  Thomas'  army,  and  was  at  the  battle  of 
Franklin  and  Nashville.  After  returning  home  from  the  war,  he  worked  on  the 
farm  one  year,  then  went  to  school  four  years  and  acquired  an  education.  He 
then  took  up  the  business  of  teaching,  and  was  engaged  in  this  occupation  for  ten 
years,  and  for  six  years  was  principal  of  one  of  the  ward  schools  of  Sterling.  In 
1886  Mr.  Diller  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  "Sterling  Standard,"  then  a  weekly 
newspaper.  In  1894,  he  bought  his  partner's  interest,  and  established  the  "Daily 
Standard,"  of  which  he  is  now  proprietor  and  editor.  The  "Standard"  is  a  first- 
class  Republican  paper  and  now  issues  a  daily  and  semi-weekly  edition. 

Mr.  Diller  has  always  been  a  thorough  Republican  in  politics.  His  first 
vote  was  cast  for  General  Grant  in  1868.  He  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Ster- 
ling by  President  Harrison  and  was  removed  by  President  Cleveland  for  "offen- 
sive partisanship,"  but  in  1898  was  re-appointed  postmaster  by  President 
McKinley,  and  now  holds  that  important  office.  For  twelve  years  Mr.  Diller  was 
chairman  of  the  Town  Central  Republican  Committee,  and  at  present  is  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  County  Committee.  He  is  a  member  of  Post  174,  G.  A. 
R.,  and  has  held  nearly  all  the  offices  of  the  Post,  and  is  a  Past  Commander.  He 
has  twice  been  aide-de-camp  on  the  staff  of  the  Department  Commander.  Mr. 
Diller  is  a  citizen  of  sterling  ability  and  of  influence  in  the  community  where  he 
lives.  He  has  a  private  library  that  is  probably  second  to  few  in  the  State. 

Mr.  Diller  was  married  February  7,  1894,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Cabot  of  Proph- 
etstown,  Whiteside  County,  Illinois.  She  had  been  a  teacher  in  the  Prophets- 
town  schools  for  nine  years.  They  have  two  sons,  John  Cabot  Diller  and  Roland 
Thompson  Diller.  He  and  his  wife  have  a  delightful  home,  and  have  a  wide 
circle  of  friends.  No  one  has  done  more  for  the  Republican  party  in  his  part  of 
the  State  than  Thomas  Diller. 


JOSEPH  G.  ENGLISH. 

Among  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  bankers  of  the  State  is  Joseph  G. 
English  of  Danville.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  County,  Ind.,  near  the  village  of  Ris- 
ing Sun,  December  17,  1820,  his  parents  being  Charles  and  Ann  (Wright) 
English,  both  of  whom  were  of  English  ancestry,  the  first  of  the  name  in  this 
country  settling  in  Connecticut  long  before  the  Revolution.  The  father  in  early 
life  removed  to  Nova  Scotia,  from  where  his  children  returned  to  the  United 
States  from  time  to  time.  Charles  came  to  Ohio  County  and  followed  the 
occupations  of  carpentering  and  blacksmithing,  and  in  1829  removed  to  the 
Wabash  valley,  locating  at  Perryville.  The  parents  were  comparatively  poor, 

440 


441 


and  Joseph  G.  was  required  at  a  tender  age  to  begin  the  labor  of  life.  He  was 
given  only  a  meager  education  in  the  rude  schools  of  tliat  early  day,  but  by  his 
own  industry  and  determination  he  at  the  time  managed  to  secure  a  good  busi- 
ness education  which  has  been  supplemented  very  greatly  since  that  date.  At 
the  age  of  fourteen  he  began  earning  his  own  living,  taking  a  position  in  the 
store  of  Taylor  &  Linton,  Lafayette,  Ind.  His  duties  were  very  hard  and  irk- 
some and  were  continued  for  five  years.  He  received  an  excellent  knowledge  of 
the  mercantile  business,  but  very  little  else.  After  five  years  of  this  servitude 
his  employers  failed,  whereupon  he  secured  a  position  in  a  general  store  at 
Perryville  at  a  salary  of  $40  per  month.  This  was  a  great  advance,  and  he 
determined  to  make  the  most  of  his  money  and  his  opportunities.  The  trying 
experiences  of  his  early  career  had  begotten  in  him  habits  of  strict  frugality, 
and  he  began  to  save  a  large  part  of  his  wages.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he 
had  managed  to  save  about  $400.  At  this  time  he  married  Miss  Mary  Hicks 
of  Perrysville,  doubtless  realizing  that  if  one  person  could  save  that  amount  in 
three  years  two  persons  could  save  twice  as  much.  In  1844  he  entered  into 
partnership  with  his  father-in-law,  George  Hicks,  under  the  firm  name  of  Hicks 
&  English  in  the  dry-goods,  grocery,  produce  and  grain  business.  This  was 
before  the  era  of  railroads,  when  goods  were  purchased  annually  in  large  quanti- 
ties and  sold  on  a  credit  of  twelve  months.  Much  of  the  goods  for  this  section 
of  the  country  came  up  the  river  from  New  Orleans,  and  the  produce  was 
shipped  down  the  river  to  the  same  port.  On  more  than  one  trip  down  the 
river  in  flat-boats  did  Mr.  English  take  his  turn  at  the  oars.  In  1853  he  sold 
out  at  Perryville  and  removed  to  Danville  and  formed  a  partnership  with  JoKn 
L.  Tincher  an'd  for  three  years  conducted  a  general  store  with  great  success. 
In  1856  they  became  the  assignees  of  the  Stock  Security  Bank,  which  had  been 
forced  into  bankruptcy,  and  sold  out  their  store  and  devoted  themselves  to 
winding  up  the  affairs  of  the  bank.  This  led  them  into  a  brokerage  and  ex- 
change business,  which  was  gradually  developed  into  a  private  banking  pursuit, 
which  they  continued  until  February,  1863,  when  they  secured  a  charter  under 
the  National  banking  law.  They  began  with  a  capital  of  $50,000  and  Mr.  Eng- 
lish was  elected  president  and  served  continuously  until  July,  1899,  when  he 
resigned.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Tincher,  in  1872,  the  capital  was  increased 
to  $150,000,  where  it  yet  remains.  The  surplus  is  now  over  $150,000. 

Mr.  English  has  been  three  times  married,  his  first  wife  bearing  him  seven 
children :  George,  Charles  L.,  Harriet,  Irene  J.,  John  T.,  Annie  M.  and  Edward. 
His  second  wife,  who  was  formerly  Maria  L.  Partlow,  bore  him  two  children : 
J.  C.  and  Otis  H.  His  second  wife  died  in  1886,  and  in  1899  he  married  Mrs. 
Mary  E.  Forbes. 

Mr.  English  stands  among  the  leading  citizens  of  that  portion  of  the  State. 
He  has  done  a  great  deal  to  build  up  and  improve  the  city  of  Danville.  He  has 
been  interested  in  many  important  enterprises,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years 
has  been  a  director  of  the  Chicago  &  Eastern  Illinois  Railroad.  He  has  served 
two  terms  as  mayor  of  the  city,  and  in  1872  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Equalization  of  the  State.  Prior  to  1862  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  at 
that  time  became  a  Republican,  which  party  he  has  since  continued  to  support. 
The  peace  plank  of  the  Democracy  caused  him  to  change.  He  is  a  Methodist. 


JOSEPH  DOWNEY. 

In  the  great  city  of  Chicago  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants  are  of  foreign 
birth.  Those  who,  attracted  by  finer  institutions,  larger  educational  facilities 
and  the  superior  advantages  of  making  a  living,  have  come  here  with  their  fami- 
lies and  means,  intending  to  find  a  home  in  a  new  country ;  these  valuable  addi- 
tions to  the  native  population  have,  by  their  industry,  economy  and  honest 
methods,  become  essential  factors  in  the  growth  of  the  city.  They  furnish  not 
only  needed  workmen,  skilled  and  unskilled,  but  enterprising  merchants,  manu- 
facturers, artists  and  apt  dealers  upon  our  marts  of  trade.  They  have  also 

442 


443 


naturally  embraced  the  various  professions,  where  they  have  proved  themselves 
useful,  talented  and  influential.  Among  the  many  who  came  to  this  country 
to  take  advantage  of  the  opportunities  offered  here  was  the  mother  of  our  sub- 
ject (the  father  having  died  in  England),  Elizabeth  Downey,  a  native  of  Ireland. 

Joseph  Downey  was  born  in  Parsenstown,  Kings  County,  Ireland,  April  23, 
1849,  an(l  was  about  5  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  mother  to  the  United 
States.  In  the  public  schools  of  Chicago  he  received  a  good,  practical  education, 
and  subsequently  learned  the  mason  trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  many  years, 
and  which  brought  him  good  returns.  He  retired  from  business  in  1894,  but 
up  to  that  time  was  classed  among  the  largest  and  most  important  contractors 
in  the  city,  having  charge  of  many  important  works.  Since  retiring  he  has 
devoted  his  time  and  attention  to  his  own  private  affairs. 

Politically  he  is  a  most  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  and  has  held  a  number  of  important  offices.  He  was  first  elected 
Commissioners  of  Buildings  in  1895,  and  later  Commissioner  of  Public  Works, 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  those  positions  most  ably.  Socially  Mr.  Downey 
is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  Union  League  Club,  Illinois  Club  and 
the  Builders'  Club  of  Chicago.  He  selected  his  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss  Lena 
Klein,  of  Chicago,  and  their  nuptials  were  celebrated  May  5,  1885.  For  forty- 
two  years  Mr.  Downey  has  been  a  resident  of  Chicago,  and  all  his  interests  are 
centered  here.  He  is  public  spirited  in  an  eminent  degree,  devoted  to  the 
national  interests  and  local  welfare,  and  contributes  liberally  to  all  that  is  calcu- 
lated to  upbuild  Chicago. 


HENRY  H.  EVANS. 

Few  men  in  the  State  of  Illinois  are  better  known  than  Hon.  Henry  H. 
Evans,  whose  name  is  closely  identified  and  interwoven  with  the  history  of 
Aurora,  where  for  years  he  has  made  his  home.  He  is  a  product  of  Toronto, 
Canada,  born  March  9,  1836,  and  the  son  of  Griffith  and  Elizabeth  (Weldon) 
Evans,  both  natives  of  Harrisburg,  Penn.  The  father  was  a  millwright  by  trade 
and  his  business  took  him  to  various  parts  of  the  United  States  and  Canada; 
Henry  H.  was  born  while  the  parents  were  in  the  last  named  country.  The 
Evans  family  came  originally  from  Wales,  but  for  many  years  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  was  established  in  this  country.  In  June,  1841,  Griffith  Evans 
removed  with  his  family  to  Aurora,  from  Pennsylvania,  where  the  family  had 
resided  for  several  generations,  and  here  he  aided  in  the  construction  of  the 
Black  Hawk,  Montgomery  and  Eagle  Mills.  Later  he  was  foreman  of  the  car 
shops  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  in  Aurora,  and  only 
through  the  solicitation  of  his  son  was  he  induced  to  resign  this  position.  He 
died  suddenly  of  heart  disease,  September  28,  1882,  when  seventy-three  years 
old.  His  wife  had  died  the  previous  January,  when  sixty-nine  years  old.  Of 
the  ten  children  born  to  them,  four  were  products  of  Canadian  soil  and  the 
remainder  saw  the  light  first  in  Aurora. 

Colonel  Evans,  who  is  entitled  to  the  rank  designated  by  reason  of  his 
appointment  on  the  staffs  of  Governors  Cullom,  Fifer,  Oglesby  and  Hamilton, 
received  no  special  advantages  as  a  child,  but  obtained  his  education  in  the' 
public  schools.  However,  he  received  excellent  training  and  example  under  the 
home  roof,  and  these  have  been  indelibly  impressed  upon  his  mind.  Young 
Evans  first  started  out  for  himself  by  engaging  in  the  restaurant  and  ice  cream 
business  and  met  with  fair  success  until  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  I24th 
Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1865 
he  returned  to  Aurora  and  again  engaged  in  the  restaurant  business,  which  he 
followed  until  1873.  At  that  date  he  purchased  the  Fitch  House,  now  known 
as  Hotel  Evans,  conducted  it  for  years  and  then  leased  it.  With  unusual  fore- 
sight Colonel  Evans  then  began  buying  real  estate  in  and  about  Aurora,  and 
every  investment  of  this  kind  resulted  in  a  decided  profit.  He  organized  anu 
put  into  operation  the  first  street  railway  in  the  town ;  induced  the  Aurora,  Joliet 

444 


445 


&  Northern  Railway  to  run  its  line  here ;  secured  the  establishment  of  several 
factories  and  in  addition  to  these  enterprises  is  connected  with  others  equally 
as  important  to  the  town.  He  was  president  of  the  German-American  National 
Bank  of  Aurora  for  some  time,  is  vice-president  now  and  a  heavy  stockholder 
in  it. 

Industrious  and  successful  as  he  has  been  in  all  his  undertakings,  it  is  as  a 
politician  of  a  highly  diplomatic  order  that  he  has  won  his  greatest  fame.  In 
1876  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature  by  the  Republican  party,  whose 
cause  he  had  ever  espoused,  and  in  the  same  year  he  was  elected  to  the  Aurora 
city  council  from  the  ninth  ward.  In  1880  he  was  chosen  to  represent  the  dis- 
trict in  the  state  senate,  re-elected  in  1884,  and  since  then  he  has  been  in  the 
Senate  continuously,  20  years,  doing  excellent  service  for  his  constituents  and 
the  state.  It  was  through  the  efforts  of  Colonel  Evans  in  1877  that  the  Militia 
Bill  and  Soldiers'  Home  at  Quincy  was  established,  and  his  fighting  qualities 
were  so  manifested  at  that  time  that  Governor  Cullom  appointed  him  on  his 
staff.  Since  then  he  has  served  all  succeeding  governors  in  the  same  capacity. 
There  is  no  man  in  Aurora  who  enjoys  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  classes 
of  people  to  a  greater  extent  than  does  Colonel  Evans.  Then,  too,  he  is  almost 
as  well  known  in  Chicago  as  in  Aurora,  and  has  many  warm  friends  among  the 
business  men  of  that  city,  where  he  also  has  extensive  interests  in  financial  and" 
industrial  enterprises.  He  has  not  only  been  signally  successful  in  all  his  ven- 
tures and  free  from  errors  in  his  official  career,  but  there  is  a  spirit  of  hearty 
good  fellowship  about  him  that  has  won  him  friends  by  the  score.  The  Colonel 
was  married  in  1858  to  Miss  Alice  M.  Rhodes,  a  native  of  Lancaster,  England. 
They  have  one  son,  Arthur  R.  Evans. 


JOHN  C.  EVERETT. 

John  C.  Everett's  .success  in  the  legal  profession  has  been  largely  due  to 
rare  intellectual  and  personal  gifts  and  an  indomitable  purpose  to  succeed. 
Modest  as  to  his  own  attainments,  it  is  only  through  others  one  is  enabled  to 
ascertain  how  successful  he  has  been  and  how  well  known  he  has  become.  He 
is  a  product  of  the  Keystone  State,  born  at  Chambersburg,  March  6,  1862,  and 
the  son  of  William  Smiley  Everett  and  Janie  (Cree)  Everett,  the  former  of 
English-German  and  the  latter  of  Welsh-Irish  descent.  His  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  Franklin  county,  and  there  resided  until  1869, 
when  his  father  moved  to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.  His  father  there  engaged  in  the 
successful  practice  of  law  until  December,  1875,  when  he  moved  to  Chicago. 

In  the  public  schools  of  St.  JosepTi  young  Everett  laid  the  foundation  for 
his  subsequent  education.  After  moving  to  Chicago  he  entered  the  employ 
of  Field,  Leiter  &  Co.,  wholesale  department,  where  he  remained  for  three  years, 
until  the  fall  of  1879.  Feeling  the  desire  for  a  better  education  and  knowing 
the  advantages  that  would  naturally  follow,  he  left  the  employ  of  the  above  firm 
and  entered  the  University  of  Chicago.  His  way  was  not  smoothed  out  for 
him,  as  he  helped  himself  through  two  years  of  schooling  by  carrying  morning 
papers  and  during  the  year  1882  he  reported  "police"  for  the  Associated  Press. 
He  was  associated  in  that  work  with  Edw.  McPhelim,  who  afterwards  became 
famous  as  the  great  dramatic  critic.  In  1882  he  entered  the  Union  College  of 
Law,  from  which  he  graduated  with  honors  in  June,  1884,  at  which  time  he  was 
licensed  to  practice  law  by  the  Supreme  Court.  His  taste  in  studies  has 
been  in  the  law,  although  his  general  work  outside  of  that  has  been  espe- 
cially in  the  mental  sciences  and  sociology.  For  a  number  of  years  now  Mr. 
Everett  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In  Feb- 
ruary, 1894,  he  was  appointed  Justice  of  the  Peace  to  succeed  his  father,  and 
in  1895  was  appointed  his  own  successor  for  the  term  of  four  years  and  re- 
appointed  in  1898. 

In  his  political  views  Justice  Everett  is  a  staunch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  Third  Ward  Republican  Club.  His  club  and 

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society  connections  are  many  and  select,  among  which  are  the  Hamilton,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  the  founders,  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon  P'raternity,  LJnion 
League  Club,  Chicago  Bar  Association  and  Law  Institute.  Justice  Everett  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Maryland  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  that  state  November, 
1897,  appearing  and  arguing  the  contest  of  the  Stickney  will  before  that  court. 
He  prepares  his  opinions  with  intelligent  care,  some  of  which  have  attracted 
special  attention.  His  judicial  record  in  the  last  five  or  six  years  not  only  gives 
full  reason  for  his  retention,  but  full  promise  of  advanced  preferment  in  the  near 
future.  In  his  religious  views  Justice  Everett  was  born  a  Presbyterian,  and  he 
is  at  the  present  time  a  member  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  church  of  Chicago. 
The  only  change  that  has  taken  place  in  his  views  is  that  fie  finds  them  con- 
stantly broadening  with  unlimited  respect  for  all  creeds. 


NATHANIAL  K.  FAIRBANK. 

In  preparing  a  just  sketch  of  such  a  man  as  Nathanial  K.  Fairbank  it  is 
not  enough  simply  to  state  in  a  general  way  what  he  has  accomplished,  but  to 
outline  if  possible  the  character  and  natural  endowments  of  which  he  is  pos- 
sessed. Mr.  Fairbank  came  to  Chicago  in  1855 ;  the  object  of  his  coming  was 
to  engage  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  grain  on  commission.  He  became  the 
Western  Agent  of  David  Dows  &  Co.  of  New  York,  and  for  ten  years  conducted 
a  large  and  profitable  grain  commission  business.  He  was  induced  to  invest 
part  of  his  capital  with  Smedley,  Peck  &  Co.,  in  a  lard  and  oil  refinery.  Mr. 
F"airbank  no  doubt  expected  to  make  money  in  this  business,  but  it  is  not  at  all 
probable  that  he  foresaw  the  immense  proportions  of  the  business  which  he 
would  develop  from  this  starting  point.  This  refinery  burned  down,  but  another 
was  built  upon  a  larger  scale.  One  partner  after  another  sold  out  and  withdrew 
from  the  business  until  finally  Mr.  Fairbank  found  himself  at  the  head  of  the 
concern.  Then  the  great  capacity  for  business  of  this  man  showed  itself;  he 
became  one  of  the  largest  dealers  in  food  material  in  the  world.  He  erected 
immense  buildings,  used  the  most  approved  machinery,  in  preparing  and  pre- 
serving his  products  for  market,  that  ingenuity  could  devise,  and  applied  the 
highest  chemical  knowledge  and  skill  for  profitably  utilizing  what  in  former 
times  was  waste  material. 

He  became  the  purchaser  of  immense  droves  from  farm  and  ranch ;  con- 
verted these  into  merchantable  products  of  every  conceivable  form,  and  found 
profitable  markets  for  their  sale.  He  mastered  the  science  of  finance,  transpor- 
tation and  sanitation,  and  pushing  his  business  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  increased 
the  amount  to  tens  of  millions  per  annum.  Mr.  Fairbank  is  only  one  of  several 
men  who  have  had  phenomenal  success  in  substantially  the  same  line  of  busi- 
ness in  Chicago.  Nevertheless  it  is  pertinent  to  ask  the  question :  How  was 
it.  that  he  could  succeed  in  establishing  and  conducting  such  an  enormous  busi- 
ness? It  seemed  really  that  it  was  an  easy  task  with  him,  but  it  is  quite  evident 
to  an  ordinary  observer  that  Mr.  Fairbank  must  possess  an  extraordinary 
endowment  for  the  organization  and  management  of  great  affairs.  His  suc- 
cess cannot  be  the  result  of  accident,  it  has  grown  out  of  thoroughly  well  ordered 
business  combinations,  all  of  which  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  are  foreseen 
and  by  the  master  mind  compelled  to  work  to  a  given  result.  This  is  an  age  of 
large  business  operations ;  millions  of  dollars  are  often  invested  in  single  enter- 
prises, and  the  annual  financial  operations  resulting  from  them  run  up  into  the 
millions.  The  men  who  carry  forward  these  great  financial  and  commercial 
enterprises  must  be  classed  as  great  men.  Mr.  Fairbank,  whose  immense  and 
constantly  growing  business  has  been  a  continued  success,  must  be  classed  as 
one  of  the  greatest  business  men  in  the  United  States. 

Mr.  Fairbank  is  a  public  spirited  man ;  he  can  always  be  relied  upon  to 
contribute  to  every  good  work,  and  particularly  to  build  up  an  institution  that 
will  redound  to  the  interest  of  the  people  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Club;  its  home  on  Monroe  street  was  built,  at  a  cost  of  $135,000, 
through  his  enterprise ;  $80,000  was  subscribed  by  other  members,  the  balance 

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was  paid  by  Mr.  Fairbank.  The  building  was  completed  in  1876.  Mr.  Fair- 
bank  was  elected  President,  and  held  the  position  for  thirteen  years.  He  took 
an  active  interest  in  the  erection  of  Central  Music  Hall ;  his  attention  was  first 
invited  to  the  need  of  such  a  structure  by  the  late  George  B.  Carpenter,  who  took 
great  interest  in  the  subject.  It  is  to  Mr.  Fairbank,  however,  that  credit  is  due 
for  the  erection  of  the  building.  He  presented  the  subject  to  a  number  of 
prominent  citizens  of  Chicago,  and  the  stock  was  soon  taken,  and  the  building 
erected.  Mr.  Fairbank  has  been  generous  in  his  contributions  to  charitable  and 
benevolent  objects ;  he  is  a  constant  contributor  to  the  societies  organized  for 
the  relief  of  distress,  besides,  his  private  charities  are  numerous.  He  was  a 
large  contributor  to  St.  Luke's  Hospital ;  a  more  commodious  building  being 
required  to  meet  the  demands  upon  this  hospital,  Mr.  Fairbank  headed  the  sub- 
scription list  for  $25,000.  He  also  aided  in  securing  subscriptions  to  release 
the  Newsboys'  Home  from  a  heavy  mortgage,  which  was  a  dead  weight  upon 
this  old  institution. 

In  politics  Mr.  Fairbank  is  a  Republican ;  he  has  never  sought  office,  but 
has  always  taken  a  great  interest  in  the  success  of  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  been  particularly  prominent  in  his  support  of  men  and  measures  for  advanc- 
ing the  interests  of  the  city  of  Chicago,  and  giving  it  an  honest  and  efficient 
government. 

Mr.  Fairbank  was  born  at  Sodus,  Wayne  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1829.  His 
ancestors  were  of  New  England  stock.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
and  by  private  study  at  home.  At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
bricklayer,  became  efficient  in  this  trade  and  finished  his  apprenticeship  in 
Rochester,  N.  Y.  He  soon  accepted  employment  as  bookkeeper  in  a  flouring 
mill,  and  at  the  end  of  six  months  became  a  partner  in  the  business.  During  the 
few  years  that  Mr.  Fairbank  was  connected  with  the  milling  business  he  acquired 
an  insight  into  the  grain  trade,  and  seeking  a  broader  field  for  his  operations 
and  believing  that  there  were  great  opportunities  in  the  West  for  a  young  man 
who  was  willing  to  work,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  as 
before  stated  opened  a  grain  commission  house.  Mr.  Fairbank  came  to  Chi- 
cago at  the  time  when  its  present  great  railroad  and  other  transportation  facili- 
ties were  in  their  infancy;  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  was  just  completed.  It 
is  interesting  to  note  that  the  business  of  Mr.  Fairbank  has  kept  pace  with  the 
increase  of  transportation  facilities,  and  of  the  population  of  this  great  city. 

Nathanial  K.  Fairbank  married  Helen  L.  Graham  of  New  York,  in  1866. 
Mrs.  Fairbank  died  about  five  years  ago.  The  family  consists  of  seven  children, 
four  sons  and  three  daughters.  Mr.  Fairbank  in  religious  faith  has  long  been 
a  Presbyterian.  He  was  a  close  friend  of  Prof.  Swing  and  for  years  attended 
the  ministrations  of  that  great  preacher  at  South  Church.  When  the  Professor 
withdrew  from  the  Presbyterian  Synod,  and  organized  Central  Church,  Mr. 
Fairbahk  joined  in  the  movement ;  the  meetings  of  this  church  are  held  at  Cen- 
tral Music  Hall,  where  Mr.  Fairbank  and  his  family  are  constant  attendants. 


MARVIN  ANDRUS   FARR. 

There  is  little  that  interests  one  more  than  to  trace  the  career  of  a  man 
who,  endowed  with  energy,  ambition  and  ability,  enters  boldly  into  the  struggle 
of  life  and  wins  for  himself  social  and  business  eminence.  Thus  it  has  been 
with  Marvin  Andrus  Farr,  who  has  for  many  years  ranked  among  Chicago's 
most  prominent  real  estate  operat'ors,  and  was  president  of  the  Chicago  Real 
Fstate  Board  in  1897.  Like  many  of  the  ablest  business  men  of  the  country, 
he  is  a  native  New  Yorker,  his  birth  occurring  at  Schroon  Lake,  Essex  County. 
August  9,  1853.  Of  a  family  of  seven  sons  born  to  George  W'ashburn  and 
Esther  Day  Farr,  he  is  the  youngest;  and  when  an  infant  his  family  emigrated 
west.  His  childhood  was  spent  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and  East  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools.  When  Mr.  Farr  was  but 
ten  years  of  age,  his  father  died,  and  then  for  two  or  three  years  he  traveled 
with  his  mother.  From  1866  to  1871  he  attended  Carroll  College  Academy 

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at  Waukesha,  Wis.,  where  he  acquired  a  good  classical  and  scientific  education, 
which  was  later  supplemented  by  a  course  in  modern  languages  and  belles- 
lettres.  In  r872  he  came  to  Chicago,  and  was  first  associated  with  timber  land 
and  lumber  interests,  which  gradually  developed"  into  a  general  real  estate  busi- 
ness. 

Not  only  does  Mr.  Farr  stand  high  commercially  as  one  of  those  who,  by 
the  management  of  Chicago's  great  real  estate  interests,  has  materially  aided 
the  city's  development,  but  he  is  deservedly  popular  socially  among  his  fellow- 
citizens.  He  has  been  associated  with  numerous  social  and  business  organiza- 
tions in  which  he  has  been  honored  with  official  positions,  and  has  fulfilled  every 
trust  reposed  in  him  with  the  greatest  faithfulness,  both  to  his  credit  and  the 
entire  satisfaction  of  all  concerned.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Illinois  Club  in 
1882,  was  president  of  the  Kenwood  Club  in  1896  and  1897,  and  was  president 
of  the  Chicago  Real  Estate  Board  in  1897.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union 
League  Club,  the  Chicago  Literary  "Club,  the  Midlothian  Country  Club,  Sons 
of  the  American  Revolution,  and  the  Society  of  the  Colonial  Wars.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Kenwood  Evangelical  Church  and  has  been  president  of 
its  Board  of  Trustees. 

In  1876  Mr.  Farr  was  married  to  Katherine  E.  Farr,  a  daughter  of  James1 
and  Laura  J.  Chapin  Farr.  She  died  in  1879.  In  January,  1886,  he  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Charlotte  Camp,  daughter  of  Isaac  Newton  and  Flora  M. 
Carpenter  Camp.  Mr.  Camp  was  of  the  firm  of  Estey  &  Camp,  and  was  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  World's  Columbian  Exposition  in  1892  and  1893.  The 
Farr  family  residence  is  beautifully  located  at  4737  Woodlawn  avenue,  in  the 
center  of  Kenwood,  and  was  erected  in  1886.  Mr.  Farr  inherited  Republican 
principles  and  has  always  been  a  member  of  that  party,  recognizing  in  it  the  idea 
of  national  progress.  He  has  never  held  political  office,  but  has  been  identified 
with  various  political  movements,  and  with  local  and  state  movements  in  the 
interest  of  good  politics  and  good  government,  and  particularly  in  the  shaping 
of  laws  relating  to  real  property.  Travel  has  added  its  broadening  educative 
influence  to  the  other  advantages  enjoyed  by  Mr.  Farr,  and  he  has  seen  much 
of  his  native  country,  not  alone  in  the  United  States,  but  also  in  Canada,  British 
America,  Mexico  and  Alaska.  He  has  also  traveled  in  Europe.  Probably  no 
one  can  pride  himself  upon  being  more  thoroughly  American,  as  he  traces 
about  thirty  lines  of  ancestry  to  the  earliest  colonial  times  in  this  country,  with- 
out an  intervening  alliance  with  any  family  which  has  come  to  this  country 
since  the  seventeenth  century.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farr  have  one  child,  a  boy, 
Newton  Camp  Farr,  born  on  Christmas  Day,  1887. 


WALTER  FIELDHOUSE. 

Hon.  Walter  Fieldhouse,  Secretary  of  the  Illinois  Republican  State  Cen- 
tral Committee,  (1900)  is  in  every  respect  one  of  the  ablest  men  that  could  be 
selected  to  fill  that  important  office.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in 
Yorkshire,  England,  July  29th,  1851.  He  received  his  education  at  Ashley 
Academy,  Clifton.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  entered  the  29th  Regiment  W.  Y. 
V.  In  September,  1870,  the  Royal  Humane  Society's  medal  was  conferred  upon 
him  for  bravery,  and  in  February,  1871,  had  the  additional  distinction  of  receiv- 
ing the  cross  bar  of  the  same  order.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  June,  1871, 
where  several  of  his  family  resided,  to  engage  in  the  mercantile  business  in  New 
York  City. 

Having  declared  his  intention  of  becoming  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  he 
immediately  took  up  the  study  of  American  politics,  and  allied  himself  with  the 
Republican  party.  He  was  greatly  influenced  in  his  allegiance  to  the  Repub- 
lican party  by  the  corruption  that  existed  in  New  York  City  under  the  notorious 
Tweed  regime.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  campaigns  for  the  Repub- 
lican party  for  the  past  twenty-five  years,  especially  for  Garfield  in  1880,  Elaine  in 
1884,  and  also  during  the  campaign  for  McKinley  in  1896.  During  the  McKin- 
ley  campaign  he  served  as  Chief  of  Staff  under  Major-General  Ben  Grieson.  In 

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1893  he  was  elected  Alderman  and  also  served  as  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Com- 
mittee in  the  City  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  but  declined  to  allow  his  name  to  be 
presented  at  the  convention  for  the  Republican  nomination  for  Mayor  of  that 
city  two  years  later.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  that  nominated  the 
Hon.  Richard  Yates  by  acclamation  as  Judge  of  the  County  Court.  He  has 
taken  an  active  part  in  Illinois  politics  for  the  past  twenty  years.  Secretary 
Fieldhouse  was  a  delegate  to  the  Conference  on  Trusts  held  in  Chicago,  Sep- 
tember 13-16,  1899,  and  selected  to  serve  as  a  member  of  the  Committtee  on 
Resolutions.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  the  National  Civic 
Federation.  In  September,  1899,  when  his  personal  friend,  Judge  Richard 
Yates  announced  his  intention  of  becoming  candidate  for  Governor  for  the  great 
State  of  Illinois,  Secretary  Fieldhouse  immediately  championed  his  cause,  and 
made  a  canvass  in  the  City  of  Chicago  among  the  prominent  lawyers  and  busi- 
ness men.  In  the  preliminary  work  prior  to  the  State  Convention,  Judge  Yates 
appointed  him  as  his  representative  in  Chicago,  and  he  opened  Headquarters 
for  the  Judge  at  the  Great  Northern  Hotel.  He  was  appointed  Assistant  Secre- 
tary of  the  Republican  State  Convention  at  Peoria  which  nominated  Judge  Yates 
and  the  other  State  Officers.  On  May  I7th,  1900,  he  was  elected  Secretary,  also 
a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Illinois  Republican  State  Com- 
mittee. 

Mr.  Fieldhouse  is  a  resident  of  Chicago,  and  is  the  Western  and  Southern 
representative  of  some  of  the  largest  American  Textile  Manufacturers ;  is  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer  of  the  Western  Association  of  Manufacturers,  and  has  an 
extensive  knowledge  of  public  and  business  men  throughout  the  United  States. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church ;  of  the  Masonic  Order,  and  also  a 
Knight  of  the  Legion  of  Honor.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club, 
and  a  member  of  the  Political  Action  Committee  of  that  club ;  was  Quarter- 
Master  General  in  the  Republican  Legion.  Mr.  Fieldhouse  is  a  man  of  refined 
manners,  elevating  in  his  ideas,  and  thoroughly  posted  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
Republican  party. 

HENDR1CK  VASTINE   FISHER. 

The  ancestors  of  this  prominent  citizen,  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal 
sides,  were  eminent  in  public  affairs  in  colonial  days,  and  bore  an  active  and  an 
honorable  part  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  The  family  tree  first  took  root  in 
Holland,  and  was  transplanted  by  Flendrick  Fisher,  the  great  grandfather  ot 
Colonel  Fisher,  who  came  .to  this  country  in  1703.  This  ancestor  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  in  America,  and  was  the  first  president 
of  old  Queen's  College,  now  Rutgers.  At  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution  he 
was  a  member  of  the  New  Jersey  Assembly,  was  president  of  the  historic 
provincial  congress  which  met  in  Trenton  in  1775,  was  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee of  Safety,  and  represented  New  Jersey  in  the  Congress  which  met  in  New 
York  from  1756  until  independence  was  declared  in  1776.  The  study  of  the  his- 
tory of  that  period  will  show  that  no  man  was  so  frequently  honored  and  in- 
trusted with  responsible  duties  as  was  this  sterling  patriot.  The  parents  of 
Colonel  Fisher  were  Caleb  Brokaw  and  Mary  Vastine  Fisher.  The  father  was 
born  at  Bound  Brook,  New  Jersey,  and  when  a  young  man  removed  to  Wilkes 
Barre,  Pennsylvania,  and  for  many  years  was  prominent  in  financial  and  business 
affairs.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  anthracite  coal  operations.  He  was  an  ardent 
abolitionist,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Republican  party  from  its  inception. 

Colonel  Fisher  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  Wilkes  Barre,  where  he 
resided,  and  at  Wyoming  Seminary,  at  Kingston,  Pa.  Upon  starting  in  life  on 
his  own  account,  he  first  secured  a  position  in  the  offices  of  the  L.  &  B.  R.  R., 
now  the  D.  L.  &  W.  In  1867  he  came  to  Illinois,  locating  first  at  Aurora  where 
he  lived  for  about  two  years,  and  then  removed  to  Geneseo,  where  he  has  resided 
ever  since.  He  early  engaged  in  the  general  hardware  business  and  later  in  th'e 
manufacture  of  stoves,  and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Geneseo  Stove  Com- 
pany, and  is  interested  in  real  estate  and  banking.  His  business  affairs  have  been 
both  honorable  and  successful.  He  married  Miss  Abbie  F.  Steele,  only  child  of 
Robert  F.  and  Anna  E.  (Hardy)  Steele.  Tficy  have  three  children,  Eliza  E., 

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Helen  V.,  and  A'ileen  S.  He  has  always  been  prominent  in  everything  that  per- 
tains to  the  advancement  of  the  financial,  social  and  religions  prosperity  of  the 
city,  and  has  been  called  to  fill  many  positions  of  honor  and  trust,  such  as  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council,  member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  Trustee  of  the  North- 
Western  Normal  School  and  editor  of  the  Henry  County  News. 

He  has  always  been  an  unflinching  Republican,  and  has  distinguished  himself 
in  the  councils  of  that  party  in  this  state.  He  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in 
1887,  and  although  it  was  his  first  term  he  was  assigned  to  the  chairmanship  of 
the  important  committee  of  Canal  and  River  Improvement,  before  which  came 
the  important  question  of  the  cession  of  the  property  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan 
Canal  to  the  Government  in  the  construction  of  the  Hennepin  Canal.  He 
was  returned  to  the  Legislature  in  1889,  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Thirty-sixth  General  Assembly.  He  was  appointed  chairman  of 
the  committee  on  Railroads,  one  of  the  most  important  in  the  House.  In  both 
35th  and  36th  Sessions  he  introduced  arid  strongly  supported  bills  which  had  for 
their  object  the  erection  of  an  insane  hospital  in  the  north-western  part  of  the 
state,  but  although  these  bills  were  at  the  time  defeated,  the  measure  was  made 
successful,  through  his  efforts,  during  his  first  term  in  the  Senate.  This  hos- 
pital is  located  at  Watertown,  in  his  district.  In  1894,  his  election  to  the  Sen- 
ate occurred.  The  33d  district,  he  represented,  comprised  the  counties  of  Rock 
Island  and  Henry.  His  majority  was  8,174.  President  Harrison's  majority  in 
that  district  was  only  about  3,500.  He  served  as  president  pro  tempore  of  the 
4Oth  General  Assembly,  being  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  Republican  caucus. 
He  presided  with  dignity  and  impartiality  and  was  Governor  of  the  State  during 
the  temporary  absence  of  the  Governor  and  Lieutenant  Governor.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  is  a  Knights  Templar.  He  was  com- 
missioned colonel  and  aide-de-camp  to  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  Illinois 
National  Guard,  in  which  organization  he  is  very  popular  and  which  has  no  bet- 
ter friend.  No  resident  of  the  state  stands  higher  in  citizenship  and  no  Repub- 
lican is  more  sincere. 


THOMAS  L.  FEKETE. 

Thomas  L.  Fekete  of  East  St.  Louis,  111.,  was  born  August  7,  1858,  in 
Aviston,  Clinton  County,  111.  His  father,  Dr.  Alexander  Fekete,  was  born  in 
Buda  Pesth,  Hungary,  Dec.  2,  1827,  and  was  a  son  of  Louis  Fekete,  a  govern- 
ment officer.  Dr.  Fekete  received  his  education  in  the  Gymnasium,  and  trie 
University  of  Vienna.  He  joined  the  revolutionary  movement  of  1848,  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Hermanstadt,  January  10,  1849;  was  made  prisoner, 
escaped,  fled  to  Turkey,  left  Constantinople  with  Kossuth,  was  in  the  hospital 
at  London,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in  1850;  came  west  in  1852,  finished 
his  medical  studies  at  St.  Louis  in  1854,  and  located  in  Clinton  County,  Illinois. 
Dr.  Fekete  married  Kate  Fisher,  daughter  of  William  Fisher,  a  farmer  from 
Kentucky,  whose  ancestors  lived  in  Virginia,  served  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  were  by  marriage  connected  with  Randolph  of  Roanoke.  On  May  19, 
1862,  Dr.  Fekete  was  commissioned  Assistant  Surgeon  of  the  5th  Missouri  Cav- 
alry; in  1864  was  promoted  to  Surgeon,  and  was  mustered  out  April  14,  1865. 
The  doctor  located  in  East  St.  Louis,  practiced  his  profession,  and  was  appointed 
Postmaster  by  President  Harrison.  The  doctor  is  politically  an  ardent  Repub- 
lican. 

Thomas  Louis  Fekete  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  Bryant  &  Stratton 
Commercial  College,  and  the  Howe  Institute,  East  St.  Louis.  In  July,  1877, 
he  formed  a  partnership  in  the  insurance  business  with  James  J.  Rafter,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Rafter  &  Fekete.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he  bought  the 
Rafter  interest  and  he  has  continued  the  business  in  his  own  name  up  to  tFe 
present  time.  Mr.  Fekete  has  been  a  very  active,  aggressive  man,  and  has  built 
up  one  of  the  best  businesses  in  the  city  of  East  St.  Louis.  He  has  always 
been  public  spirited  and  has  assisted  materially  in  making  the  city  one  of  the 
most  progressive  in  Illinois.  He  is  vice-president  of  the  First  National  Bank 
of  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  been  for  five  years.  In  1884  he  was  Deputy  United 

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States  Marshal.  On  April  15,  1893,  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Board  of 
Education  and  served  two  terms,  declining  a  third  nomination.  He  has  always 
taken  an  active  interest  in  school  matters  and  has  been  consulted  on  all  ques- 
tions relative  to  the  best  interests  of  the  schools  of  the  city.  He  was  appointed 
Special  Tax  Collector  of  East  St.  Louis  and  served  during  1894  and  1895.  He 
is  President  of  the  St.  Clair  Turnpike  Company,  a  road  which  connects  Belle- 
ville and  East  St.  Louis.  He  is  Receiver  of  the  Benjamin  F.  Horn  Cooperage 
Company ;  Vice-President  of  the  Western  Forge  &  Rolling  Mills ;  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Collinsville,  Caseyville  &  East  St.  Louis  Electric  Ry. 

Mr.  Fekete  is  a  large  owner  of  real  estate  in  East  St.  Louis,  and  has  laid  off 
several  subdivisions.  He  is  President  of  the  Modern  Building  &  Loan  Asso- 
ciation, and  a  member  of  the  Egyptian  and  Mercantile  Clubs.  He  has  been  a 
Republican  all  his  life,  cast  his  first  vote  for  James  A.  Garfield,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  Republican  party  in  various  ways,  from  Secretary  of  the 
County  Central  Committee  to  Chairman  of  the  Congressional  Committee  of 
the  21  st  Congressional  District.  He  was  Doorkeeper  of  the  Republican  Na- 
tional Convention  in  St.  Louis  in  1896;  was  appointed  Postmaster  by  President 
McKinley  in  June,  1897.  He  is  a  personal  friend  of  Governor  Tanner,  Judge 
Richard  Yates  and  of  Senator  Cullom.  Mr.  Fekete  is  a  member  of  Eureka 
Lodge  No.  81,  Knights  of  Pythias;  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  Modern  Woodman,  and 
a  member  of  Lodge  504  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  East  St.  Louis,  and  Tancred  Command- 
cry  No.  50,  Belleville,  and  an  active  member  of  Moolah  Temple,  Mystic  Shriners, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Thomas  L.  Fekete  was  married  June  22,  1881,  to  Chairman  J.  LeBeau, 
daughter  of  John  B.  LeBeau,  formerly  of  St.  Louis, now  of  Dakota.  Mrs.  Fekete's 
father  is  of  an  old  French  family  of  St.  Louis,  who  were  fur  traders.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fekete  have  at  present  six  children,  Thomas  L.,  Jr.,  Ophelia  Florence, 
Robert  Alexander,  Forrest  Fisher,  George  Elliot,  and  Josephine  CEarlotte. 
They  have  a  delightful  home  and  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  In  local  politics  Mr. 
Fekete  is  an  active  member  of  the  Citizens'  party ;  was  one  of  its  organizers, 
and  is  its  secretary.  The  party  has  given  good  government  in  East  St.  Louis. 


CHARLES   H.  FERGUSON. 

No  element  contributes  more  directly  and  essentially  to  the  virility  and 
vitality  of  a  political  p^arty  than  the  quiet,  unostentatious,  unobserved  influence 
of  the  good  men  of  the  rank  and  file,  who  hold  no  office  and  ask  none,  but  per- 
form the  duties  of  citizenship  faithfully  and  intelligently  and  desire  no  reward 
for  fulfilling  such  a  public  obligation.  Such  men  are  the  bone  and  sinew  of 
an  effective  political  organization,  restraining  it  to  wise  and  patriotic  policies, 
and  investing  it  with  dignity  and  force.  Among  the  life-long  Republicans  of 
Chicago  there  could  scarcely  be  found  a  more  complete  example  of  this  silent 
and  powerful,  influence  than  that  so  long  displayed  by  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
Charles  H.  Ferguson.  This  gentleman, has  never  held  a  political  office,  but  his 
interest  in  public  affairs  has  always  been  intense  and  he  has  never  left  to  others 
to  perform  for  him  his  personal  duty. .  He  has  lived  a  very  active  life,  and  the 
obligations  of  his  business  have  been  heavy  and  of  such  a  nature  as  to  occupy 
his  constant  attention.  His  occupation  has  been  life  insurance,  and  every  one 
who  has  been  in  that  business  in  this  country  for  the  last  two  decades  know  Mr. 
Ferguson,  personally,  or  at  least  by  reputation.  The  great  business  he  built  up 
for  the  Mutual  Life  Insurance  company  of  New  York  in  Illinois  remains  a 
monument  to  his  energy  and  ability,  and  has  long  been  an  inspiration  and  in 
many  ways  a  despair  to  those  who  seek  to  duplicate  his  success. 

Mr.  Ferguson's  first  important  connection  in  life  insurance  was  when  he 
was  made  cashier  of  the  Chicago  office  of  the  Mutual  Life  in  June,  1876. 
Energy  has  always  been  the  dominant  trait  of  his  nature,  and  he  early  displayed 
it  by  attending  to  the  duties  of  his  office  in  an  admirable  manner  and  at  the 
same  time  filling  in  odd  hours  in  soliciting.  In  1881  Mr.  Ferguson  was  placed 
in  charge  as  Cashier  of  the  Chicago  agency,  and  this  work  he  conducted  so 

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satisfactorily  that  two  years  later  he  was  appointed  local  agent,  and  in  1886  was 
Managing  Agent  of  the  Mutual  Life  for  Chicago  and  Cook  County.  Three 
years  later,  when  the  partnership  had  terminated  by  its  terms  with  Mr.  Winston, 
Mr.  Ferguson  became  general  agent  of  the  Company  for  the  State  of  Illinois 
and  was  fully  launched  upon  that  career  of  phenomenal  success  which  was  in 
many  respects  an  ideal  one.  He  was  uniformly  considerate  of  his  agents  and 
solicitors,  and  courteous  and  careful  in  his  obligations 'to  the  general  public. 
The  telling  character  of  his  work  appears  when  we  consider  that  in  the  ten 
years  succeeding  his  appointment  to  the  general  agency  he  placed  $30,000,000 
of  new  business  on  the  books  of  his  office.  During  the  same  period  this  agency 
paid  in  losses  and  claims  in  the  State  of  Illinois  about  $5,000,000.  When  Mr. 
Ferguson  resigned  in  1900  his  premium  collections  were  about  $2,000,000  a 
year.  He  has  been  repeatedly  honored  by  the  life  insurance  men  of  this  country 
in  appointment  to  offices  of  responsibility  and  trust,  and  in  June,  1889,  was 
awarded  by  The  Mutlial  Life  Ins.  Co.  their  general  agents'  prize  at  Saratoga,  N. 
Y. —  a  beautiful  solid  silver  bowl,  for  "good  management  and  success." 

Mr.  Ferguson  was  the  third  president  of  the  National  Life  Underwriters  As- 
sociation, and  has  also  served  as  president  of  the  Chicago  Life  Underwriters  As- 
sociation, being  one  of  the  three  men  that  ever  held  both  offices.  He  resigned 
from  the  Mutual  Life  early  in  1900,  after  a  continuous  service  of  twenty-seven 
years.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  Calumet  and  Washington  Park, 
Germania,  Hyde  Park  and  Athletic  Clubs,  a  life  member  of  the  2nd  Regiment, 
and  stands  high  in  the  ranks  of  the  Mason  and  in  G.  A.  R.  circles.  In  these 
various  connections  Mr.  Ferguson  has  been  a  popular  and  successful  man,  and 
deserves  the  place  he  has  won  for  himself  in  the  esteem  of  all  who  know 
him. 


GREENBURY  LAFAYETTE  FORT. 

Colonel  and  Brevet  Brig.  General  Greenbury  L.  Fort  was  born  in  Portsmith, 
O.,  October  17,  1826.  His  father,  Benjamin  Fort,  married  Mary  Foster,  the 
mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  General  Fort  was  an  early  settler  of  Mar- 
shall County.  He  became  thoroughly  identified  with  the  people,  with  the  in- 
terests of  the  County,  and  was  universally  honored  and  beloved.  He  was  de- 
voted to  his  friends ;  was  a  man  of  fine  social  qualities  and  of  broad  charitable  in- 
stincts. The  lineage  of  this  family  is  traced  back  to  Roger  Fort  of  Pemberton, 
Burlington  County,  N.  J.,  who  was  born  about  1675.  John  Fort  and  Bartholo- 
mew Fort  were  enrolled  as  New  Jersey  militiamen  during  the  Revolutionary 
War.  There  are  now  three  distinct  branches  of  the  family  residing  respectively 
in  the  States  of  New  Jersey,  Illinois  and  Georgia.  The  records  show  that  a 
very  large  percentage  of  the  Fort  family  are  professional  men.  In  every 
American  war  the  Forts  have  been  represented  either  in  the  Army  or  Navy. 

Greenbury  L.  Fort  in  personal  appearance  was  rather  tall,  with  black  hair 
and  dark  eyes,  dark  swarthy  complexion,  of  prepossessing  personality,  and 
graceful  carriage.  His  education  began  in  the  Public  Schools ;  he 
graduated  at  Rock  River  Seminary,  was  fond  of  books,  studied  law, 
and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  formed  excellent  habits  while  a 
young  man,  and  was  not  addicted  to  the  use  of  either  spirits  or  tobacco.  Early 
in  life  he  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1850  he  was  elected  to  the 
office  of  Sheriff  of  Marshall  County,  and  removed  from  his  farm  to 
the  city  of  Lg.con.  In  1852  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  County 
Clerk  and  in  1856  was  elected  County  Judge  of  Marshall  County. 
He  performed  the  duties  of  these  several  offices  with  ability,  and  to  the  entire 
satisfaction  of  the  public.  His  military  record  began  in  April,  1861,  as  first  lieu- 
tenant of  Co.  "B,"  nth  111.  Vol.  Infantry,  for  the  three  months  service,  in  re- 
sponse to  the  first  call  made  by  President  Lincoln  for  75,000  volunteers  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union.  He  afterwards  recruited  Company  "L"  for  the 
three  years  service,  and  commanded  his  company  for  some  time,  filling  many  im- 
portant trusts  under  the  direction  of  Generals  Grant  and  McPherson.  When 
Maj.  General  Logan  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  I5th  Army  Corps,  in 

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the  fall  of  1863,  he  tendered  Captain  Fort  the  office  of  Chief  Quartermaster  of  the 
Corps  with  the  rank  of  Lieut.  Colonel,  wliich  position  he  accepted.  The  duties 
of  the  office  of  Chief  Quartermaster  of  the  I5th  Army  Corps  during  its  great 
marches  and  campaigns,  were  both  important  and  arduous.  These  duties  were 
performed  by  Colonel  Fort  to  the  satisfaction  of  General  Logan,  and  the  various 
commanding  officers  of  divisions,  brigades,  and  regiments  of  the  Corps.  He 
remained  with  the  I5th  Army  Corps  Headquarters  as  Chief  Quartermaster  until 
that  organization  was  dispensed  with.  He  was  then  assigned  to  duty  in  Texas 
where  he  remained  until  1866,  having  performed  fully  five  years  of  military  serv- 
ice. He  retired  with  the  rank  of  Colonel  and  Brevet  Brig.  General. 

He  returned  home  in  1866,  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the  _State  Sen- 
ate as  a  Republican,  and  was  elected  in  November!  1866.  Upon  the  organization 
of  the  Senate  Gen.  Fort  was  made  Chairman  of  the  Penitentiary  Committee. 
During  his  service  he  brought  forward  a  bill  which  had  for  its  object  the  encour- 
agement of  good  conduct  on  the  part  of  convicts  by  giving  them  certain  credits 
for  good  behavior,  whereby  their  sentences  might  be  shortened.  He  also  took 
an  active  part  in  securing  the  passage  of  a  law  for  the  publication  of  the  Adjutant 
General's  Reports  of  Illinois,  which  were  to  give  a  complete  military  record  of 
every  officer  and  soldier  who  served  in  the  United  States  Army  from  Illinois  dur- 
ing the  Civil  War.  In  1872  General  Fort  was  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  as  a  Republican,  from  the  Eighth  Congressional  District.  He 
served  in  Congress  for  a  period  of  eight  years.  He  showed  himself  to  be  a  man 
of  ability,  was  well  respected,  and  exercised  great  influence  with  his  brother 
members.  He  was  a  strong  advocate  of  the  remonetization  of  silver,  and  was 
largely  influential  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in  securing  the  passage  of  the 
law  for  the  coinage  of  the  silver  dollar.  At  the  end  of  his  term  of  service  in 
Congress  he  devoted  himself  largely  to  the  business  of  ranching  in  the  West  and 
farming  in  Illinois.  General  Fort  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  and  Odd  Fellows 
Societies,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1857  he  married  Clara  B.  Boal,  daughter  of  Dr.  Robert  Boal,  then  of 
Peoria,  111.  They  had  two  children,  Nina,  a  daughter,  who  died  in  infancy,  and 
one  son,  Robert  Boal  Fort.  General  Fort  died  at  his  residence  at  Lacon,  on 
January  13,  1883.  He  died  honored  and  regretted  not  only  by  the  people  of  his 
own  County,  but  by  the  people  of  the  entire  State.  Surviving  him  were  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Clara  B.  Fort,  a  lady  of  admirable  character,  and  his  son,  Robert  B. 
Fort. 


^ROBERT  BOAL  FORT. 

Captain  Robert  Boal  Fort  was  born  April  25,  1867,  at  Lacon,  Marshall 
County,  Illinois.  He  is  the  only  son  of  General  Greenbnry  L.  Fort  and  Mrs.  Clara 
B.  Fort.  His  father  was  an  early  settler  of  Marshall  County,  was  educated 
there,  studied  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  his  early  life  he  devoted  him- 
self to  farming;  in  1850  was  elected  Sheriff;  in  1852  County  Clerk,  and  in  1856 
County  Judge.  In  1861  he  was  ist- Lieut.  Company  "B"  nth  111.  Volunteers, 
and  later  Captain  of  Co.  "I"  of  the  same  regiment,  in  the  three  years  service.  In 
1863  was  made  Chief  Quartermaster  of  the  I5th  Army  Corps  under  Maj.  General 
Logan,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1866,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel 
and  Brevet  Brig.  General.  The  same  year  was  elected  to  the  Illinois  State  Sen- 
ate, and  in  1872  was  elected  as  a  Reupblican  to  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States,  where  he  served  eight  years.  The  biographies  of  General  Fort  show  that 
his  ancestors  came  to  this  country  about  1675  and  settled  in  New  Jersey,  and 
that  the  Fort  family  has  been  represented  in  all  of  the  wars  of  this  country  from 
the  Revolution  down,  both  in  the  Army  and  the  Navy. 

Captain  Fort,  while  his  father  was  a  member  of  Congress  started  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Public  Schools  at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  afterwards  attended  Wy- 
man  Institute,  and  Exeter  Academy,  finishing  his  studies  abroad.  Captain  Fort 
is  a  tall  athletic  man  with  black  hair  and  dark  eyes,  and  fond  of  outdoor  sports, 
especially  hunting.  He  is  a  great  lover  of  horses  and  dogs.  After  finishing 
his  education,  Captain  Fort  returned  home,  and  took  up  his  father's  business  of 

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ranching  in  the  West  and  farming-  in  Illinois,  and  is  now  successfully  pursuing 
those  avocations.  Captain  Fort  is  a  resident  of  Lacon,  111.,  and  is  now  living 
with  his  mother  in  the  house  in  which  he  was  born.  Captain  Fort  became  in- 
terested in  polities  in  his  boyhood,  and  when  he  arrived  at  manhood  immediately 
identified  himself  with  the  Republican  organization,  and  was  placed  upon  the 
Republican  County  Central  Committee  of  Marshall  County.  He  held  this  po- 
sition until  1895,  when  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  City  of  Lacon.  In  1896,  he 
was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  2Oth  Senatorial  District.  He  served 
with  great  credit  in  the  Legislature  of  Illinois.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the 
Marshall  County  District  was  represented  by  Dr.  Robert  Boal.  the  grandfather 
of  Capt.  Fort,  in  1845  anc'  m  l&55*  anc^  lnat  ^  was  afterwards  represented  by  his 
father  in  1867.  Captain  Fort  was  a  member  of  the  National  Guard  of  Illinois 
for  eight  years.  Was  President  of  the  Young  Men's  Republican  Club  of  Mar- 
shall County.  Was  a  member  of  the  Elaine  Club,  and  was  a  delegate  in  1896 
to  the  Republican  League  Convention.  He  is  now  a  member  of  the  Marquette 
Club,  and  the  Union  League  Club  of  Chicago.  He  has  made  six  trips  abroad 
and  visited  every  European  Capitol. 

In  1898,  a  few  days  after  the  blowing  up  of  the  "Maine,"  he  visited  Cuba. 
After  staying  in  Havana  for  a  short  time,  he  visited  the  Provinces  of  Matanzas, 
and  Santa  Clara,  and,  passing  through  the  Spanish  lines,  he  spent  some  time  with 
the  Cuban  Insurgents.  Being  fully  satisfied  that  war  was  imminent  between  the 
United  States  and  Spain,  he  returned  home,  and  raised  a  troop  of  Cavalry,  and 
was  commissioned  Captain  of  Troop  "L,"  ist  Illinois  Volunteer  Cavalry,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  United  States  service  for  the  Spanish  War. 

Captain  Fort  founded  the  Lacon  Public  Library.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Episcopal  Church. 


FREDERICK  H.  GANSBERGEN. 

Frederick  H.  Gansbergen  of  Chicago,  111.,  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  His 
father,  John  Henry  Gansbergen,  was  an  importing  merchant,  and  was  of  Dutch 
extraction.  His  mother  was  born  in  Germany,  and  came  to  America  when 
quite  young.  His  father  died  when  he  was  fourteen  months  old. 

Frederick  H.  Gansbergen  was  born  Jan.  28,  1867,  in  the  town  of  Greenville, 
which  is  now  a  part  of  Jersey  City.  He  received  a  common  school  education, 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years  took  employment  in  New  York  State  in  a 
grain  elevator,  and  remained  there  for  one  year,  when  he  visited  Chicago  and  had 
a  strong  inclination  to  settle  in  that  city.  Returning  to  the  East,  he  remained 
there  about  one  year,  when  he  came  to  Chicago  and  has  made  it  his  permanent 
home.  The  young  man  found  it  difficult  to  obtain  employment,  but  being  of  an 
independent  nature,  and  determined  to  make  his  way  in  the  world  without  calling 
upon  his  friends  in  the  East  for  assistance,  he  accepted,  as  his  first  employment, 
six  dollars  per  week  for  the  distribution  of  cards  in  front  of  the  Bay  State  Build- 
ing. This  continued  for  a  short  time,  however,  when  one  of  his  friends  intro- 
duced him  to  a  mercantile  establishment  on  Wabash  avenue,  where  he  secured  a 
good  position,  which  he  occupied  for  about  four  years.  During  this  period  Mr. 
Gansbergen  made  the  acquaintance,  and  secured  the  friendship,  of  Judge  Driggs 
and  Judge  Bailey,  men  of  high  character  and  standing,  whose  suggestions  and  in- 
fluence controlled  his  future  career.  He  studied  law  at  the  Chicago  College  of 
Law  of  the  Lake  Forest  University.  His  progress  was  rapid,  and  in  due  time  he 
passed  an  examination  before  the  Appellate  Court,  continued  his  studies  at  the 
college,  taking  a  post-graduate  course,  was  granted  a  diploma,  and  was  soon 
licensed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois  to  practice  law.  Mr.  Gansbergen  has 
secured  a  reputation  for  probity  of  character,  industry  and  enterprise,  and  has 
made  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends.  He  entered  upon  a  success- 
ful career  as  a  practicing  attorney. 

In  good  time,  he  married  M.  Maude  Newell,  a  daughter  of  Augustus  Newell, 
the  principal  partner  in  the  great  firm  of  piano  and  reed  organ  manufacturers. 
Mrs.  Gansbergen  is  descended  from  New  England  stock ;  her  people  were  citi- 
zens of  New  Hampshire,  whose  ancestors  were  early  emigrants  from  England. 

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She  is  a  woman  of  fine  education  and  accomplishments,  having  graduated  from 
Monticello  Seminary. 

Mr.  Gansbergen  in  politics  has  always  been  a  stanch  Republican.  He  has 
never  been  a  candidate  for  public  office,  but  has  been  an  earnest  worker  in  pro- 
moting the  success  of  the  party  of  his  choice.  On  Dec.  18,  1899,  he  was  ap- 
pointed a  Commissioner  on  the  Lincoln  Park  Board  by  Governor  John  R.  Tan- 
ner, and  was  soon  chosen  as  president. 

Socially  Mr.  Gansbergen  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Marquette,  Hamilton,  Chicago  Athletic,  Post  Lake  and  Wauby  Lake  Ranch 
Clubs.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  other  secret  lodges. 
Mr.  Gansbergen  has  been  an  extensive  traveler  in  the  United  States,  and  has 
visited  all  the  principal  places  east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  His  parents  be- 
longed to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  was  brought  up  under  the  in- 
fluence of  that  religious  body.  In  Chicago  he  attended  the  services  of  Professor 
Swing  and  Dr.  Thomas,  with  both  of  whom  he  became  well  acquainted.  He  now 
belongs  to  the  Fullerton  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church,  is  much  interested  in 
the  church  work,  and  has  held  the  office  of  trustee  and  treasurer  of  that  church. 
Mrs.  Gansbergen  is  also  a  member  of  the  same  church,  arid  is  interested  in  soci- 
ological and  literary  matters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gansbergen  have  two  children,  a 
daughter  nine  years  old,  and  a  son  five  years  old.  They  have  an  agreeable 
home.  Mr.  Gansbergen  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  physical  manhood ;  light  com- 
plexioned,  six  feet  and  one-half  inch  high,  and  weighs  two  hundred  pounds. 
Always  successful  in  his  undertakings,  he  is,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  rising  men 
of  Chicago. 


CHARLES  ULYSSES  GORDON. 

Charles  U.  Gordon,  the  twenty-third  Postmaster  of  Chicago,  was  born  April 
3,  1865,  near  the  village  of  Dunlap,  Peoria  County,  111.  He  is  the  son  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Eliza  J.  (Stokes)  Gordon,  the  former  a  native  of  Surrey  County,  N.  C.,  and 
the  latter  of  Kentucky.  His  paternal  great  grandfather,  Thomas  Gordon,  came 
from  Virginia  and  settled  in  Surrey  County,  N.  C.,  where  he  married  a  Miss 
Creed.  Mr.  Gordon's  maternal  great  grandfather,  Berryman  Stokes,  came  to 
this  country  from  Ireland,  and  was  here  married  to  Elizabeth  Aperson,  a  native  of 
Germany.  His  son,  William  Stokes,  grandfather  of  subject,  was  a  soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812,  and  other  ancestors  on  that  side  of  the  family  participated  in  the 
"Boston  Tea  Party." 

When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  came  to  Chicago  and  entered  Bryant  &  Strat- 
ton's  Business  College.  On  account  of  ill  health  he  was  obliged  to  leave,  but 
as  soon  as  his  health  permitted  he  secured  a  position  as  teacher  in  the  district 
school  near  Jamestown,  Ind.  Although  but  seventeen  years  old,  he  was  a  suc- 
cess as  an  instructor.  Returning  to  Chicago  he  completed  his  course  at  the 
business  college  in  the  fall  of  1882,  and  on  the  first  day  of  January  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  began  his  career  as  cashier  and  bookkeeper  for  Messrs.  Stevens, 
Wilce  &  Co.,  lumber  manufacturers.  Two  years  later,  or  in  1885,  he  became  a 
salesman  for  F.  C.  Gibbs,  a  real  estate  dealer,  and  on  March  9,  1885,  he  organized 
the  firm  of  C.  U.  Gordon  &  Co.,  and  soon  became  prominent  in  Chicago  real 
estate  transactions.  This  business  he  continued  until  January  i,  1896,  when  he 
gave  up  the  commission  business  and  occupied  his  time  in  overseeing  and  de- 
veloping his  property  interests  in  Buena  Park,  Chicago. 

Mr.  Gordon's  active  interest  in  politics  may  be  said  to  have  commenced 
with  the  organization  of  the  Marquette  Club,  February  2,  1886,  of  which  he  was 
one  of  the  founders  and  which  has  since  become  the  leading  Republican  organi- 
zation of  Chicago.  He  served  as  its  secretary  for  two  and  one  half  years,  and 
was  elected  as  its  president  in  1894.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
Club,  Hamilton  Club  and  Chicago  Real  Estate  Board.  Although  an  ardent 
and  enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party  all  his  life, 
he  has  never  held  an  office  previous  to  his  appointment  as  postmaster.  He  re- 
ceived his  appointment  to  that  responsible  position  March  19,  1897,  from  Presi- 

466 


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dent  McKinley,  and  was  confirmed  by  the  Senate  the  same  day.  On  the  first  of 
April,  1897,  he  assumed  the  duties  of  the  office.  Mr.  Gordon  is  the  youngest 
man  ever  appointed  to  the  position  of  Postmaster  of  Chicago,  being  but  thirty- 
one  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  appointment.  He  has  instituted  many 
changes  and  improvements  in  the  service,  the  most  important  of  which  was 
the  abolishment  of  the  $400  and  $500  clerkship  grades,  thereby  making  the  mini- 
mum salary  of  all  clerks  $600  per  annum.  He  established  the  carrier  sergeant 
service  in  the  Chicago  Post  Office,  which  was  the  first  established  in  the  United 
States,  and  reorganized  the  special  delivery  service.  He  has  also  re-established 
the  Promotion  Board  so  that  all  promotions  are  made  upon  the  merit  system,  by 
examination  in  practical  work,  together  with  office  records  and  attendance.  The 
number  of  collections  in  the  down-town  district  has  been  increased  from  eighteen 
to  twenty-six  daily,  and  the  deliveries  in  the  business  center  from  six  to  seven 
daily,  so  that  business  men  are  receiving  better  mail  facilities  than  ever  before. 
Under  Mr.  Gordon's  able  management  the  number  of  postal  stations  in  the  Chi- 
cago Post  Office  has  been  increased  from  23  to  41 ;  sub-stations  from  54  to  109; 
territory  covered  by  free  delivery  from  127  to  183  square  miles;  number  of  car- 
riers from  1,096  to  1,270;  number  of  clerks  from  1,296  to  1,367;  number  of  daily 
deliveries  from  3,163  to  3,484;  number  of  daily  collections  from  1,139  to  l>971  > 
number  of  letter  boxes  from  2,827  to  3.008 ;  number  of  package  boxes  from  244 
to  422;  and  the  receipts  from  $5,224,659.76  in  1897  to  $6,133,551.79  for  the  fiscal 
year  ending  June  30,  1899. 

Mr.  Gordon  was  married  June  23,  1898,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Wilson  Pate, 
daughter  of  Alexander  Pate  of  Wellington,  Illinois. 


JOHN  GIBBONS. 

A  brilliant  example  of  the  self-made  American  citizen,  and  a  grand  exempli- 
fication of  the  progress  that  an  ambitious  foreigner  can  make  in  this  country  of 
unbounded  opportunities,  is  shown  in  the  case  of  Judge  John  Gibbons.  He  was 
born  in  Ireland,  at  Ruhan,  Fanad,  County  Donegal,  in  1848,  and  was  the 
youngest  of  a  family  of  eleven  children.  When  but  an  infant,  John  Gibbons  was 
left  fatherless,  and  up  to  the  age  of  eighteen  he  saw  nothing  but  the  drudgery  of 
farm  life  and  such  limited  schooling  as  the  place  afforded.  At  intervals  his 
brothers  and  sisters  had  emigrated  to  America,  and  when  eighteen  years  old  the 
judge  decided  to  cast  his  fortune  in  the  New  World.  He  first  located  in  Phila- 
delphia, but  as  his  brother,  Patrick  Gibbons,  had  settled  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and 
become  prosperous,  he  joined  him  there.  It  was  this  brother  who  helped  the 
future  judge  to  lay  the  foundation  of  his  legal  education. 

He  was  first  sent  to  Notre  Dame  College,  Ind.,  in  1867,  and  one  year  later 
was  graduated  from  that  institution  with  honors.  It  is  a  tradition  of  the  Notre 
Dame  alumni  that  Judge  Gibbons  took  a  four  years  course  in  one  and  won  first 
premium  in  ail  his  classes.  Recreation  or  rest  were  unknown  to  him  in  those 
days,  and  the  pace  he  then  set  for  himself  was  not  materially  modified  in  later 
years.  From  school  he  went  back  to  Philadelphia  and  sought  to  earn  a  living 
in  various  ways.  He  drifted  into  the  law  office  of  William  H.  Martin  and  began 
reading  for  the  bar.  111*1869  ne  went  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  joined  his  brother,  and 
after  studying  law  for  some  time,  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  In  April,  1871,  the 
municipality  of  Keokuk  elected  Mr.  Gibbons  as  a  city  attorney  and  in  two  notable 
railroad  cases,  one  of  which  involved  a  $1,500,000  bond  issue,  he  contended  that 
the  city  of  Keokuk  had  no  power  to  thus  mortgage  itself,  and  that  the  act  of  the 
Legislature  ratifying  the  bond  issue  was  unconstitutional.  He  won  out  on  both 
points.  He  contended  that  the  statute  of  limitations  commenced  to  run  against 
coupons  at  their  maturity  without  regard  to  the  maturity  of  the  bond  to  which 
they  were  attached,  which  contention  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
sustained.  Mr.  Gibbons  was  city  attorney  of  Keokuk  and  assistant  State's  at- 
torney of  the  district  until  1875  when  he  was  elected  to  the  Legislature,  the 
youngest  member  of  that  body.  At  this  time,  and  for  many  years  afterward  he 

468 


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was  a  strong  Democrat.  He  was  vice  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Constitu- 
tional Amendments  and  offered  a  resolution  amending  the  Constitution  so  as  to 
prohibit  public  money  from  being  appropriated  for  the  support  of  sectarian 
schools. 

In  1878  he  was  nominated  by  the  Democratic  Convention  for  Attorney  Gen- 
eral of  Iowa  and  ran  about  four  thousand  ahead  of  his  party  ticket.  He  con- 
tinued practicing  law  in  Keokuk  until  1879.  During  his  Iowa  career  Judge  Gib- 
bons had  his  first  experience  with  active  daily  journalism.  In  the  Spring  of  1876, 
in  company  with  others,  he  bought  out  the  "Keokuk  Constitution,"  which  had 
become  famous  as  the  most  radical  Democratic  sheet  in  the  Mississippi  Valley. 
Sam  Clark  was  the  editor  of  the  rival  paper,  the  "Gate  City,"  and  the  passages  at 
arms  were  numerous.  After  the  Hayes  and  Tilden  campaign  Mr.  Gibbons 
wearied  of  newspaper  control  and  sold  out  to  his  partners.  In  1879  ne  came  to 
Chicago,  but  it  was  some  time  before  his  superior  abilities  were  recognized. 
Then  the  Iowa  attorney  began  to  forge  to  the  front.  He  acquired  an  introduc- 
tion to  the  practice  and  a  standing  at  the  Chicago  Bar  in  conducting  personal 
injury  cases,  and  soon  became  noted  for  his  ability  in  unraveling  knotty  legal 
problems  in  every  branch  of  the  law.  In  1884,  as  a  result  of  the  Elaine  cam- 
paign, he  left  the  Democratic  party  and  has  ever  since  remained  with  the  Repub- 
licans. His  reasons  for  abandoning  that  party  were  deemed  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  be  placed  among  the  best  literature  of  the  campaign,  and  were 
printed  by  the  leading  newspapers  of  the  land.  In  1893  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Chicago  bar  for  Circuit  Court  Judge  and  received  the  Republican  nomina- 
tion to  fill  one  of  the  new  terms  created  by  the  legislature.  He  was  elected  and 
re-elected  in  1897  for  a  full  term. 

Judge  Gibbons  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  first  president  of  the  Notre 
Dame  Alumni  Association.  He  is  president  of  St.  Patrick's  Society  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Press  and  Hamilton  Clubs.  In  the  practice  of  religion  he  is  a  de- 
vout Roman  Catholic  and  a  member  of  Holy  Angels  parish,  Oakwood  Boulevard, 
but  his  views  in  religious  matters  are  as  broad  as  the  universe.  In  1886  Notre 
Dame  University  created  him  Master  of  Arts,  and  in  1894  he  was  made  Doctor 
of  Laws.  St.  Ignatius'  College  has  also  made  him  an  LL.  D.  He  has  been  one 
of  the  owners  of  the  Chicago  Law  Journal  since  1888.  Judge  Gibbons  was  mar- 
ried April  2Oth,  1892,  to  Mrs.  R.  B.  Fuller  (nee  Lizzie  Christener)  of  Chicago, 
and  resides  at  3541  Grand  Boulevard.  Two  of  his  uncles,  Patrick  Gibbons  and 
William  Francis  Gibbons,  were  priests,  and  another  uncle,  Daniel  Gibbons,  was  a 
noted  physician  and  surgeon,  being  a  graduate  of  Glasgow  Medical  College  and 
the  Royal  College  of  London.  His  parents  were  John  and  Cecelia  (Carr)  Gib- 
bons, both  natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 


W.  F.  GORRELL. 

There  is  much  in  the  history  of  W.  F.  Gorrell  that  is  of  general  interest, 
as  it  indicates  a  surmounting  of  obstacles  and  a  mastering  of  expedients  which 
have  enabled  him  to  win  an  enviable  place  among  men  in  whatever  walk  of  life, 
and  to  gain  prestige  as  a  leader  in  thought  and  action.  In  his  youth  he  was 
surrounded  by  disadvantages  which  seemed  almost  unsurmountable,  but  his 
necessities  taught  him  that  what  is  done  must  be  done  through  himself  alone. 
Men  who  follow  that  precept  are  worthy  and  well  qualified  to  perform  almost 
any  duty,  and  will,  in  almost  all  cases,  make  a  complete  success  of  life.  It  is 
through  these  efforts  that  Mr.  Gorrell  has  attained  his  present  responsible  posi- 
tion in  the  life  insurance  world. 

He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  July  10,  1838,  and  his  early  life  was  spent  upon 
a  farm  in  Athens  county,  that  state.  His  father  was  a  minister  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  was  so  charitable  and  unworldly  that  often  his  means 
were  very  limited.  Owing  to  this  he  was  unable  to  give  his  children  the  educa- 
tional advantages  they  so  much  desired.  After  receiving  his  primary  training 
in  the  common  schools  young  Gorrell  decided  to  better  his  condition  if  possible. 

470 


471 


His  alert  mentality  and  intuitive  apperception  quickened  his  ambition  for  secur- 
ing wider  educational  facilities,  and  being  a  lad  of  push  and  determination  he 
went  to  work  to  accomplish  this  end.  He  first  secured  employment  at  twenty 
cents  per  day  and,  although  he  did  not  immediately  get  rich  at  this  salary,  he 
secured  sufficient  funds  to  pay  his  expenses  for  three  terms  at  the  Athens  High 
School.  Later  he  taught  school  for  one  term  and  was  then  admitted  to  the 
University  of  Athens,  O.,  where  he  was  actively  pursuing  his  studies  when  the 
Civil  War  broke  out.  What  was  education  then,  when  his  country's  honor  was 
at  stake?  Throwing  aside  his  books  he  became  a  member  of  the  i8th  Ohio 
Infantry  and  proved  a  faithful  and  trustworthy  soldier. 

Soon  after  returning  home  he  made  his  way  to  Illinois  and  was  actively 
engaged  in  teaching  school  until  September,  1874,  when  he  accepted  the  agency 
for  the  Home  Life  Insurance  Company,  of  New  York,  for  the  State  of  Illinois, 
and  for  a  period  of  eighteen  years  was  successfully  engaged  in  that  capacity. 
So  active  and  interested  was  he  in  his  work  that  during  that  period  he  did  more 
business  for  the  Home  Life  Insurance  Company  that  the  company  did  in  the 
entire  State  of  New  York,  which  fact  speaks  most  eloquently  as  to  his  use- 
fulness to  his  employers.  Mr.  Gorrell  was  manager  for  the  Iowa  Life 
Insurance  Company  for  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  a  position  he  held  and  filled 
most  admirably  for  six  years.  He  was  one  of  the  directors  and  a  stockholder 
of  the  company,  and  every  detail  of  the  life  insurance  business  is  thoroughly 
understood  by  him.  Politically  Mr.  Gorrell  is  a  staunch  and  enthusiastic  sup- 
porter of  Republican  principles  and  has  done  much  to  further  the  interests  of 
that  ''Grand  Old  Partv." 


JUDSON  FREEMAN  GOING. 

Biography  becomes  of  value  only  when  it  indicates  the  path  to  be  pursued 
by  those  who  attain  to  the  best  things  in  life,  and  fails  of  its  true  province  when  it 
emphasizes  aught  else.  It  accords  to  merit  a  real  place  in  the  world  and 
acknowledges  the  worth  of  true  ability.  In  the  life  of  Judson  F.  Going  we  find 
that  the  causes  which  have  led  to  his  brilliant  success  in  the  legal  profession  are 
all  such  as  command  respect  and  awaken  admiration.  In  glancing  over  the 
history  of  many  of  the  most  influential  men  of  this  country  one  is  profoundly 
impressed  with  the  fact  that  so  large  a  number  first  saw  the  light  of  day  and 
breathed  the  invigorating  air  of  the  country  or  village  home ;  and,  also,  that  it 
was  by  these  selfsame  wholesome  firesides  that  there  were  nurtured  and  strength- 
ened, in  frame  and  fiber,  such  legions  of  men  who  have  carved  their  names  on  the 
top  round  of  the  ladder  of  success. 

Upon  a  farm  near  the  city  of  Galena,  Jo  Daviess  County,  111.,  was  born 
Judson  Freeman  Going,  November  29,  1857.  On  both  sides  his  ancestors  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Illinois ;  and  those  who  are  familiar  with  pioneer 
life,  understand  the  hardships  they  were  called  upon  to  undergo.  His  father, 
Adoniram  Judson  Going,  came  of  Vermont  Revolutionary  stock,  and  the  Going 
family  was  represented  in  the  War  for  Independence  by  Captain  Jonathan  Going. 
Not  a  generation  passed  that  this  family  did  not  contribute  one  or  more  men 
as  clergymen  in  the  Baptist  faith,  and  one,  Dr.  Jonathan  Going,  was  President 
of  Granville  College,  O.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Mary  A.  Clen- 
dening,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  extraction,  her  father  having  been  a  prominent  pio- 
neer local  minister  of  the  Methodist  faith.  Three  of  her  brothers  became  min- 
isters of  high  standing  in  Rock  River  Conference  of  the  Methodist  church. 

During  his  early  life  upon  the  farm  young  Going  attended  the  district  school 
during  the  winter  months.  In  1869  the  father  died,  and  the  care  and  training 
of  the  family  of  two  girls  and  three  boys  fell  upon  a  devoted  mother  who  never 
wavered  in  her  duty,  but  taught  them  lessons  of  industry,  perseverance  and 
honesty  which  have  been  the  stepping  stones  to  their  success  in  life.  In  the 
Autumn  of  1873  the  family  removed  to  Chicago,  where  young  Going  attended 
the  public  schools,  working  as  occasion  offered  at  any  honest  employment,  and 
where  he  put  into  practice  the  lessons  he  had  learned  in  early  youth.  Then 

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when  barely  in  his  "teens"  he  taught  a  country  school,  for  a  year  afterwards  was 
clerking  for  a  dry-goods  merchant  of  Warren,  111.,  and  burned  the  midnight  oil 
to  such  advantage  that  he  was  able  to  enter  the  University  of  Illinois  at  Cham- 
paign, in  18/7.  Under  the  magnetic  influence  of  that  eminent  educator  and  dis- 
tinguished publicist,  Dr.  John  M.  Gregory,  who  was  president  of  that  institu- 
tion, Mr.  Going's  mind  took  a  decided  impetus  forward,  and  his  career  as  a 
student  was  a  most  laudable  one.  However,  his  university  course  was  inter- 
rupted, only  to  be  renewed  in  1881,  when  he  returned  from  teaching  the  young 
idea,  to  resume  his  studies.  He  was  graduated  in  the  class  of  1883.  The  fol- 
lowing September  he  entered  the  Union.  College  of  Law  in  Chicago,  and  was 
graduated  in  June,  1885.  Immediately  afterward  he  opened  a  law  office,  and 
later  he  was  appointed  justice  of  the  peace  by  Gov.  Richard  J.  Oglesby.  He 
was  appointed  to  succeed  himself,  but  within  a  month  "resigned  to  accept  the 
office  of  Assistant  under  Judge  Joel  M.  Longenecker,  then  State's  Attorney, 
where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  term,  December,  1892.  He  then  formed 
a  law  partnership  with  Hon.  C.  G.  Neely.  In  1894,  Mr.  Going  became  general 
counsel  of  The  Calumet  Electric  Street  Railway  Company,  which  position  he 
still  retains. 

In  1885  Mr.  Going  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  Avery  of  Eau  Claire,  Wis- 
consin, and  a  daughter  and  son  have  blessed  this  union.  In  politics,  Mr.  Going 
has  always  been  a  Republican  and  has  been  for  years  at  the  head  of  the  Repub- 
lican organization  of  the  2Oth  Ward.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Political  Action 
Committee  of  the  Marquette  Club,  a  member  of  Kilwinning  Lodge  No.  311,  A. 
F.  &  A.  M.,  the  Royal  League,  National  Union,  Columbian  Knights,  Improved 
Order  of  Redmen  and  the  Phi  Delta  Phi.  In  his  church  relations,  Mr.  Going 
is  a  Baptist.  As  a  lawyer  he  stands  deservedly  high  and  his  services  for  the  State 
have  been  marked  by  unselfishness,  devotion  to  duty,  and  an  intense  and  intelli- 
gent appreciation  of  the  demands  of  the  hour  upon  every  loyal  American. 


WILLIAM   HOUSER  GRAY. 

William  H.  Gray  of  Chicago  was  born  September  23,  1847,  at  Piqua,  O. 
His  father,  Jacob  C.  Gray,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  successful  contractor  and 
builder.  .He  was  a  man  of  respectability  and  standing,  and  Deacon  in  the 
Baptist  Church  for  over  fifty-five  years,  being  familiarly  known  throughout  the 
state  of  Ohio  as  "Deacon  Gray."  He  was  a  progressive  man,  an  earnest  sup- 
porter of  general  education,  and  afforded  his  children  every  opportunity  to 
receive  an  excellent  education.  Deacon  Gray  died  in  1881  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
nine  years.  The  maiden  name  of  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
Catherine  Houser.  She  was  a  daughter  of  the  late  Jacob  Houser  of  Dayton, 
O.  Mrs.  Gray  received  a  good  education  and  was  widely  known  and  highly 
respected  by  the  people  of  Piqua.  She  reared  a  family  of  six  children — two 
boys  and  four  girls — and  died  in  1897,  aged  77  years,  respected  and  loved  by 
all  who  knew  her.  She  lived  in  and  kept  her  own  home  and  servants  until  the 
day  of  her  death,  which  occurred  while  in  apparent  good  health  and  talking  to 
her  children. 

William  H.  Gray  received  his  early  education  at  Piqua,  graduated  from  the 
high  school  there  and  studied  three  years  in  Denison  University.  He  assisted 
his  father  in  his  building  operations  for  a  time,  and  then  entered  the  employ- 
ment of  the  Lake  Erie  &  Western  Railroad,  as  civil  engineer.  He  was  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business  at  Piqua  until  1871.  Disposing  of  this  business,  he 
became  connected  with  life  insurance,  with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis,  but 
subsequently  transferred  to  Ohio.  In  1877  Mr.  Gray  organized  the  Knight 
Templar  and  Masonic  Mutual  Aid  Association  at  Cincinnati.  He  put  such 
intelligent  energy  into  the  management  of  that  concern  that  it  was,  at  the  time 
he  severed  his  connection  with  it  in  1883,  the  leading  company  of  its  class  in 
the  United  States.  Mr.  Gray  came  to  Chicago  in  May,  1884,  and  at  once  organ- 

474 


475 


ized  the  Knights  Templars  and  Masons  Life  Indemnity  Company  of  Chicago ; 
was  made  its  general  manager,  and  has  been  identified  with  this  organization 
ever  since.  Mr.  Gray  has  made  this  company  phenomenally  successful.  The 
company  is  supported  by  a  large  array  of  the  best  people  of  the  country,  and 
stands  as  a  guarantor  for  upwards  of  twenty  millions  of  insurance,  with  a  monied 
surplus  of  over  $500,000.00. 

Mr.  Gray  has  been  an  active  and  successful  business  man  and  is  now  recog- 
nized as  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Chicago.  He  is  an  extensive  owner  of  real 
estate — about  one  thousand  acres  in  Illinois ;  some  six  thousand  acres  in  Texas ; 
has  a  large  interest  in  the  Indiana  gas  fields,  and  has  several  buildings  in  the 
city  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Gray  originated  the  idea  of  removing  the  old  Libby  Prison 
from  Richmond,  Va.,  to  Chicago.  He  alone  purchased  the  old  historic  struc- 
ture and  disposed  of  it  to  the  gentlemen  who  moved  it  to  Chicago.  He  was  a 
Director  and  the  Treasurer  of  the  Libby  Prison  War  Museum  Association. 
Mr.  Gray,  in  religion,  is  of  the  Baptist  faith.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Unior/ 
League  and  Marquette  Clubs.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  St.  Bernard  Com- 
mandery  (Knights  Templars)  and  other  Masonic  bodies.  In  politics  Mr.  Gray 
is  a  Republican.  While  not  an  active  worker  or  speaker,  he  believes  in  political 
organization,  performs  his  political  duties  as  a  citizen,  and  votes  the  Republican 
ticket  because  he  endorses  the  principles  of  the  party  and  looks  upon  its  continu- 
ance in  power  as  the  best  means  of  securing  good  government. 

William  Houser  Gray  was  married  February  17,  1881,  to  Miss  Orpha  Ella 
Buckingham,  of  Bloomington,  111.,  a  student  of  Mount  Carroll  Seminary,  of 
Illinois.  They  have  a  family  of  three  children — Ina  B.,  Willie  B.  and  Ralph  B. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gray  are  people  of  fine  social  qualities ;  have  a  delightful  home  and 
a  wide  circle  of  friends. 


HOWARD  H.  GROSS. 

Howard  H.  Gross  was  born  in  Marathon,  Cortland  County,  N.  Y.,  Septem- 
ber 27,  1853.  His  parents  were  Dr.  John  C.  Gross  and  Caroline  Gross.  In 
1858  the  family  moved  to  Knox  County,  111.  Mr.  Gross  began  life  on  a  farm, 
going  to  school  during  the  winter  and  doing  a  man's  work  in  the  fields  in  sum- 
mer, the  Spelling  Bee  and  debating  club  being  his  principal  diversion.  In  1867 
the  family  moved  to  Galva,  Henry  County,  where  Mr.  Gross  attended  school, 
and  worked  upon  the  farm.  He  drew  full  wages  as  a  farm  hand  when  he  was 
fifteen  years  old.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  taught  school,  his  first  charge  being 
about  twelve  miles  from  home.  The  school  was  rated  as  an  especially  hard 
one  to  teach,  owing  to  the  unruly  boys  who  for  years  had  broken  up  the  school 
and  driven  the  teacher  away.  Mr.  Gross  promptly  put  down  the  firsF  attempt 
at  disorder,  and  after  that  all  went  well.  For  several  years  he  taught  school  in 
winter  and  studied  law  in  summer.  When  twenty  years  old  he  engaged  with 
a  Chicago  firm  to  travel  through  Illinois,  selling  school  furniture  and  apparatus. 
He  remained  with  the  firm  over  ten  years,  holding  when  he  left  the  highest 
position  of  any  employee.  He  then  went  into  business  for  himself  at  San  Fran- 
cisco. He  remained  two  years,  his  venture  bringing  him  a  good  profit.  Return- 
ing to  Chicago  he  conceived  the  idea  of  creating  for  exhibition  panoramic  views 
of  great  battle  scenes.  In  the  course  of  nine  years  twenty-two  of  these  great 
pictures  were  turned  out  and  placed  in  leading  cities  from  London,  England, 
to  Melbourne,  Australia.  Mr.  Gross  is  a  man  of  wonderful  resource  and  great 
energy.  He  lost  a  large  sum  in  the  great  Baring  failure,  but  he  went  to  work- 
harder  than  ever  and  was  soon  on  his  feet  again. 

Since  1893,  Mr.  Gross  has  been  a  contractor  and  dealer  in  paving  material. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Board  of  Education  several  years,  and  for 
two  years  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  Through  his  efforts  civil  service 
was  adopted  in  the  schools,  also,  the  project  to  teach  the  girls  Domestic  Science 
in  the  schools  was  established  through  his  efforts,  and  has  proved  to  be  very 
successful.  Mr.  Gross,  while  friendly  to  Union  labor,  did  not  believe  that  the 

476 


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Board  of  Education  had  a  right  to  exclude  Non-union  men  from  performing 
school  work ;  a  long  controversy  ensued,  but  finally  the  Supreme  Court  passed 
upon  the  matter,  supporting  Mr.  Gross  at  every  point.  As  an  evidence  of  his 
good  will  toward  the  wage  earner,  in  February,  1900,  he  presented  to  the  West 
Park  Commissioners  the  great  cyclorama  of  the  Chicago  Fire,  the  only  condition 
being  that  it  be  kept  open  free  for  all  time  to  come  for  trie  working  man  and  his 
family. 

Mr.  Gross  is  a  director  of  the  Bureau  of  Charities ;  Trustee  of  the  Penny 
Savings  Society,  which  is  a  means  of  cultivating  habits  of  thrift  in  the  young. 
He  is  a  director  in  the  Chicago  Commercial  Association,  and  Chairman  of  the 
Civic  Federation  School  Committee.  He  took  an  active  part  in  drawing  up 
the  special  assessment  bill  passed  in  1897.  In  December,  1899,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  State  School  Board  Section  of  the  Illinois  State  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation. In  September,  1900,  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  appointed  him  Special 
Agent  and  Road  Expert  of  the  United  States  Government  to  promote  good 
roads  in  Illinois  and  Indiana. 

Mr.  Gross  has  always  been  an  active  worker  for  the  Republican  ticket.  On 
the  stump  he  is  a  forceful  and  convincing  speaker.  He  was  married  in  1878  to 
Dell  S.  Condit  of  Englewood.  They  have  four  children,  the  eldest  son  attending 
the  University  of  Chicago.  He  has  been  an  extensive  traveler ;  his  travels  have 
covered  the  United  States,  Europe,  Australia,  New  Zealand  and  the  West  Indies. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Athletic,  Hamilton  and  Men's  Clubs. 


LEONARD  GOODWIN. 

Leonard  Goodwin  was  born  at  Aurora,  111.,  October  25,  1859,  and  his  early 
education  was  obtained  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  He  began  to  study  law 
and  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State  of  Illinois  in 
the  fall  of  1880.  In  1881  he  moved  to  Creston,  Iowa,  where  he  practiced  law 
for  two  years.  His  health  began  to  fail  about  that  time,  and  he  was  compelled 
to  travel  for  several  years,  finally  settling  down  at  San  Diego,  Cal.,  and  resumed 
his  practice  of  law. 

Mr.  Goodwin  resided  in  California  about  seven  years,  and  took  prominent 
part  in  Republican  politics,  being  a  member  of  the  County  Central  Committee 
for  four  years,  and  chairman  of  the  City  Central  Committee  for  four  years.  He 
was  noted  as  a  Republican  leader  during  his  residence  in  San  Diego,  and  led 
and  directed  the  movement  which  resulted  in  breaking  up  a  corrupt  political 
ring  which  had  existed  in  San  Diego  for  many  years,  and  in  the  election  of 
a  straight  Republican  ticket  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  county.  He 
returned  to  Chicago  in  October,  1894,  and  has  been  actively  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  law  ever  since.  He  has  resided  in  the  24th  ward  for  the  past  five 
years  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  Republican  politics,  and  is  one  of  the 
recognized  Republican  leaders  in  the  ward  and  on  the  North  Side.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Marqnette  and  Hamilton  Clubs,  and  during  the  presi- 
dential campaign  of  1900  was  chairman  of  the  Political  Action  Committee  of 
the  Marquette  Club.  Under  his  leadership  and  direction  the  Club  assumed  a 
more  prominent  place  in  Republican  politics  than  it  had  ever  attained  before, 
and  a  healthy  impetus  was  given  to  the  growth  and  influence  of  the  club. 
Under  the  direction  of  the  National  Committee  Mr.  Goodwin  also  made  cam- 
paign speeches  in  North  Dakota  and  Nebraska.  He  has  often  been  spoken  of 
as  a  candidate  for  different  offices,  but  has  consistently  refused  to  accept  any 
office  or  any  nomination  for  an  office,  the  work  he  has  done  for  the  party  hav- 
ing been  done  purely  from  motives  of  patriotism,  and  not  with  any  idea  of  per- 
sonal gain  or  advancement. 

Socially  Mr.  Goodwin  is  good  natured,  hale  fellow  well  met,  and  very  popu- 
lar among  his  acquaintances.  He  is  very  warm  in  his  friendship  and  loyal  to 
his  ideals  and  to  his  friends.  As  a  public  speaker  he  is  forceful  and  eloquent 
and  in  great  demand  during  political  campaigns. 

478 


479 


FRANK  H.  HALL. 

Frank  H.  Hall,  of  Jacksonville,  111.,  was  born  at  Mechanics  Falls,  Me., 
February  9,  1841.  His  ancestors  on  both  sides  were  early  settlers  in  New 
England.  His  father,  Joseph  H.  Hall,  was  born  in  Paris,  Me.,  and  married 
Sophia  Valentine,  who  was  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  The 
Valentine  family  were  great  teachers ;  at  lease  one  hundred  and  fifty  members 
of  this  family  have  been  identified  with  educational  institutions  in  the  United 
States,  and  have  exercised  a  powerful  influence  for  good  in  that  line  of  intel- 
lectual endeavor. 

Frank  H.  Hall  commenced  his  education  at  the  village  school  at  Mechanics 
Falls,  and  as  he  grew  up  he  was  taught  to  work.  In  due  time,  he  entered  the 
Maine  State  Seminary  at  Lewiston,  graduating  in  1862.  At  that  time  the  great 
Civil  War  was  raging,  and  Mr.  Hall  enlisted  in  Company  "D"  of  the  23rd  Maine 
Infantry,  as  a  private.  During  his  term  of  service  he  was  detailed  as  acting 
hospital  steward  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  On  July  15,  1863,  he  was  mus- 
tered out  at  Portland,  Me.,  and  received  an  honorable  discharge.  He  was  then 
a'dmitted  as  a  member  of  the  first  class  at  Bates  College,  remaining  there  less 
than  a  year.  Mr.  Hall  was  a  born  teacher.  Heredity  and  environments,  and 
the  traditions  of  his  mother's  family  all  tended  to  bear  him  forward  into  this 
important  line  of  business.  He  taught  a  winter  school  in  1859  and  1860  at 
Center  Minot,  Me.  He  was  made  principal  of  Towle  Academy,  Winthrop, 
Maine,  and  served  from  1864  to  1866;  principal  of  Earlville,  111.,  public  schools 
from  1866  to  1868;  Principal  Aurora  (West)  public  schools  from  1868  to  1875; 
principal  Sugar  Grove,  111.,  farm  school,  18/5  to  1887;  principal  Petersburg,  111., 
Public  School,  1887  to  1888;  principal  Aurora  (West)  public  schools  from  1888  to 
1890;  superintendent  Illinois  school  for  the  Blind,  Jacksonville,  1890  to  1893  ;  su- 
perintendent Waukegan,  111.,  public  schools,  1893  to  1897;  superintendent  Illinois 
School  for  the  Blind,  1897  to  the  present  time.  He  received  from  Dr.  Newton 
Bateman  in  1868  a  life  State  Teachers'  certificate.  When  Mr.  Hall  became 
identified  with  the  School  for  the  Blind,  he  took  up  the  subject  of  improving 
the  apparatus  for  teaching  the  blind.  He  is  the  inventor  of  the  Braille-writer 
and  co-inventor  (with  Harrison  &  Seifried)  of  the  stereotype-maker.  These 
machines  are  now  in  use  in  more  than  one-half  the  schools  for  the  blind  in  this 
country  as  well  as  in  Australia  and  in  many  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia.  Mr.  Hall 
has  devoted  much  time  and  thought  to  mathematics,  and  is  the  author  of  a 
number  of  works  upon  this  subject. 

Politically  Mr.  Hall  is  an  out-and-out  Republican.  His  fathjyuyjiS-a-vVhig, 
so  that  his  early  teachings  were  in  that  direction.  They  were  also  anti-slavery, 
and  as  was  the  great  majority  of  the  people  of  Maine  in  favor  of  Prohibition. 
Mr.  Hall  was  not  old  enough  to  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  but  he  was 
thoroughly  identified  with  the  Republican  party  at  that  time,  and  believed  in  its 
principles.  Mr.  Hall  has  long  believed  that  the  Republican  party  represents 
everything  good  and  great  in  politics,  and  that  the  Democratic  party  is  just  the 
reverse  of  this.  Mr.  Hall's  first  vote  for  President  was  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  1864.  He  had  been  a  constant  reader  of  the  writings  of  Horace  Greeley  and 
George  William  Curtis,  and  had  great  respect  and  admiration  for  these  men,  so 
in  1872  when  Mr.  Greeley  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  Mr. 
Hall  followed  this  great  political  philosopher  and  cast  his  vote  that  year  for  Mr. 
Greeley.  He  soon  discovered  that  the  political  company  in  which  he  found 
himself  opposed  to  the  principles  which  he  had  favored  all  his  life,  and  he  soon 
went  back  into  the  Republican  ranks,  where  he  has  remained  faithful  ever  since. 

Governor  Fifer  appointed  Mr.  Hall  superintendent  of  the  School  for  the 
Blind ;  he  held  this  position  during  Governor  Fifer's  term,  and  performed  the 
duties  of  the  office  with  great  acceptability,  but  Governor  Altgeld  removed  him 
from  office.  In  1897  he  was  again  appointed  Superintendent  of  the  Illinois 
School  for  the  Blind  by  Governor  Tanner,  and  now  holds  that  office  and  performs 
the  duties  thereof  with  great  efficiency. 


480 


481 


ISAAC  MILLER  HAMILTON. 

Success  is  methodical  and  consecutive,  and  however  much  we  may  indulge 
in  fantastic  theorizing  as  to  its  elements  and  causation  in  any  isolated  instance, 
yet  in  the  light  of  sober  investigation  we  will  find  it  to  be  but  a  result  of  the 
determined  application  of  one's  abilities  and  powers  along  the  rigidly  defined 
line  of  labor.  Professional  advancement  in  the  law  is  proverbially  slow.  The 
first  element  of  success  is,  perhaps,  a  persistency  of  purpose  and  effort  as  con- 
tinuous as  the  force  of  gravity.  But,  as  in  every  other  calling,  aptitude,  char- 
acter and  individuality  are  the  qualities  which  differentiate  the  usual  from  the 
unusual.  A  little  over  ten  years  ago  Isaac  M.  Hamilton  was  admitted  to  the 
bar,  and  within  that  time  he  has  gained  a  prominence  for  which  many  older  men 
have  striven  for  a  lifetime.  He  was  born  at  Ash  Grove,  Iroquois  county,  III, 
September  6,  1864,  and  the  principal  part  of  his  life  has  been  spent  in  the  county 
of  his  birth.  His  ancestors  won  distinction  both  in  public  and  private  affairs^ 
His  parents,  Ephraim  S.  and  Celia  B.  Hamilton,  were  most  excellent  people,  and 
his  father  won  a  most  enviable  reputation  both  as  a  public  spirited  citizen  and  as 
a  successful  business  man.  The  father  died  in  his  fiftieth  year,  but  the  mother 
is  still  living,  resides  with  her  son  Isaac,  and  although  now  sixty-eight  years  old, 
enjoys  excellent  health. 

Isaac  M.  Hamilton  received  a  thorough  scholastic  training  in  the  Grand 
Prairie  Seminary  of  Onarga,  111.,  and  of  private  tutors.  He  has  mastered  sev- 
eral languages ;  has  found  time  to  pay  close  attention  to  the  arts  and  is  well 
known  for  his  culture  and  refinement.  In  1881  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Tunis  Young  in  merchandising  at  Ash  Grove,  111.,  and  although  Mr.  Hamilton 
was  but  sixteen  years  old  at  that  time  and  his  partner  thirty-two,  they  have  con- 
tinued the  partnership  ever  since  under  the  firm  name  of  Young  &  Hamilton, 
but  are  now  engaged  exclusively  in  the  banking  and  real  estate  business.  How- 
ever, the  firm  is  now  located  at  Cissna  Park.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1889,  being  one  of  three  in  a  class  of  forty  to  be  graded  perfect,  and 
since  that  time  he  has  built  up  a  large  and  very  remunerative  law  practice  in 
State  and  Federal  Courts.  His  keen  knowledge  of  human  nature  and  his  capac- 
ity for  analysis  has  attracted  universal  attention,  particularly  in  his  address, 
"Monstrosities  of  the  Law,"  which  was  delivered  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Illinois  State  Bar  Association,  at  Peoria,  in  January,  1894.  He  has  given  special 
attention  to  the  Chancery,  Probate  and  Corporation  branches  of  the  law,  and 
has  been  eminently  successful  in  many  intricate  and  important  cases.  As  ex- 
ecutor of  the  large  estate  of  the  late  William  Cissna  he  was  required  by  the 
Probate  Court  to  give  a  bond  of  $500,000,  which  he  did  in  half  a  day,  thirty-five 
of  the  wealthiest  and  most  influential  friends  and  neighbors  signing  as  his  securi- 
ties— certainly  a  wonderful  tribute  to  his  integrity  and  ability,  and  an  eloquent 
testimonial  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Hamilton  has  been  attorney  for  the  village  of  Cissna  Park  ever  since 
its  incorporation,  but  he  had  never  aspired  to  office  until  1896,  when  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Senate  by  almost  twice  the  majority  which  any 
other  senator  ever  received  in  his  district.  In  the  three  sessions  of  the  Illinois 
Legislature  in  which  he  has  served  he  has  won  for  himself  golden  laurels  as  a 
capable  and  honorable  legislator,  as  his  excellent  work  upon  important  commit- 
tees and  upon  the  floor  of  the  Senate  conspicuously  verifies.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion Mr.  Hamilton  has  been  constantly  and  actively  identified  with  the  National 
Republican  League.  Like  many  another  great  factor  in  the  uplifting  of  human- 
ity and  in  the  strengthening  of  ties  of  home  and  country,  it  was  disaster,  rather 
than  prosperity,  that  made  it  possible  for  the  great  National  League  to  come 
into  being.  Since  then  the  skies  have  cleared,  and  victory  is  again  with  the 
great  National  party,  but  in  all  the  long  past  no  grander  lesson  of  patriotism 
has  been  found  on  the  pages  of  our  history  than  that  of  the  noble  way  in  which 
the  younger  Republican  element  of  this  country,  setting  aside  local  prejudices, 

482 


483 


decided  to  band  themselves  into  an  invincible  league  for  the  common  good. 
The  young  men  of  the  United  States,  through  the  National  Republican  League, 
have  become  the  real  strength  in  the  great  Republican  party ;  and  it  is  upon 
the  altars  of  patriotism  that  they  keep  the  fires  of  liberty  burning.  Mr.  Hamil- 
ton is  one  of  those  young  men  whose  interests  have  ever  been  with  the  league. 
Although  his  most  effective  work  for  the  league  was  probably  done  when,  as 
chairman  of  the  campaign  committee  of  the  executive  committee,  he  was  so 
largely  instumental  in  raising  the  fund  with  which  the  enormous  and  burdensome 
debts  were  fully  paid  and  the  league  put  on  a  sound  financial  basis  which  assures 
it  a  magnificent  and  influential  future.  In  addition  to  his  position  as  chairman 
of  the  Finance  Committee  of  the  National  League,  he  is  President  of  the  Illinois 
State  League  of  Republican  Clubs.  Under  his  able  and  wise  administration  this 
league  has  grown  and  prospered  to  an  unprecedented  extent.  He  is  always  a 
willing  and  able  worker,  in  any  capacity,  for  the  advancement  of  league  interests 
everywhere.  In  his  social  relations  Mr.  Hamilton  takes  a  prominent  place  and 
is  a  favorite  and  forceful  member  of  the  Union  League,  Marquette  and  Hamilton 
Clubs,  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar,  a  Thirty-second  degree  Mason, 
a  member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine,  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  Knights  of. 
Pythias  of  Illinois,  a  member  of  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur  and  a  Modern  Woodman 
of  America. 

Mr.  Hamilton  is  now  located  permanently  in  Chicago.  His  reputation  has 
become  so  wide  and  his  business  so  extended,  that  he  decided  to  seek  a  point 
where  his  business  might  be  more  centralized  without  appreciable  loss  of 
success.  In  Chicago,  where  he  has  a  host  of  good  friends  and  where 
marked  success  is  already  his,  Mr.  Hamilton  has  made  his  home.  There 
he  has  established  the  successful  law  firm  of  Hamilton  &  Atkinson,  of 
which  he  is  the  senior  partner.  He  is  yet  a  young  man  in  his  profession, 
with  the  foundation  so  well  laid,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  future — 
a  future  which  must  hold  for  him  distinction  and  preferment  attained  only  by 
those  lawyers  who  practice  law  as  a  profession,  and  not  as  a  craft.  Being  a 
close  student,  of  a  mind  quick  to  question  and  exacting  of  a  reason,  he  has 
more  concern  for  the  philosophy  of  the  law  and  the  application  of  a  principle 
than  for  legal  legerdemain  and  subtle  sophistry.  Beyond  and  above  all,  he  is 
a  student  of  law,  a  student  of  humanity  and  a  student  of  the  tendencies  of  the 
times  in  which  he  lives.  In  his  remarks  he  is  clear  and  logical,  and  his  command 
of  clean,  incisive  and  lucid  English  is  equaled  by  few.  Amid  the  engrossing 
cares  and  exacting  duties  of  a  busy  professional  life,  Mr.  Hamilton  has  found 
time  and  opportunity  for  investigation  and  study  of  many  questions  touching 
social  conditions  and  betterment.  He  contributes  liberally  of  his  means  to  all 
worthy  movements. 

Since  becoming  a  resident  of  Chicago  Mr.  Hamilton  became  greatly  im- 
pressed with  the  need  of  a  life  insurance  company  which  would  be  a  credit  to 
the  great  and  growing  city  of  Chicago.  In  connection  with  J.  Ellsworth  Griffin 
Mr.  Hamilton  has  succeeded  in  organizing  the  Federal  Life  Insurance  Company, 
which  is  the  only  company  organized  under  the  Illinois  laws  as  an  old  line,  legal 
reserve,  stock  life  insurance  company.  This  company  starts  out  with  an  excel- 
lent board  of  thirty  directors.  It  has  the  entire  confidence  of  the  public  and  is 
unqualifiedly  commended  by  the  ablest  financiers  of  the  city.  Mr.  Hamilton 
has  accepted  the  presidency  of  this  new  company  and  is  rapidly  pushing  forward 
its  affairs  with  his  usual  aggressiveness  and  discernment.  Under  his  able  man- 
agement the  Federal  Life  Insurance  Company  seems  destined  to  achieve  phe- 
nomenal success. 


LOUIS  KRUGHOFF. 

Colonel  Louis  Krughoff  of  Nashville,  Illinois,  was  born  November  25,  1836, 
in  Minden,  Westphalia.  Came  to  Washington  County,  Illinois,  in  1851.  Worked 
on  a  farm,  attended  school  and  clerked  in  a  store  until  1861.  He  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany "H,"  First  Illinois  Cavalry,  in  June,  1861.  Was  wounded  in  battle;  coming 

484 


home  to  recover  from  his  wound,  he  recruited  Company  "C,"  49th  Illinois 
Infantry.  Was  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson  and  again  wounded.  Participated 
in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  in  the  Red  River  expedition,  in  the  Missouri  campaign 
against  General  Price,  marched  750  miles  in  thirty-five  days.  Was  of  the  troops 
that  reinforced  General  Thomas  at  Nashville  in  the  great  battle  that  overthrew 
Hood's  army.  Joined  in  the  pursuit  of  Hood,  and  was  mustered  out  in  1865 
with  the  brevet  rank  of  Major,  "For  gallant  and  meritorious  services." 

In  1874  helped  to  organize  the  Washington  County  P>ank,  and  was  made 
cashier.  Is  now  a  banker  under  the  style  of  Needles,  Krughoff  ?i  Co.,  at  Nash- 
ville, Illinois.  Retaining  his  fondness  for  military  life,  in  1877  he  organized  a 
Militia  Company  and  was  elected  Captain,  and  was  soon  commissioned  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  of  the  nth  regiment.  May  17,  1882,  he  was  commissioned  Colonel 
of  the  Qtli  Infantry,  I.  N.  G.,  holding  this  position  three  years.  He  was  Colonel 
and  Aide  de  Camp  upon  Governor  Oglesby's  staff.  He  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  has  been  seven  times  "Post  Commander,  and  many 
times  a  delegate  to  National  Encampments.  Was  Department  Inspector  in 
1892,  was  on  Council  of  Administration  under  General  Harlan,  and  Aide  de  Camp 
and  chief  of  staff  under  General  Powell. 

Colonel  Krughoff  is  a  Republican  in  politics  true  and  tried ;  he  was  a  dele- 
gate in  the  Republican  National  Convention  of  1880,  and  was  of  the  "Old  Guard 
of  306,"  who  stood  by  General  Grant,  and  has  a  Grant  medal  commemorating 
that  event.  Colonel  Krughoff  is  married,  and  has  an  interesting  family  of  two 
sons  and  two  daughters. 


HARVEY  B.  KURD. 

Hon.  Harvey  B.  Hurd  of  Evanston,  111.,  has  been  a  citizen  of  Illinois  for 
56  years ;  few  men  in  the  history  of  the  State  have  made  a  greater  impression 
en  its  public  affairs,  or  have  exerted  a  more  beneficial  influence.  He  was  born 
at  Huntington,  Conn.,  February  14,  1828;  his  father,  Alanson  Hurd,  was  of 
English  descent,  his  mother  of  Dutch  and  Irish  stock,  both  were  sturdy  New 
England  people,  whose  ancestors  came  to  America  for  conscience  sake.  It 
can  be  truly  said  of  Harvey  B.  Hurd  that  he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  At  fourteen  years  of  age  he  left  home,  went  to  Bridgeport  and  there 
secured  employment  with  a  Whig  newspaper,  "The  Bridgeport  Standard," 
where  he  spent  two  years.  In  the  spring  of  1844  he  went  to  New  York  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  emigrated  to  Peoria,  111.,  and  entered  Jubilee  Col- 
lege. At  the  end  of  little  over  a  year,  by  reason  of  some  disagreement  with  the 
President,  Rev.  Samuel  Chase,  he  left  the  College  and  with  his  small  belongings 
came  to  Chicago  on  a  baggage  stage,  arriving  here  January  7,  1846.  He  se- 
cured employment  on  the  "Chicago  Evening  Journal/'  and  afterwards  on  the 
"Prairie  Farmer."  His  connection  with  newspaper  offices  for  several  years 
had  afforded  him  an  opportunity  for  study,  which  he  earnestly  embraced.  In 
1847  ne  entered  the  law  office  of  Calvin  DeWolf.  His  advancement  was  such 
that  in  1848,  at  twenty  years  of  age,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  commenced 
practice  in  partnership  with  Carlos  Flaven.  In  1850  Mr.  Hurd  formed  a  part- 
nership with  Andrew  J.  Brown ;  in  addition  to  their  law  practice  they  had  large 
transactions  in  real  estate.  One  of  their  purchases  was  248  acres  which  forms 
a  part  of  the  original  plat  of  Evanston;  in  1854  Mr.  Hurd  commenced  the  erec- 
tion of  the  house  which  is  now  his  home.  He  moved  into  it  September  5,  1855, 
it  is  now  one  of  the  finest  houses  in  that  beautiful  town.  Evanston  became  in- 
corporated in  January,  1864,  and  Mr.  Hurd  was  selected  as  President  of  the 
first  village  board,  and  was  the  author  of  the  first  code  of  ordinances.  In  1862 
Mr.  Hurd  accepted  the  position  of  lecturer  in  the  Law  Department  of  the 
University  of  Chicago,  the  same  year  he  formed  a  law  partnership  with  Hon. 
Henry  Booth,  which  continued  until  1868  when  Mr.  Hurd  retired  from  the 
practice  of  law,  but  returned  to  it  again  after  the  fire  of  1871  which  considerably 
impaired  his  fortune. 

485 


In  1868  Governor  Palmer  appointed  Mr.  Hurd  one  of  the  three  Commis- 
sioners to  revise,  and  rewrite  the  general  Statutes  of  Illinois.  Before  the  work 
was  fairly  entered  upon,  both  his  associates  retired  and  Mr.  Hurd  was  left  to 
perform  this  great  task  alone.  He  devoted  five  years  of  arduous  labor  to  this 
work;  taking  the  revised  Statutes  of  1845  as  a  starting  point,  he  incorporated 
into  them  the  general  laws  enacted  during  the  succeeding  twenty-four  years, 
adapting  the  whole  to  the  constitution  of  1870,  and  introducing  new  chapters 
where  the  necessity  of  the  case  required.  His  work  was  submitted  to  and  en- 
acted by  the  twenty-seventh  and  twenty-eighth  General  Assemblies,  and  he  was 
appointed  by  the  latter  to  edit,  and  superintend  the  publication  of  these  Stat- 
utes. Mr.  Hurd  has  edited  fifteen  editions  of  "Kurd's  Revised  Statutes."  The 
able  and  complete  manner  in  which  this  great  work  was  performed  is  enough 
to  give  Mr.  Hurd  enduring  fame  as  a  lawyer,  but  his  reputation  as  a  practi- 
tioner before  the  highest  Courts,  and  as  a  teacher  of  law  to  students  in  the  Law 
School  single  him  out  as  one  of  the  most  conspicuous  figures  in  connection 
with  the  profession  in  the  State.  In  1873  Mr.  Hurd  was  again  chosen  as  Law 
Lecturer  in  what  was  then  the  Union  College  of  the  University  of  Chicago  and 
the  Northwestern  University.  He  is  now  Professor  of  Common  Law  and 
Equity,  Pleading,  Criminal  and  Statutory  law  in  the  same  school,  now  the  Law 
department  of  the  Northwestern  University. 

In  1875  Mr.  Hurd  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  Judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Illinois;  he  was  opposed  by  Col.  T.  Lysle  Dickey,  a  Democrat,  and 
a  combination  of  influences  secured  the  election  of  Col.  Dickey.  In  1887  six 
vacancies  occurred  in  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  of  Cook  County 
by  the  conviction  of  six  of  its  members  for  defrauding  the  County,  in  such  an 
emergency  men  of  the  highest  probity  and  ability  were  wanted.  Mr.  Hurd  was 
one  of  the  six  persons  chosen  and  elected  to  fill  those  important  positions. 

The  subject  of  the  construction  of  a  Drainage  Canal  from  Lake  to  River 
was  often  mooted  but  what  seemed  to  be  an  insurmountable  obstacle  was  the 
great  difficulty  of  raising  the  money  for  the  work  under  the  constitutional  re- 
strictions. The  City  of  Chicago  proper  could  not  undertake  the  work  as  it  had 
already  reached  the  limit  of  its  borrowing  and  taxing  powers.  Mr.  Kurd's 
fertile  brain  solved  the  problem,  he  recommended  that  a  new  municipality  with 
original  taxing  and  borrowing  powers  be  created.  Mr.  Kurd's  bill  was  in- 
troduced in  the  Legislature;  he  conducted  the  exhaustive  investigation  of  the 
subject  and  secured  a  favorable  report  on  the  bilFat  the  session  into  which  it 
was  introduced,  and  at  the  succeeding  session  the  law  now  in  force  was  passed 
substantially  as  originally  prepared,  omitting,  however,  one  important  feature 
of  the  Hurd  Bill,  namely,  placing  under  the  control  of  the  Drainage  Board 
the  water  supply  of  the  City. 

Mr.  Kurd  has  Leen  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Law  Reform  of  the 
Illinois  Bar  Association,  and  was  President  of  the  body  in  1888-9.  He  is  the 
author  of  several  reports  favoring  a  policy  of  breaking  up  large  estates  by 
changing  the  laws  of  descent  and  wills  to  limit  the  amount  one  may  take 
from  the  same  person.  He  was  President  of  the  Commission  which  reported, 
and  is  credited  with  the  authorship  in  the  main  of  the  bill  on  that  subject  passed 
in  1897,  known  as  the  Torrence  law,  and  now  in  force  in  Cook  County. 

Mr.  Hurd  has  taken  great  interest  in  charitable  work,  particularly  amongst 
children.  The  Children's  Aid  Society  of  Chicago  has  received  his  special  at- 
tention, the  work  of  the  Society  being  directed  to  placing  homeless  children  in 
family  homes.  He  has  also  been  identified  with  the  Conference  of  Charities 
of  Illinois,  an  organization  composed  of  all  Charitable  Associations  of  the 
State.  But  the  most  important  work  ever  done  for  dependent,  neglected,  and 
delinquent  children  in  Chicago  was  the  passage  of  the  "Juvenile  Court"  bill  in 
1899,  of  which  Mr.  Hurd  was  the  author.  This  law  stands  as  a  monument  to 
the  wisdom  and  humanity  of  Mr.  Hurd. 

Mr.  Hurd  has  been  identified  with  the  Republican  party  since  its  organ- 
ization, he  was  always  strongly  anti-slavery;  he  opposed  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill ;  he  was  a  strong  sympathizer  with  the  free  state  men  of  Kansas  in  their 
struggle  to  make  Kansas  a  free  state.  He  attended  a  Convention  at  Buffalo, 

486 


487 


Xevv  York,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  which  set  on  foot  measures  to  aid  the  free 
State  cause.  A  National  Kansas  Committee  was  formed,  composed  of  a  mem- 
ber from  each, Northern  State.  Mr.  Hurd  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  headquarters  at  Chicago. 

In  the  spring  of  1857  the  settlers  in  Kansas  found  themselves  in  great 
need  of  seed  for  planting  their  crops ;  at  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  in  New 
\ork  City,  a  resolution  was  passed  instructing  the  Executive  Committee  to 
purchase  and  forward  seed  to  Kansas  settlers ;  the  resolution  also  appropriate*! 
$5,000  to  John  Brown  for  the  organization  and  equipment  of  free  soil  settlers 
into  companies  for  self-protection.  Mr.  Hurd  found  that  the  fund  at  his  dis- 
posal was  insufficient  to  meet  both  requirements.  Mr.  Hurd  decided  that  the 
most  pressing  needs  should  be  supplied  first.  He  bought  ancl  shipped  to  Kan- 
sas for  free  distribution  100  tons  of  seed.  This  filled  a  pressing  want,  and  was 
received  with  rejoicing.  When  John  Brown  applied  for  the  money  appropri- 
ated to  him  he  found  the  treasury  empty.  This  caused  serious  complaint  by 
Gerrett  Smith  and  other  friends  of  John  Brown,  but  the  beneficial  results  which 
followed  Mr.  Kurd's  action  fully  vindicated  his  wisdom. 

Mr.  Hurd  was  married  in  May,  1853,  to  Cornelia  A.  Hilliard,  daughter  of 
James  Hilliard  of  Middletown,  Conn.  They  had  three  daughters,  Eda,  wife  of 
George  S.  Lord ;  Hettie,  who  died  in  1884,  and  Nellie,  wife  ot  John  A.  Corn- 
stock.  Mrs.  Hurd  died  in  April,  1887.  On  November  i,  1860,  Mr.  Hurd 
married  Sarah  Collins,  widow  of  George  Collins.  They  had  a  delightful  home 
over  which  Mrs.  Hurd  presided  for  thirty  years.  She  died  in  1890.  In  July, 
1892,  Mr.  Hurd  was  again  married,  to  Susannah  M.  Van  Wyck,  who  died 
March  25,  1896. 


FRED  E.  HARDING. 

Honorable  Fred  E.  Harding  of  Monmouth,  Warren  County,  111.,  is  a 
native  of  New  York  State.  He  was  born  Sept.  20,  1847,  at  Richfield  Springs. 
After  a  course  in  the  common  schools,  Mr.  Harding  entered  Monmouth  Col- 
lege, and  afterwards  Union  College,  and  graduated  from  the  latter  institution, 
with  honor,  in  the  classical  course,  in  the  Class  of  1869.  Mr.  Harding  re- 
moved to  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  settled  at  Monmouth ;  he  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  Monmouth  Bank  and  the  Second  National  Bank  for  the  past 
twenty-three  years,  taking  employment  first  as  a  messenger  and  has  advanced 
from  that  position  until  he  is  now  President  of  the  Second  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Harding  possesses  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  and 
is  regarded  as  a  thoroughly  safe  financier.  He  has  been  identified  with  the 
Republican  party  from  his  early  manhood,  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  principles 
of  the  party,  and  has  worked  diligently  for  the  success  of  its  candidates.  He 
has  been  a  member  of  the  Warren  County  Republican  Central  Committee  for 
the  past  fifteen  years,  for  the  greater  part  of  which  time  he  has  been  its  chair- 
man. In  1894  Mr.  Harding  received  the  Republican  nomination  for  the  State 
Senate ;  he  made  an  active  campaign  in  his  district  and  was  elected  by  a  major- 
ity of  6,913  over  his  Democratic  opponent.  In  the  arrangement  of  committees 
in  the  Senate,  Mr.  Harding  was  made  Chairman  of  the  committee  on  corpora- 
tions, which  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  most  important  legislative  committees. 
The  Senator's  legislative  career  has  given  great  satisfaction  to  his  immediate 
constituents,  and  his  colleagues  in  both  branches  of  the  legislature.  Senator 
Harding  is  one  of  the  rising  men  of  the  state;  he  has,  for  many  years,  exerted 
great  influence  in  the  politics  of  Western  Illinois.  He  is  one  of  the  substantial 
men  of  Warren  County,  having  large  financial  interests  there. 

Fred  E.  Harding  was  married  Sept.  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Lucy  A.  Nye  of 
Monmouth,  111.  They  have  an  agreeable  home  at  Monmouth,  and  a  wide  circle 
of  friends. 


438 


489 


JOHN  L.  HAMILTON,  JR. 

Among  the  young  Republicans  who  have  become  prominent  in  the  politics 
of  Illinois  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  the  son  of  John  L.  Hamilton,  Sr., 
a  farmer,  who  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1829.  In  1851  he  came  to  Jersey  County, 
111.,  where  he  first  worked  on  a  farm  as  a  laborer.  In  four  years  he  succeeded 
in  earning  enough  to  purchase  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Mason 
County,  which  a  little  later  he  sold,  and  with  the  proceeds  purchased  a  consid- 
erable tract  in  Macoupin  County.  In  1864  he  sold  this  and  moved  to  Iroquois 
County,  where  he  became  well  known,  serving  in  the  capacity  of  School  Director 
and  Supervisor  for  several  years.  In  1875  he  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
licans for  County  Treasurer,  and  was  successfully  elected  by  about  three  hundred" 
majority,  notwithstanding  that  the  County  was  Democratic.  In  1877  he  was 
re-elected  by  506  majority,  the  only  one  of  his  party  on  the  ticket  to  win.  In 
1879,  f°r  tne  third  time,  he  was  re-elected.  In  1880  he  was  chairman  of  the 
Iroquois  County  Central  Committee,  and  in  1884  was  elected  to  the  House  of 
Representatives,  and  was  one  of  the  famous  "103"  who  stood  by  General  Logan 
in  his  contest  for  the  United  States  Senate.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  House 
in  1886,  1890  and  again  in  1898.  He  was  one  of  the  strongest,  most  active  and 
able  members  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  In  February,  1858,  he  married 
Ann  Eliza  Leeman,  and  seven  of  their  nine  children  are  now  living.  Three  of  his 
sons  during  the  Presidential  campaign  of  1896  were  Presidents  of  McKinley 
Clubs. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Shipman,  111.,  May  8,  1862.  He  was 
educated  at  the  common  scKools  where  his  father  resided,  finishing  at  the 
Watseka  High  School.  He  assisted  his  father  in  the  County  Treasurer's  office, 
and  later  from  1882  to  1886  served  as  Deputy  under  B.  F.  Price,  his  father's  suc- 
cessor. In  1887  he  was  appointed  Deputy  County  Clerk,  but  resigned  in  i88& 
to  take  part  in  the  organization  of  the  City  Bank  of  Watseka.  In  1889  he  sold 
out  and  took  an  interest  with  the  Banking  House  of  Burwell,  Hamilton  and 
Morgan,  which  he  helped  to  organize,  and  later  was  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
Hamilton  and  Cunningham,  Bankers.  In  1895  he  became  a  member  of  the 
City  Council,  and  two  years  later  was  elected  Mayor  and  re-elected  in  1899 
without  opposition.  During  his  administration  many  of  the  most  important 
improvements  ever  made  in  the  city  were  conducted  by  him.  In  fact,  the  name 
that  has  been  bestowed  upon  the  city,  "The  Parlor  City  of  Illinois,"  was  due 
mainly  to  his  efforts. 

He  has  served  on  many  important  committees  of  the  American  Bankers^ 
Association,  among  which  was  the  Currency  Committee  of  five  members.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  to  amend  the  Constitution  of  the  American 
Bankers'  Association,  and  in  1898  was  a  member  of  the  committee  to  prepare 
and  present  a  uniform  fidelity  bond  for  adoption  at  tRe  Cleveland  meeting  in 
September,  1899.  He  has  taken  great  interest  and  been  very  active  in  the  Bank- 
ers' Association  of  the  State,  having  been  one  of  the  organizers  in  1890.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  in  1895  and  served  to  1897,  when 
he  was  elected  first  Vice-President,  and  in  1898  was  elected  President  at  Joliet. 
In  1892  he  married  Mary  A.  Hall  of  Onarga,  Til.,  and  by  her  has  three  sons, 
Lawrence,  Donald  and  Robert.  He  is  a  member  of  the  leading  societies  and 
city  clubs,  and  stands  high  as  a  man  and  citizen  of  his  community.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Bankers',  Hamilton,  Marquette  and  Union  League  Clubs  of 
Chicago,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  His  first  Presidential 
vote  was  cast  for  James  G.  Blaine.  His  readiness  as  a  public  speaker  and  his 
ability  have  led  to  his  selection  as  delegate  to  County  Conventions  of  his  party 
in  recent  years.  He  has  also  served  as  a  delegate  to  State  Conventions.  He 
was  President  of  the  McKinley  Club  of  Hoopeston  in  1896,  and  largely  through 
his  efforts  and  popularity  the  north  end  of  Vermillion  County  was  carried  by  the 
largest  majority  it  ever  gave  a  presidential  candidate. 


490 


491 


CHARLES  P.  HITCH. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  January  16,  1850,  in  Clermont 
County,  Ohio,  and  is  the  youngest  but  one  of  a  family  of  six  children  born  to 
Benjamin  and  Laura  A.  Hitch  highly  respected  citizens  of  that  County.  On 
both  sides  of  the  family  the  stock  is  mainly  of  English  origin.  Charles  P. 
during  his  boyhood  attended  the  usual  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  years  entered  Parker's  Academy,  near  Richmond,  Ohio,  where  he 
finished  his  education.  The  Academy  was  well  conducted,  and  the  course  of 
study  was  well  calculated  to  fit  students  either  for  a  professional  career  or  for 
active  business.  Upon  leaving  this  Academy  he  went  to  New  Richmond, 
where  he  accepted  a  clerkship  in  the  dry  goods  store  of  his  uncle,  and  there 
he  remained  until  1869.  He  then  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Pans,  Edgar 
County,  where  he  was  employed  for  a  period  of  about  four  years  as  a  clerk  in 
A.  C.  Connelly's  dry  goods  store. 

In  1872  Mr.  Hitch  was  appointed  City  Clerk  of  Paris,  and  occupied  the 
position  with  credit  for  one  year.  At  the  expiration  of  that  time  he  was  ap- 
pointed Deputy  County  Clerk,  which  position  he  filled  for  two  terms,  or  a  total 
of  eight  years.  During  this  period  he  became  well  known  to  the  citizens  of 
Edgar  County,  and  was  highly  respected  for  his  many  good  qualities,  and  for 
the  efficient  services  which  he  had  from  year  to  year  rendered  his  party.  In 
1881  he  was  elected  Grand  Recorder  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Illinois  Ancient 
Order  of  United  Workmen,  which  honorary  and  responsible  position  he  has 
continued  to  hold  up  to  the  present  time.  His  re-election  by  the  Grand  Lodge 
to  this  position  so  many  times  is  a  splendid  endorsement  of  his  integrity,  ability 
and  official  record,  and  an  evidence  of  trie  satisfaction  which  he  has  given  the 
Order  as  an  officer.  In  1884  he  was  chosen  the  alternate  delegate  to  the  Re- 
publican National  Convention,  and  was  in  1888  elected  a  Delegate  to  the  Na- 
tional Convention  of  his  party.  On  that  memorable  occasion,  Mr.  Hitch,  after 
the  fourth  ballot,  voted  for  Mr.  Harrison,  and  so  continued  until  he  was  nom- 
inated. After  the  election  of  Mr.  Harrison  to  the  Presidency,  Mr.  Hitch  be- 
came an  applicant  for  the  position  of  United  States  Marshal  for  the  Southern 
District  of  Illinois,  and  having  the  unqualified  endorsement  of  a  great  majority 
of  the  Republicans  in  that  section  of  the  State,  was  so  strongly  endorsed  that 
he  received  the  appointment  to  that  office  in  May,  1889.  He  at  once  moved  to 
Springfield,  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  that  office,  and 
made  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  satisfactory  officials  who  ever  occupied  that 
position.  In  1894  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Committee  from  the 
Nineteenth  District,  and  at  once  took  a  front  rank  in  that  body,  being  elected 
chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  that  conducted  the  campaign  of  1894. 
In  1896  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the  State  Central  Committee,  and  under  his 
splendid  management  a  large  Republican  majority  was  gained  for  the  Republi- 
can candidates.  In  recognition  of  these  important  services  he  was  re-ap- 
pointed by  President  McKinley  to  his  old  position  as  United  States  Marshal 
for  the  Southern  District  of  Illinois,  which  position  he  is  yet  holding. 

Charles  P.  Hitch  was  united  in  marriage  December  25,  1874,  to  Miss  Mary 
I.  Huston,  daughter  of  Dr.  Paul  Huston  of  Paris,  and  has  one  daughter,  Lucy 
W.  Hitch,  who  was  born  in  1876.  Mr.  Hitch  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fra- 
ternity, Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodges  of  the  latter  two  bodies.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Charity 
Lodge  No.  100  A.  O.  U.  W.  By  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
that  order,  in  1883,  he  was  created  a  Past  Grand  Master  Workman,  and  repre- 
sented the  Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  in  the  Supreme  Lodge  that  met  at  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  in  1885. 


492 


493 


TIMOTHY  NATHAN   HOLDEN. 

Mr.  Holden  was  born  in  North  Charleston,  N.  H.,  March  21,  1839.  He  is 
the  son  of  Richard  Holden,  a  prominent  farmer  and  merchant  of  that  city,  who 
.served  as  one  of  the  Selectmen  in  the  township  of  Charleston,  and  a  member  of 
the  New  Hampshire  Legislature  in  1848-9.  The  father  was  a  prominent  Whig 
and  later  Republican,  and  became  widely  known  for  his  upright  conduct  and  his 
.good  citizenship..  He  married  Sophia  Allen,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Deborah 
Allen,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1853.  Richard  and  Sophia  Holden  both  died  at 
the  age  of  84  years.  Captain  Timothy  HolSen,  the  grandfather,  who  died  iri 
1833,  served  for  seven  years  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  and  his  father,  whose 
name,  also,  was  Richard,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  subject 
is  a  resident  of  Aurora,  Illinois.  He  was  educated  at  the  common  schools  of 
New  Hampshire  and  Illinois,  receiving  an  ordinary  education.  His  first  am- 
bition was  to  become  a  preacher,  and  a  little  later  he  became  fascinated  with 
a  stage  driver,  who  cracked  his  whip  over  the  leaders  of  the  four-horse  team 
attached  to  one  of  the  beautiful  Concord  coaches,  in  use  at  that  time.  But 
these  early  ambitions  were  soon  dissipated  under  broader  ideas  which  came  to 
Tiim  as  he  grew  older.  He  says  humorously  of  himself,  "that,  no  doubt,  the 
pulpit  and  the  world  of  transportation  are  deprived  of  a  shining  light." 

At  an  early  age  he  secured  a  clerkship  in  a  country  store,  and  still  later  was 
connected  with  the  wholesale  drug  house  of  Fuller  &  Fuller,  Chicago,  for 
eleven  years.  Succeeding  this  he  was  connected  with  the  wholesale  glassware 
business  on  South  Water  Street,  Chicago,  and  so  continued  until  the  great  fire 
of  1871  when  he  returned  to  Aurora  and  entered  the  services  of  the  C.,  B.  &  Q. 
R.  R.  as  clerk  in  the  shops.  Soon  afterwards  he  became  associated  with  John 
W.  Kendall  in  the  hardware  business  at  Aurora,  and  so  continued  for  fifteen 
years  under  the  firm  name  of  Kendall  &  Holden.  Mr.  Holden  is  at  present 
•engaged  extensively  in  the  business  of  renting,  handling  real  estate,  fire  in- 
surance, investments,  etc.  His  first  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in 
1860,  and  since  that  date  he  has  voted  for  every  Republican  presidential  candi- 
date. He  served  as  Supervisor  of  Aurora  township  for  the  period  of  fifteen 
years,  and  was  for  eight  years  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Supervisors  of  Kane 
County.  He  also  served  for  two  years  as  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Aurora,  and 
for  eighteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  that  city.  For 
ten  years  he  was  honored  with  the  position  of  president  of  that  board.  He 
served  for  two  years  as  president  of  the  City  Club. 

During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  he  enlisted  under  the  first  call  for  75,000 
men  for  three  months,  as  a  private,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Seventh  Illinois 
Regiment,  which  was  stationed  during  this  term  of  service  at  Cairo  and  Mound 
City.  Mr.  Holden  has  been  very  active  in  the  promotion  of  public  enterprises1 
connected  with  the  growth  and  development  of  the  city  of  Aurora.  Beginning 
iri  1862  and  continuing  for  several  years  he  was  a  member  of  Wabansia  Lodge 
A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  La  Fayette  Chapter,  Apollo  Commandery  and  of  the  Consistory 
of  Scottish  Rite  Masons  in  Chicago.  His  religious  views  are  liberal  and  he 
attends  the  People's  Church,  of  which  he  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Man- 
agers. 

On  September  I7th,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Marian  Howell,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  the  late  Dr.  O.  D.  and  Cornelia  (More)  Howell,  botfi  natives  of  Delaware 
County,  N.  Y.,  who  came  to  Aurora  fn  the  year  1855.  Dr.  Howell  practiced 
his  profession  in  this  city  from  that  time  until  his  death.  They  had  six  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  yet  living,  Marian  and  Annie,  the  latter  being  the  wife 
of  Judge  Frank  M.  Annis  of  Aurora.  Mr.  Holden  has  two  sons,  Frank  Howell 
and  Ben  Edwin.  These  sons  after  completing  their  preliminary  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Aurora,  attended  and  graduated  from  the  Chicago  Man- 
ual Training  School,  and  for  three  suceeding  years  pursued  their  studies  in 
the  Institute  of  Technology  in  Boston.  A  little  later  they  went  abroad,  and  for 
three  years  perfected  their  education  at  the  E'cole  des  Beaux  arts  in  Paris, 
France,  in  the  art  of  Architecture.  Ben  E.  remained  in  Paris  two  years  longer, 
still  further  rounding  out  and  polishing  his  education.  Frank  H.'is  practicing 
architecture  in  New  York. 

494 


495 


JESSE  HOLDOM. 

Eloquent  advocates,  astute  pleaders  and  learned  lawyers  have  been  pro- 
duced in  every  country  where  the  common  law  has  prevailed.  In  the  legal 
profession  of  Chicago,  which  embraces  many  of  the  most  brilliant  minds  of  the 
nation,  it  is  difficult  to  win  a  name  and  a  place  of  prominence,  but  Judge  Jesse 
Holdom,  who  stands  today  as  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Chicago 
Bench,  has  won  this  most  enviable  position.  He  was  born  in  London,  Eng- 
land, August  23,  1851,  and  in  tracing  back  his  family  tree  it  is  found  that  his 
ancestors  were  Huguenots  who  fled  from  France  on  the  eve  of  the  massacre  of 
St.  Bartholomew.  They  settled  in  that  part  of  London  called  Spitalfields,  in 
the  year  1572,  and  from  that  time  until  the  birth  of  our  subject,  a  period  of 
nearly  three  hundred  years,  the  Holdoms  were  all  born  in  the  same  parish  and 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  place  where  their  ancestors  originally  settled. 

Judge  Jesse  Holdom  secured  an  academic  education  in  the  city  of  his  birth 
and  in  1868,  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  came  to  America.  He  located  in 
Chicago  in  July  of  that  year  and  since  that  time  he  has  made  the  second  city  in 
the  United  States  his  home.  The  legal  profession  soon  occupied  his  atten- 
tion and  he  diligently  applied  himself  to  the  mastery  of  the  underlying  prin- 
ciples of  jurisprudence.  Two  years  later  he  entered  the  office  of  the  late  Judge 
Knickerbocker,  with  whom  he  continued  until  1876,  when  he  accepted  the 
position  of  chief  clerk  in  the  office  of  Tenny,  Flower  &  Ambercrombie.  While 
a  student  in  Judge  Knickerbocker's  office  in  1873  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar. 
In  1878  he  became  associated  in  the  practice  of  law  with  a  brother  of  Judge 
Knickerbocker,  under  the  firm  name  of  Knickerbocker  &  Holdom,  and  this 
continued  until  1889,  since  which  time  and  until  his  elevation  to  the  Bench,  he 
was  alone  in  the  practice.  Upon  the  death  of  Judge  Knickerbocker  he  was 
publicly  mentioned  for  the  vacant  probate  judgeship,  and  was  afterwards,  with- 
out any  personal  solicitation,  appointed  by  Governor  Fifer  as  public  guardian, 
and  at  the  November  election  of  1898  he  was  elected  judge  of  the  superior 
court,  which  honored  position  he  is  now  holding.  Thoroughly  versed  in  the 
science  of  jurisprudence  and  equally  at  home  in  every  branch  of  the  law,  his 
presentations  were  able,  logical  and  convincing.  His  arguments  showed  thor- 
ough preparation  and  he  lost  sight  of  no  fact  that  might  advance  his  client's 
interests  and  passed  by  no  available  point  of  attack  in  an  opponent's  argu- 
ment. Perhaps,  however,  his  greatest  reputation  has  been  achieved  in  chan- 
cery and  probate  cases  and  in  litigated  questions  involving  contests  of  wills 
and  titles  to  real  estate.  On  the  bench  his  rulings  are  ever  just,  incisive  and 
incapable  of  misrepresentation.  Judge  Holdom  is  of  a  decided  literary  turn  of 
mind.  He  has  a  large  library  of  rare  and  old  books,  as  well  as  many  de-luxe 
and  limited  editions,  in  which  he  takes  special  delight.  Some  of  his  happiest 
hours  are  spent  among  the  works  of  great  minds,  and  he  is  constantly  adding 
to  his  already  large  stock  of  learning,  being  regarded  as  one  of  the  best-read 
lawyers  in  the  city.  He  also  has  an  extensive  law  library  which  contains  the 
modern  publications  as  well  as  the  older  writers. 

Politically  the  Judge  is  a  Republican  and  in  society  relations  he  is  a 
member  of  the  various  social,  literary  and  law  clubs,  including  the  Union 
League,  the  Hamilton,  Caxton,  Kenwood,  Midlothian,  Country  and  Law  Clubs 
of  Chicago,  and  of  the  Chicago,  Illinois  State  and  American  Bar  Associations. 
He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  State  Bar  Associa- 
tion for  three  years  past  and  is  now  its  First  Vice  President.  In  religion  he  is 
an  Episcopalian  and  a  vestryman  at  Trinity  Episcopal  Church,  Chicago.  Judge 
Holdom  is  of  domestic  habits ;  he  is  happy  in  the  society  of  his  family,  consist- 
ing of  a  wife  of  charming  personality  and  intellectual  tastes,  two  young  lady 
daughters  and  a  son,  Courtland  Holdom. 


496 


497 


PERRY  A.  HULL. 

The  well  known  lawyer  and  Master  in  Chancery,  Perry  A.  Hull,  is  one  of 
the  most  prominent  men  at  the  Chicago  Bar  because  of  his  legal  attainments 
and  for  his  ability  as  an  active  practitioner.  He  has  long  been  known  as  a 
successful  trial  lawyer  and  an  able  counsellor.  He  was  born  at  Williamsfield, 
Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  December  22nd,  1850,  the  son  of  William  M.  and 
Samantha  C.  (Dodge)  Hull.  He  lived  and  worked  on  a  farm  and  attended  the 
common  schools  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  then  entered  Kingsville  Academy 
where  he  remained  two  years  and  finished  his  preparatory  course.  He  then 
entered  Hillsdale  College,  Michigan,  and  remained  a  year  and  a  half,  during  and 
following  which  time  he  read  law  for  a  considerable  period  with  Col.  R.  W. 
Ricaby,  then  prosecuting  attorney  for  Hillsdale  County.  Mr.  Hull  removed  to 
Chicago  in  1871,  and  continued  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
the  same  year.  In  January,  1872,  he  began  the  practice  of  law  and  since  that 
time  he  has  devoted  himself  exclusively  to  tlie  development  of  his  extensive 
practice  and  soon  gained  prominence  as  an  exceptionally  successful  trial  lawyer. 
In  1894,  he  was  appointed  Master  in  Chancery  for  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook 
County,  a  position  which  he  still  holds.  Since  then  some  of  the  most  import- 
ant litigation  that  has  occurred  in  Cook  County  has  been  carried  on  before 
him,  notably  the  foreclosure  of  the  South  Side  Alley  "L"  Road  which  termi- 
nated by  his  selling  the  property  for  $4,100,000. 

Mr.  Hull  has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  Republican  politics,  although  he 
has  been  a  candidate  for  elective  office  only  once.  He  was  nominated  by  ac- 
clamation for  State  Senator  in  1892  in  what  was  then  the  Second  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict, but,  notwithstanding  he  led  all  the  candidates  on  the  Republican  ticket  in 
that  district,  he  suffered  defeat  by  955  votes  in  a  total  of  over  70,000.  As  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Republican  Cook  County  Central  Committee,  Mr.  Hull  drafted  the  first 
Constitution  and  by-laws  under  which  the  party  perfected  a  systematic  organ- 
ization in  the  County,  and  he  is  to-day  the  oldest  member  of  this  influential 
body,  having  been  the  first  elected  in  1887. 

Mr.  Hull  has  become  well  known  in  financial  and  business  circles  through- 
out the  country  for  his  tact  and.  ability  in  handling,  promoting  and  developing 
large  business  interests,  and  his  following  and  clientage  in  this  regard  have 
made  him  one  of  the  leading  public  characters  of  Chicago.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  promoting  the  General  Electric  Railway  Company  for  which,  in 
1896-97,  he  secured  valuable  ordinances  from  the  City  of  Chicago  for  the 
operation  of  a  system  of  Street  Railways  over  a  large  portion  of  the  South  Side. 
This  enterprise  was  the  object  of  some  of  the  most  vicious  attacks  from  com- 
peting interests  and  as  a  consequence  was  involved  in  most  serious  litigation 
relative  to  its  stock  and  franchises.  All  this  litigation,  including  more  than  40 
suits,  were  conducted  under  Mr.  Hull's  personal  direction,  without  the  loss  of 
a  single  suit,  until  June,  1898,  when,  having  established  the  validity  of  the 
Company's  franchises,  the  Eastern  capitalists  whom  he  represented  disposed  of 
their  interests  at  a  large  profit.  The  conservative  management  of  this  enter- 
prise and  the  successful  termination  of  this  widely  renowned  litigation  well 
demonstrated  the  skill  and  ability  of  Mr.  Hull  as  an  eminent  lawyer  and  a 
practical  business  manager  and  promoter.  Among  other  enterprises  which 
secured  their  franchises  through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  Hull  was  the  Illinois  Tele- 
phone and  Telegraph  Company  which,  in  February,  1899,  secured  a  franchise 
to  construct  and  operate  a  telephone  system  in  Chicago,  and  which  is  now  con- 
structing its  tunnel  and  conduits  under  the  streets  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Hull's  wife,  Ella  G.  Hull,  is  one  of  the  prominent  public  spirited  women 
of  Chicago,  especially  in  movements  of  a  charitable  and  educational  nature. 
She  has  always  been  a  friend  of  the  teacher  in  the  public  schools  and  while 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  secured,  by  means  of  an  Act  passed  at  the 
special  session  of  the  Legislature  in  1897,  an  increase  in  the  salaries  of  all  the 
grade  teachers  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Hull  has  three  daughters :  Nellie,  the  wife  of 
Samuel  H.  Trude ;  May  Louise  and  Maybell ;  and  one  son,  Perry  A.  Hull,  Jr., 
who  is  the  youngest  child. 

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EDWARD  SWIFT  ISHAM. 

Edward  Swift  Isham,  the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  I  sham,  Lincoln 
&  Beale,  was  born  at  Bennington,  Vt.,  January  15,  1836.  His  parents  were 
Pierrepont  Isham,  one  of  Vermont's  most  distinguished  jurists  and,  for  a  con- 
siderable period,  a  member  of  its  Supreme  Court,  and  Semanthe  (Swift)  Isham. 
In  his  early  youth  he  spent  several  years  in  South  Carolina,  but  he  prepared 
for  college  at  the  Lawrence  Academy,  in  Groton,  Mass.,  and  subsequently 
entered  Williams  College  in  1853,  from  which  he  received  his  degree  in  1857. 
During  his  collegiate  course  he  was  a  member  of  Gil  Psi  Society  and,  after- 
wards, of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  and  later  he  received  from  his  Alma  Mater  the 
degrees  of  Master  of  Arts  and  Doctor  of  Laws.  After  a  period  in  the  law 
school  at  Harvard  and  continued  study  in  his  father's  office,  he  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  Rutland,  Vt.,  in  1858,  and'in  October  of  the  same  year  he  came  to 
Chicago,  where  in  the  next  year  he  entered  into  a  partnership  with  James  L. 
Stark,  an  old  Vermont  acquaintance,  with  whom  he  continued  in  practice  until 
1863. 

Always  a  warm  supporter  of  the  Union,  Mr.  Isham  was  elected  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  Twenty-fourth  General  Assembly  (1864-1866),  and  took  an 
active  part  in  legislative  matters,  serving  as  a  member  of  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee.In  1865  he  went  to  Europe,  spending  some  two  years  in  travel  and 
study.  The  partnership  with  Robert  T.  Lincoln,  under  the  name  of  Isham  & 
Lincoln,  which  began  in  1872  immediately  after  the  Chicago  fire,  has  con- 
tinued, the  firm  being  subsequently  increased  by  the  addition  of  William  G. 
Beale,  and  more  recently  of  Gilbert  E.  Porter. 

Politically  he  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  during  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  he  aggressively  espoused  the  Federal  cause,  more  particularly 
in  support  of  the  Constitution.  Through  his  many  public  addresses  will  be 
found  the  constant  assertion  that  the  national  character  of  the  Union  and  of 
the  Constitution  must  be  .upheld,  irrespective  of  the  maintenance  or  abolition 
of  slavery.  Such  also  has  uniformly  been  his  attitude  in  all  his  cases  in  which 
the  effect  and  meaning  of  the  clauses  of  the  Constitution  have  been  drawn 
into  dispute.  Owing  to  his  familiaritv  with  questions  of  this  character  and  his 
established  reputation  as  a  jurist,  he  was  prominently  mentioned  to  fill  the 
vacancy  upon  the  Federal  Supreme  bench  in  1881,  at  the  close  of  President 
Hayes'  administration.  His  general  attitude  as  a  Republican  is  clearly  indi- 
cated in  an  interview  published  in  the  Chicago  Tribune  of  October  7,  1892, 
when  the  Democratic  press  was  claiming  that  the  intellectual  men  of  the 
country,  and  those  of  character  and  virtue,  were  drifting  into  that  party.  The 
Tribune,  in  an  editorial  article,  quoting  a  part  of  that  interview,  said:  "While 
moralizing  over  the  conduct  of  some  of  these  queer  creatures  who  are  too 
good  to  be  Republicans  and  yet  find  nothing  repulsive  in  the  Tammany  De- 
mocracy and  secession  South,  Mr.  Edward  Isham  says:  T  should  think  it 
would  be  an  uncomfortable  situation  to  be  in  alliance  with  the  Solid  South  and 
Tammany  Hall.  The  Solid  South  is  supporting  the  violent  destruction  of 
civil  rights  and  unqualified  fraud  upon  the  laws  of  political  representation. 
Tammany  is  an  organization  administered  for  the  single  purpose  of  perverting 
in  New  York  the  uses  of  the  machinery  of  civil  government.  There  is  no 
association  in  the  Republican  camp  so  disagreeable  to  the  moral  sense  as  all 
this  as  it  seems  to  me.'  " 

As  a  lawyer  and  counsellor  Mr.  Isham  ranks  among  the  foremost  of  the 
country,  his  practice  having  been  of  the  highest  and  most  responsible  charac- 
ter. His  attention  has  been  particularly  directed  towards  questions  involving 
corporate  and  fiduciary  relations,  and  his  success  in  the  management  of  such 
affairs  is  attested  by  his  command  of  a  volume  of  business  limited  only  by  his 
own  inclinations.  The  following  cases,  many  of  which  are  leading  cases,  viz., 
Kingsbury  v.  Buckner,  70  111.  514;  Newberry  v.  Blatchford,  99  111.  n;  100  111. 
684;  106  111.  584;  Brine  v.  Insurance  Co.,  96  U.  S.  627;  Connecticut  Mutual 

500 


501 


Life  Insurance  Co.  v.  Cushman,  108  U.  S.  51 ;  Pickard  v.  Pullman  Southern 
Car  Co.,  117  U.  S.  34;  Tennessee  v.  Same,  117  U.  S.  51;  Union  Trust  Co.  v. 
Illinois  Midland  Ry.  Co.,  117  U.  S.  434;  Pullman^s  Palace  Car  Co.  v.  Central 
Transportation  Co.,  139  U.  S.,  62;  171  U.  S.  138;  Same  v.  Pennsylvania,  141  U. 
S.  18;  Insurance  Company  v.  Hillmon,  145  U.  S.  285;  are  sufficient  illustrations 
of  the  character  of  his  practice.  One  familiar  with  his  methods  of  work  would 
unhesitatingly  attribute  his  professional  success  to  his  hard  labor  and  careful 
preparation  in  anticipation  of  his  adversary's  moves.  To  his  rare  legal  acu- 
men he  has  added  a  store  of  knowledge  acquired  from  extensive  traveling  and 
reading,  and  these  qualities  in  a  man  as  devoted  to  his  profession  as  Mr. 
Isham  is,  must  necessarily  lead  to  the  highest  results. 

In  1861  he  married  Miss  Fannie  Burch,  of  Little  Falls,  Herkimer  County, 
N.  Y.,  and  has  living  two  daughters  and  two  sons.  His  residence  is  on  Tower 
Court,  Chicago,  and  at  his  country  home,  "Ormsby  Hill,"  at  Manchester,  Vt. 


HARVEY  C.  JOHNS. 

Harvey  C.  Johns  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  June  20,  1819,  and 
died  in  Decatur,  Illinois,  on  the  22nd  day  of  April,  1900.  He  became  a  physician, 
and  was  in  active  practice  in  Circleville,  Ohio,  during  his  early  manhood,  but 
on  account  of  failing  health  he  removed  with"  his  family  to  Piatt  County,  111.,  in 
1849,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising  on  a  large  scale.  His  home 
was  headquarters  for  the  cattle  buyers  of  that  time,  and  soon  became  a  center 
of  political  activity.  His  interest  in  cattle  prompted  him  to  introduce  the 
shorthorn  Durham  cattle  in  Central  Illinois,  and  afterwards  the  Devons.  Both 
his  herds  were  famous  for  their  high  quality  ancl  did  much  to  improve  the  con- 
dition and  quality  of  live  stock  in  Central  Illinois.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  Illinois  State  Agricultural  Society,  being  one  of  its  first  Vice- 
Presidents,  and  its  second  chief  officer.  He  continued  for  many  years  as  one 
of  its  officers  and  advisers.  He  was  selected  as  one  of  the  Commissioners- 
from  the  State  of  Illinois  to  purchase  animals  in  Europe  to  be  brought 
to  Illinois  for  the  improvement  of  its  animal  industries.  So  successful 
were  the  Commissioners  in  the  selection  made  by  them  that  when  the 
animals  were  sold  at  auction  in  Springfield  the  State  made  a  handsome  profit 
upon  the  investment,  and  the  people  at  large  were  greatly  benefited  by  the  in- 
troduction of  highly  and  strongly  bred  animals  of  famous  English  families. 
He  was  also  appointed  a  Commissioner  for  Illinois  to  investigate  and  report 
upon  the  Texas  cattle  disease,  and  made  many  recommendations  for  the  sup- 
pression of  that  plague,  which  being  adopted,  led  to  its  entire  suppression  in 
the  State. 

He  was  an  anti-slavery  Whig  in  his  political  convictions,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  which  finally  elected  Lyman  Trumbull 
United  States  Senator.  In  that  legislature  he  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln  for 
Senator,  and  it  was  through  information  gained  by  him  that  the  plans  of  the 
Democrats  to  elect  Matteson  were  frustrated  and  caused  many  adherents  of 
Abraham  Lincoln,  at  the  request  of  Lincoln,  to  vote  for  Trumbull  and  accom- 
plished his  election.  He  was  a  leading  Republican  in  Central  Illinois;  was1 
present  in  all  the  councils  in  the  early  days  and  a  delegate  to  the  famous  and 
historical  convention  at  Bloomington.  As  a  delegate  to  the  first  National 
Convention  in  Philadelphia,  he  nominated  Mr.  Lincoln  for  Vice-President,  and 
was  in  1860  one  of  the  active  managers  of  the  campaign  which  led  to  the  nom- 
ination and  election  of  Lincoln  as  President  of  the  United  States. 

When  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  commenced,  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
raising  of  regiments  for  the  service  and  securing  their  acceptance  by  the  gov- 
ernment, but  immediately  after  the  battle  at  Fort  Donelson  he  went,  at  the  re- 
quest of  Governor  Yates,  to  take  care  of  the  wounded  soldiers  from  Illinois, 
and  had  complete  charge  of  their  removal  to  the  hospitals.  Surgeons  were  in 
demand  in  those  days,  and  again  at  the  request  of  the  Governor,  he  acted  as 

502 


503 


surgeon  of  a  regiment  until  some  other  one  could  be  procured.  He  finally 
accepted,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Lincoln,  the  office  of  Surgeon  of  the  129111 
Regiment  of  Illinois  Infantry,  and  after  long  service  resigned  because  of  bad 
health. 

His  early  political  associations  made  him  the  friend  and  confident  of  the 
early  leaders  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois.  Lincoln,  Lovejoy,  Yates, 
DuBois,  Trumbull,  Davis,  Oglesby,  Palmer,  and  Logan  after  the  war,  were 
frequently  his  guests.  Never  an  office  seeker,  his  efforts  were  always  for  his 
friends,  and  all  those  friends  were  trusted  and  beloved  by  the  people. 


ALFRED  HANLEY  JONES. 

Hon.  Alfred  H.  Jones,  of  Robinson,  111.,  is  a  native  of  Illinois ;  he  was  born 
July  4,  1850,  at  Flat  Rock,  Crawford  County;  his  grandfather,  Aaron  Jones,  was 
a  native  of  Wales ;  he  married  Mary  Shepard,  a  native  of  Scotland ;  emigrating 
to  America,  they  settled  in  A'irginia,  where  they  reared  a  family.  Their  son, 
John  M.  Jones,  removed  to  Kentucky,  where  in  good  time  he  married  Elizabeth 
Ford.  Her  father,  John  Ford,  was  a  native  of  England,  and  his  wife,  Hopy 
Highsmith,  was  a  native  of  Holland.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  emigrated  to  Illinois 
and  settled  in  Crawford  County ;  they  were  industrious  and  thrifty  farmers ; 
their  son,  John  H.  Jones,  was  born  and  brought  up  on  the  farm ;  he  was  taught 
to  work  and  learned  the  art  of  farming.  His  parents,  anxious  to  afford  their 
son  every  opportunity  to  get  ahead  in  the  world,  sent  him  to  the  neighboring 
schools  until  he  was  fitted  for  college  ;  he  entered  Westfield  College  of  Clark 
County,  111.,  and  studied  there  two  years.  He  completed  his  education  at  the 
National  Normal  School  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  from  which  institution  he  graduated* 
with  honor  in  18/0. 

In  1871  Mr.  Jones  concluded  to  try  his  fortune  in  the  West;  he  visited 
Kansas  and  remained  there  a  year,  but  came  to  the  conclusion  that  Kansas  was 
no  improvement  on  Illinois  in  opportunities  for  a  young  man,  and  so  he  returned 
to  his  native  home  and  settled  in  the  town  of  Robinson.  He  began  the  study 
of  law,  and  on  June  14,  1875,  was  admitted  to  the  bar;  he  was  at  once  elected 
City  Attorney  of  Robinson,  and  in  1876  was  appointed  States  Attorney  to  fill  out 
the  unexpired  term  of  G.  S.  Alexander,  Esq.  Mr.  Jones,  now  only  26  years 
of  age,  and  but  just  entering  upon  the  practice  of  law,  took  up  the  duties  of  his 
office  with  confidence  and  performed  them  with  entire  satisfaction  to  the  court 
and  to  the  public.  He  rose  rapidly  in  his  profession ;  his  close  attention  to 
business,  and  his  successful  management  of  cases  before  judge  and  jury  soon 
brought  him  a  large  clientage.  He  has  a  general  practice  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  jurisprudence,  and  now  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  attorneys  practicing 
at  the  Illinois  bar. 

In  politics  Mr.  Jones  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  he  identified  himself 
with  the  party  when  a  young  man  and  is  a  prominent  factor  in  party  politics  in 
his  part  of  the  State.  He  has  given  the  cause  of  education  his  earnest  support ; 
he  served  fifteen  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  at  his  place,  and 
was  appointed  a  Trustee  of  the  Eastern  Illinois  State  Normal  School  at  Charles- 
ton, 111.,  and  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  Board.  He  served  ten  years  as  a 
member  of  the  town  Council  of  Robinson,  and  showed  himself  to  be  a  pro- 
gressive and  public  spirited  member. 

In  1886  Mr.  Jones  was  nominated  as  the  Republican  candidate  for  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Illinois,  and  was  elected.  He  represented  his  District  with 
ability;  his  services  as  a  legislator  added  materially  to  his  already  well  estab- 
lished reputation  and  increased  his  acquaintance  and  popularity  throughout  the 
State-  For  twenty  years  Mr.  Jones  has  been  a  member  of  the  Republican  Coun- 
ty Central  Committee  of  Crawford  County,  and  for  six  years  a  member  of  the 
State  Central  Committee.  Mr.  Jones  is  well  informed  on  all  political  issues ; 
he  takes  an  active  part  in  every  political  campaign,  possesses  great  ability  as  an 

504 


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organizer,  and  as  a  political  speaker  is  in  great  demand.  He  is  an  aggressive, 
forceful  and  eloquent  campaign  orator.  He  is  now  Illinois  State  Food  Commis- 
sioner, having  been  appointed  October  16,  1899,  under  the  new  law  creating  this 
office.  He  has  perfected  an  effective  organization  of  the  Bureau,  and  with  the 
aid  of  wisely  selected  assistants  and  inspectors  has  made  it  one  of  the  most 
important  departments  of  the  state.  His  office  and  laboratory  are  at  Nos.  1623- 
1628  Manhattan  Building,  Chicago. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  also  be- 
longs to  several  fraternal  societies,  namely:  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  the  Court  of  Honor,  and  the  Royal  Neighbors. 
Mr.  Jones  was  married  to  Ellen  M.  Thompson,  of  Poolsville,  Ind.,  June  18, 
1872.  Mrs.  Jones  died  in  1874,  leaving  a  son,  Gustavus  Adolphus.  On  No- 
vember 26,  1878,  Mr.  Jones  married  Catherine  A.  Beals,  his  present  wife.  They 
have  had  one  child,  Roscoe,  born  October  3,  1880,  died  October  4,  1883.  Mr- 
Jones  and  his  family  occupy  a  delightful  home  in  Robinson;  they  have  a  wide 
circle  of  friends  and  are  highly  esteemed  socially. 


CLARENCE  PARKE  JOHNSON. 

The  life  of  any  man  is  of  great  benefit  to  the  community  in  which  he  re- 
sides when  all  his  efforts  are  directed  toward  its  advancement,  and  when  he  is 
honest,  upright  and  progressive.  Clarence  Parke  Johnson,  Secretary  of  the 
State  Board  of  Live  Stock  Commissioners  of  Illinois,  is  a  gentleman  who  has 
steadily  grown  in  popularity  since  his  connection  with  the  above  mentioned 
organization,  and  not  only  is  he  widely  known  in  this  connection,  but  is  a 
worthy  and  substantial  citizen  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives.  .  He  was 
born  in  Oskaloosa,  la.,  February  23,  1857,  and  now  resides  in  Springfield,  111. 
His  parents,  William  Lewis  Johnson  and  Anna  M.  (Buffington)  Johnson,  were 
natives  of  the  Buckeye  State,  but  subsequently  moved  to  Iowa  where  the 
father  was  engaged  in  teaching  school.  Still  later,  or  in  1864,  when  the  Civil 
War  was  drawing  to  a  close,  the  parents  moved  to  Sangamon  County,  Illinois, 
and  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county  young  Johnson  received  his  primary 
education. 

Like  many  of  the  foremost  men  of  this  country  he  grew  to  manhood  on 
the  farm  and  there  received  lessons  of  frugality  and  industry  which  have  been 
stepping  stones  to  his  subsequent  prosperous  career.  As  a  boy  he  evinced  a 
great  liking  for  books,  and  all  his  spare  moments  were  spent  in  reading  and 
study.  As  a  result  of  his  industry  and  perseverance  he  began  teaching  at  the 
early  age  of  seventeen,  and  as  he  seemed  to  have  a  special  aptitude  for  tEis 
calling  success  was  assured  him  from  the  start.  Wide-awake  and  up  with  the 
times,  his  unusual  success  attracted  the  attention  of  leaders  in  the  educational 
realm,  and  after  teaching  four  years  in  the  public  schools  of  Sangamon  county 
he  was  made  principal  of  graded  schools  at  Rochester  and  Pleasant  Plain,  in 
Sangamon  county.  After  four  years  of  successful  work  in  that  capacity  he  began 
the  study  of  stenography,  which  he  continued  for  some  time. 

In  the  summer  of  1883  he  assumed  the  position  of  city  editor  of  the  Spring- 
field Evening  Post  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that  position  in  a  capable  and 
most  efficient  manner.  Subsequently  he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  and 
stenographer  to  Governor  John  M.  Hamilton,  but  resigned  that  position  in  the 
fall  of  1884  and  took  the  position  of  city  editor  of  the  Illinois  State  Journal.  In 
the  month  of  August,  1885,  he  was  elected  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Live 
Stock  Commissioners,  which  board  was  created  by  an  act  of  the  general  assem- 
bly, and  went  into  effect  on  the  ist  of  July  of  that  year.  That  position  he  held" 
and  filled  in  an  able  and  most  efficient  manner  until  July,  1893.  His  connection 
with  the  board  was  under  the  administrations  of  Governors  Oglesby  and  Fifer. 
In  his  political  views  Mr.  Johnson  is  an  able  and  staunch  supporter  of  the  Repub- 
lican party,  whose  principles  he  has  always  espoused. 

506 


507 


THOMAS   L.  JOY. 

Success  in  business  carries  with  it  the  natural  inference  that  the  successful 
man  possesses  energy,  intelligence  and  other  attributes  of  men  who  have  risen 
above  their  fellows.  But  energy  and  intelligence  fail  to  make  one  shine  forth 
in  a  social  sphere,  unless  they  are  united  to  an  exceptional  personality.  It  is 
temperament  that  makes  a  man  either  liked  or  disliked.  Thomas  L.  Joy  is  happy 
in  this  respect,  for  his  fine  and  distinctive  personality  is  what  makes  him  what 
he  is,  and  his  friends  are  legion.  He  was  born  in  Equality,  Gallatin  county,  111., 
September  15,  1850,  and  has  always  resided  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
His  father,  Rev.  E.  joy,  was  also  a  native  of  Southern  Illinois,  and  for  over  sixty 
years  preached  the  Gospel  according  to  the  Methodist  doctrine.  His  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Seed,  was  born  in  Ireland,  but  crossed  the  ocean  to  this 
country  when  a  young  girl  of  seventeen,  and  located  in  Lawrencce  county,  111. 

Thomas  L.  Joy  secured  a  good  practical  education  in  his  youth,  and  in 
1873,  when  but  twenty-three  years  old,  was  married  to  Miss  Lizzie  V.  Lock- 
wood,  daughter  of  Willard  Lockwood  of  Mt.  Erie,  Wayne  county,  111.,  and  also 
a  native  of  that  state.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  the  birth  of  one  child,  a 
son,  Verne  E.  Joy,  who  is  now  in  the  Consular  service  in  Germany,  to  which 
place  he  was  appointed  before  he  was  of  age.  In  18^2  Thomas  L.  Joy  and  his 
brother,  Andrew  F.,  established  the  "Carmi  Times/'  the  first  Republican  paper 
ever  published  at  the  county  seat  of  White  county.  At  that  time  Thomas  was 
twenty-two  years  old  and  his  brother  was  not  yet  twenty-one.  For  eleven  years 
that  paper  bore  the  brothers'  names,  but  then  Thomas.  L.  sold  his  interest  to 
his  brother  and  purchased  the  Mt.  Carmel  Republican.  In  the  1880  campaign 
the  firm  established  the  Cairo  News,  a  daily  and  weekly  paper,  which  was  placed 
under  charge  of  Thomas  L.,  but  that  was  closed  December  1st,  and  from  that 
date  to  this  Cairo  has  never  had  a  Republican  daily.  In  the  spring  of  1888 
Mr.  Joy  sold  the  Republican  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  purchased  a  half  interest 
in  the  Centralia  Sentinel,  a  daily  and  weekly,  which  two  years  later  fell  under 
his  entire  control.  This  establishment,  under  his  control,  also  published  Repub- 
lican papers  at  Patoka  and  Odin,  in  the  same  county,  and  an  Independent  papef 
at  Sandoval,  thus  giving  them  five  papers  to  manage.  The  "Cleveland  Blight," 
however,  wiped  out  the  Odin  and  Patoka  papers. 

Mr.  Joy  has  ever  been  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  Republican  party,  but  lie 
has  never  aspired  to  office  nor  has  he  sought  one,  with  the  exception  of  a  little 
appointive  one  in  his  younger  days.  The  principles  of  this  party  are  the  only 
religion  Mr.  Joy  has,  while  its  platform  is  his  Bible.  A  man  of  strong  convic- 
tions, he  is  always  and  ever  ready  to  work  for  the  best  interests  of  the  party, 
though  he  has  never  tried  any  speech  making,  that  not  being  in  his  line.  He 
has  a  large  state  acquaintance,  as  is  but  natural  with  one  wearing  the  harness 
so  long.  Time  and  again  has  he  been  a  delegate  to  State  and  other  conventions 
of  his  party,  and  in  these  conventions  he  has  represented  all  the  counties  in 
which  he  has  resided.  His  son  Verne  E.  has  also  done  a  great  deal  of  writing, 
and  is  considered  a  prominent  politician  for  one  of  his  years.  Like  his  father 
he  is  happiest  when  in  a  Republican  gathering,  and  he  will,  on  his  return  from 
Germany,  enter  with  his  father  in  the  publication  of  the  Sentinel. 


508 


509 


HOWARD  J.  HAMLIN. 

Howard  J.  Hamlin  is  a  native  of  the  State  of  New  York,  was  born  July  13, 
1850,  in  St.  Lawrence  County.  His  parents  gave  him  every  opportunity  for 
acquiring  an  education;  after  attending  the  district  schools  he  was  placed  at 
the  Lawrenceville  Academy.  He  finished  his  education  at  the  State  Normal 
University  at  Potsdam,  New  York.  Mr.  Hamlin  came  to  Illinois  in  1870,  and 
for  a  time  engaged  in  teaching;  he  was  employed  for  some  time  in  the  public 
schools  of  Shelby  and  Moultrie  Counties,  and  was  Superintendent  of  the  Public 
Schools  at  Windsor,  111.  It  was  never  his  intention  to  make  teaching  his  per- 
manent calling,  this  occupation,  however,  gave  him  the  opportunity  to  study, 
which  he  diligently  availed  himself  of.  He  entered  the  law  office  of  Judge 
Anthony  Thornton,  and  George  R.  Wendling,  two  of  the  ablest  and  most  prom- 
inent lawyers  in  the  Central  part  of  the  State,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  law 
by  the  Supreme  Court  in  June,  1875.  Mr.  Hamlin  was  at  once  admitted  to  the 
partnership  of  his  preceptors  under  the  firm  name  of  Thornton,  Wendling  and 
Hamlin;  this  partnership  continued  for  some  time,  but  finally  Mr.  Wendling 
retired  to  enter  the  lecture  field.  Judge  Thornton  and  Mr.  Hamlin  continued 
their  partnership  and  had  a  large,  important  and  successful  practice.  Upon 
the  removal  of  Judge  Thornton  to  Decatur,  Mr.  Hamlin  associated  Mr.  Kelley 
with  him  in  the  practice  of  law. 

Mr.  Hamlin  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  lawyers  in  the  State,  his  prac- 
tice extends  into  many  Counties,  including  the  Courts  of  Chicago,  he  has  ap- 
peared in  many  noted  cases,  his  preparation  and  trial  of  a  case  have  marked  him 
as  a  most  competent  and  successful  lawyer.  While  he  has  been  devoted  to  his 
profession,  he  has  not  forgotten  nor  neglected  his  duties  as  a  citizen.  He  be- 
lieves that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  man  to  identify  himself  with  the  political  party 
of  his  choice,  to  have  a  reason  for  the  faith  that  is  in  him,  he  believes  that  party 
organization  is  essential  to  good  goverment  under  our  system,  as  the  only 
means  through  which  a  man  can  give  effective  expression  to  his  political  opin- 
ions, and  having  an  admiration  for  the  principles  and  achievements  of  the  Re- 
publican party,  he  has  at  all  times  been  found  working  effectively  for  its  suc- 
cess. Mr.  Hamlin  has  served  on  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee 
for  several  years.  He  was  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  in  1896  that 
nominated  William  McKinley  for  President. 

In  1898  Mr.  Hamlin  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  State  Convention, 
and  was  chosen  to  preside  over  its  deliberations.  The  occasion  was  one  of 
great  importance,  the  Republicans  of  Illinois  were  to  give  voice  to  their  senti- 
ments upon  the  questions  growing  out  of  the  Spanish  war.  Mr.  Hamlin 
delivered  a  great  speech  to  the  Convention ;  he  drew  a  graphic  picture  of  the 
beneficial  results  growing  out  of  the  election  of  a  Republican  President  and 
Congress,  how  confidence  was  immediately  restored,  and  how  the  Dingly  Bill 
awoke  prostrate  industries  to  a  newness  of  life,  and  stimulated  our  foreign 
trade.  He  exposed  the  incompetency  of  Governor  Altgeld's  administration 
as  compared  with  the  business  methods  of  his  Republican  successor,  Governor 
Tanner.  But  the  great  feature  of  the  speech  was  his  allusion  to  the  Spanish 
war ;  he  declared  himself  in  favor  of  a  policy  that  "would  strike  the  last  vestige 
of  Spanish  treachery  and  cruelty  from  the  Western  hemisphere,"  and  that  the 
Stars  and  Stripes  raised  by  Admiral  Dewey  in  the  Philippine  Islands  were  there 
to  stay.  These  sentiments  touched  a  responsive  chord  in  the  hearts  of  the 
Convention,  and  found  a  place  in  the  party  platform.  Mr.  Hamlin  canvassed 
the  i8th  Congressional  District  in  1896;  his  speech  at  Vandalia  upon  the  Free 
Silver  issue  was  held  in  such  esteem  that  it  was  printed  for  general  circulation. 

Mr.  Hamlin  is  recognized  as  a  man  of  sound  political  opinions,  a  safe 
leader  of  the  party,  and  one  of  the  best  campaign  speakers  in  the  State.  In 
1900  he  was  elected  attorney  general. 


510 


EDWARD  P.  KIRBY. 

Edward  P.Kirby,  of  Jacksonville,  111.,  was  born  October  28,  1833,  at  Hadley, 
Will  County,  111.  His  parents,  Rev.  William  Kirby  and  Hannah  McClure  Wol- 
cott,  were  New  England  people  and  identified  with  the  Colonial  History  of  the 
country.  His  first  paternal  ancestor  in  this  country  having  come  from  England 
in  1631,  and  his  first  maternal  ancestor  in  this  country  having  also  come  from 
England  in  1630.  Rev.  William,  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  and  Divinity^School, 
came  to  Jacksonville  in  1830  as  one  of  the  founders  and  teachers  in  Illinois  Col- 
lege, expecting  to  make  education  his  life  work,  but  ill  health  compelled  him  to 
forego  his  cherished  plan  and  he  engaged  in  tne  work  of  the  ministry,  his  first 
pastorate  being  at  Hadley  and  vicinity,  a  neighborhood  first  settled  by  people 
from  the  vicinity  of  Hadley,  Mass.  Before  leaving  Jacksonville  he  had  met  and 
married  Hannah  McClure  Wolcott,  who  with  her  father's  family  had  moved  to 
Jacksonville  from  East  Windsor,  Conn.,  in  1830.  Rev.  William  Kirby  died  in 
1852,  leaving  a  widow  and  six  children,  of  whom  Edward  was  the  oldest.  He 
was  then  prosecuting  his  studies  in  Illinois  College,  which  he  continued,  graduat- 
ing in  June,  1854. 

Unable  to  pursue  any  profession  for  want  of  funds,  Mr.  Kirby,  soon  after 
graduating  from  college^  went  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where  he  taught  a  private 
school  for  three  years,  intending  then  to  begin  the  study  of  his  profession,  but 
decided  to  teach  another  year  as  assistant  of  Newton  Bateman,  then  principal 
of  West  District  School  of  Jacksonville. After  Prof.  Bateman  was  elected  State 
Superintendent  of  Schools  in  Illinois,  Mr.  Kirby  was  appointed  his  successor, 
as  principal  of  the  school,  and  continued  to  teach  there  until  June,  1862.  In 
October,  1862,  he  married  Julia  S.  Duncan,  youngest  daughter  of  Gov.  Joseph 
Duncan,  fifth  Governor  of  Illinois,  and  not  long  afterward  began  the  study  of 
law  in  the  law-office  of  Morrison  &  Epler  (Isaac  L.  Morrison  and  Cyrus  Epler), 
.and  in  February,  1864,  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  opened  an  office,  and  has  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  his  profession  from  that  day  to  the  present  time.  Mrs. 
Kirby  died  in  the  summer  of  1896  and  in  the  fall  of  1898,  Mr.  Kirby  was  married 
to  Lucinda  Gallaher,  daughter  of  Rev.  Wm.  G.  Gallaher,  a  pioneer  Presbyterian 
clergyman. 

In  1860,  Mr.  Kirby  cast  his  first  vote  for  the  Republican  party  (in  1856,  he 
resided  in  Missouri,  where  there  was  no  Republican  Electoral  ticket),  and  has 
continued  to  act  with  that  party  ever  since.  In  1864,  he  took  an  active  part  in 
the  National  Campaign,  serving  as  Chairman  of  the  Republican  Club,  and  as* 
Secretary  of  the  County  Central  Committee.  He  had  previously  been  one  of 
the  charter  members  of  the  Union  League,  being  present  at  its  organization  in 
Bloomingtoh"  TIL,  and  a  delegate  to  the  National  Convention  of  Union  Leagues 
held  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  In  1873,  he  was  elected  County  Judge  of  Morgan 
County,  and  in  1877  re-elected  to  the  same  office.  After  his  election  as  County 
Judge,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  William  Brown  and  Robert  D.  Russell, 
which  continued  until  the  removal  of  the  latter  to  Minneapolis,  where  he  after- 
wards was  elected  Judge  of  the  District  Court.  The  partnership  of  Brown  & 
Kirby  was  continued  until  the  former  became  General  Solicitor  of  the  Chicago 
&  Alton  Railroad  Company. 

In  1890,  Mr.  Kirby  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  and  was  then 
honored  by  an  appointment  on  several  important  committees,  the  most  impor- 
tant, perhaps,  being  the  Committee  on  Elections,  which  framed  the  Australian 
ballot  laws  of  the  State.  In  1871,  Mr.  Kirby  was  elected  Trustee  of  the  Illinois 
College,  and  still  continues  to  serve  his  Alma  Mater  in  that  capacity.  Soon 
after  his  election  as  Trustee  of  the  college,  he  was  appointed  its  Treasurer,  ari 
office  which  he  held  for  twenty-four  years,  when  his  resignation,  often  offered, 
was  finally  accepted.  Mr.  Kirby  also  served  for  many  years  as  Secretary  and 
Treasuer  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Central  Hospital  for  the  Insane.  He  was 
appointed  one  of  the  Trustees  of  that  institution  by  Governor  Cullom  and  re- 
appointed  by  Governors  Oglesby  and  Fifer,  but  resigned  the  office  at  the  request 
•of  Governor  Altgeld  soon  after  the  latter  was  installed  as  Governor  of  Illinois.' 

511 


SPENCER  S.  KIMBELL. 

Spencer  S.  Kimbell  is  one  of  Chicago's  typical  business  men,  who,  starting 
at  the  foot  of  the  ladder,  has  by  intelligence,  industry  and  enterprise  established 
himself  as  one  of  the  most  successful  men  in  his  line  of  business  in  the  city. 
Mr.  Kimbell  was  born  on  his  father's  farm  in  Cook  County,  111.,  October  8,  1842, 
in  what  was  then  known  as  Jefferson  Township,  now  the  2/th  Ward  of  the  City. 
His  home  is  at  1527  Kimbell  Ave.,  within  forty  rods  of  where  he  was  born. 
His  parents  were  Martin  N.  Kimbell  and  Sarah  A.  Kimbell.  They  settled  on 
their  farm  in  1836.  Young  Kimbell  worked  on  his  father's  farm  until  he  was 
sixteen  years  old.  He  was  educated  at  the  district  schools,  and  graduated  from 
Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  in  1860.  When  sixteen  years  ot  age  he 
was  employed  as  weigh  boy  by  Singer  &  Talcott,  stone  dealers.  He  remained 
with  them  twenty-one  years. 

On  August  6,  1862,  Mr.  Kimbell,  then  not  quite  twenty  years  of  age,  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Battery  "A,"  Chicago  Light  Artillery.  He  was  soon  promoted 
to  the  office  of  first  Sergeant,  and  afterwards  commissioned  as  second  Lieutenant 
of  the  Battery.  He  became  thoroughly  familiar  with  the  Artillery  service,  amf 
followed  the  fortunes  of  his  Battery  during  the  War.  He  was  discharged  from 
the  service  after  the  close  of  the  War,  July  10,  1865,  at  Chicago.  The  next  day 
after  his  discharge  he  reported  for  duty  to  his  old  employers.  Singer  &  Talcott, 
found  his  place  open  for  him,  and  immediately  went  to  work  without  losing  a  day. 
Mr.  Kimbell  gave  diligent  attention  to  the  business  of  the  firm,  rising  from 
one  position  to  another  till  he  became  Treasurer,  and  was  given  charge  of  the 
rough  stone  business  in  Chicago.  He  became  interested  in  the  Company,  and 
prosecuted  its  business  with  success.  In  1874  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  Singer 
&  Talcott  Stone  Company,  and  bought  an  interest  in  the  Elcelsior  Stone  Com- 
pany, and  was  made  General  Manager  and  Treasurer.  After  six  years  of  active 
work  he  sold  out  his  entire  interest  in  the  stone  business.  Mr.  Kimbell  then 
formed  a  partnership  under  the  name  and  style  of  Purington  &  Kimbell,  for  the 
manufacture  of  common  brick.  The  partnership  was  soon  converted  into  the 
incorporated  company  of  Purington-Kimbell  Brick  Co.,  of  which  Mr.  Kimbell 
is  still  a  stockholder.  In  1882  he  engaged  in  the  pressed  brick  business  under 
the  partnership  name  of  Lockwood  &  Kimbell.  Their  business  grew  rapidly  and 
they  soon  found  it  necessary  to  convert  the  partnership  into  an  incorporated 
company,  under  the  style  of  the  Chicago  Hydraulic  Press  Brick  Co.  This  com- 
pany now  manufactures  and  sells  fully  75  per  cent  of  all  the  face  brick  used  in 
Chicago  and  the  surrounding  towns.  Mr.  Kimbell  is  Vice-President  and  Gen- 
eral Manager  of  this  corporation,  with  offices  in  the  Chamber  of  Commerce" 
Building,  Chicago.  The  phenomenal  success  of  the  enterprises  in  which  Mr. 
Kimbell  has  engaged  is  largely  due  to  his  good  judgment,  business  sagacity, 
enterprise  and  energy. 

Mr.  Kimbell  is  a  Republican  in  politics ;  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Abraham 
Lincoln  for  President  in  1864,  and  has  voted  the  straight  Republican  ticket  ever 
since. ~  He  has  taken  deep  interest  in  the  public  schools,  and  was  elected  School 
Director  of  his  District  for  six  successive  years-  He  served  two  years  as 
Trustee  of  the  village  of  Jefferson ;  he  also  served  six  years  as  its  Township 
Treasurer,  and  he  so  ordered  the  business  of  this  office  that  the  teachers  received 
their  salaries  promptly,  on  presentation  of  their  vouchers.  Mr.  Kimbell  has 
been  twice  elected  County  Commissioner  of  Cook  County ;  He  was  also  elected 
Alderman  of  the  27th  Ward  of  Chicago.  In  all  of  these  positions  of  public  trust, 
Mr.  Kimbell  has  been  a  faithful  guardian  of  the  public  interests,  and  has  per- 
formed every  duty  with  intelligence  and  fidelity. 

Mr.  Kimbell  is  a  member  of  Ben  Butler  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  a  Companion 
of  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  also  a  member  of  the 
Union  Veteran  and  Union  League  Clubs.  He  has  been  a  Free  Mason  since 
1868,  is  a  member  of  the  Oriental  Consistory,  a  32d  degree  Mason,  and  a  member 
of  St.  Elmo  Commandery.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Third  L'niversalist  Church. 

Spencer  S.  Kimbell  was  married  September  2,  1865,  to  Isabella  P.  Millard 
of  Arlington  Heights,  Cook  County,  Illinois. 

512 


513 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON  KRETZINGER. 

George  Washington  Kretzinger  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  His  father, 
Rev.  Isaac  Kretzinger,  is  a  clergyman  of  the  United  Brethren  denomination. 
Their  ancestors  came  from  Germany  at  an  early  date,  settling  in  the  state  of 
Virginia.  Young  Kretzinger  was  ambitious  for  an  education.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  and  prepared  himself  for  college.  During  his  first  college  year, 
the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out,  and  young  Kretzinger  left  school,  volun- 
teered as  a  soldier,  and  became  a  member  of  the  famous  Black  Hawk  Cavalry. 
During  the  progress  of  the  war  Mr.  Kretzinger  was  captured  and  paroled,  and, 
while  awaiting  exchange,  he  again  entered  college  and  pursued  his  studies  assidu- 
ously until  the  exchange  was  effected,  when  he  returned  to  his  regiment,  and 
remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  When  discharged  from  the 
service  he  once  more  entered  upon  his  studies  at  college,  and  graduated  with 
high  honors  before  reaching  his  twenty-first  year. 

Mr.  Kretzinger  decided  to  enter  the  legal  profession.  He  secured  the  posi- 
tion as  a  teacher  in  a  classical  school  in  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  taught  for  two 
years,  with  success,  during  which  time  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  law  under  the 
patronage  and  direction  of  Hon.  George  W.  McCreery,  who  afterwards  became 
Secretary  of  War  under  President  Hayes,  and  Judge  of  the  United  States  Circuit 
Court,  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Kretzinger  studied  at  the  office  of  Henry  Strong  for  a 
short  time ;  when  admitted  to  the  bar  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Judge  Han- 
namon,  of  Knoxville,  111.,  which  continued  until  1873.  Mr.  Kretzinger  then 
moved  to  Chicago,  and  formed  a  partnership  with  the  late  John  I.  Bennett ;  later 
on  Albert  H.  Veeder  became  a  member  of  the  firm.  This  partnership  continued 
for  some  time,  when  Mr.  Kretzinger  and  Mr.  Veeder  continued  the  practice  of 
law  together,  but  Mr.  Kretzinger  finally  withdrew  from  the  firm  for  the  purpose 
of  associating  his  brother,  Joseph  T.  Kretzinger,  with  him  in  the  practice  of  law. 

Mr.  Kretzinger  has  made  corporation  and  railroad  law  his  specialty,  and 
he  has  been  identified  with  much  important  litigation  involving  questions  of  this 
kind.  In  1877  he  accepted  the  general  solicitorship  of  the  Chicago  &  Iowa  Rail- 
road ;  also  of  the  Chicago,  Pekin  &  Southwestern  Railroad,  and  the  Chicago 
&  Paducah.  At  the  time  Mr.  Kretzinger  became  general  solicitor  of  the  Chi- 
cago &  Iowa  Railroad  the  company  was  deeply  involved  in  difficulties  whicli 
were  regarded  as  beyond  redress,  but  Mr.  Kretzinger's  masterly  insight  into 
corporation  law  enabled  him  to  place  the  rights  of  his  clients  upon  firm  ground, 
and  it  was  able  to  redeem  itself  from  hopeless  bankruptcy  and  place  its  affairs 
upon  a  sound  foundation.  Mr.  Kretzinger  is  an  able  advocate.  His  oratory  is 
both  convincing  and  eloquent,  and  while  intensely  logical  and  terse,  his  speeches 
are  all  illumined  by  the  images  of  a  brilliant  imagination. 

Mr.  Kretzinger  is  in  the  prime  of  life ;  is  a  splendid  specimen  of  physical 
manhood ;  has  a  tireless  industry ;  and  has  the  respect  of  a  large  and  widening 
circle  of  friends.  At  present  he  is  General  Counsellor  of  the  Monon  Railroad, 
of  the  Diamond  Joe  line  of  steamers,  of  the  Hot  Springs  Ry.  Co.,  and  the  Santa 
Fe,  Prescott  &  Phoenix  Ry.  Co.,  of  Arizona.  This  is  an  important  road,  being 
the  only  north  and  south  road  in  that  territory.  Mr.  Kretzinger  incorporated 
this  company,  is  now,  and  has  been  from  the  beginning,  one  of  its  directors. 

George  W.  Kretzinger  was  married  Aug.  29,  1878,  to  Miss  Clara  J.  Wilson, 
of  Rock  Island,  111.  They  have  one  son,  George  Wilson,  and  a  daughter,  Clara 
Josephine.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kretzinger  have  a  delightful  home,  surrounded  by 
large  and  beautifully  kept  grounds.  Their  children  attend  the  University  of 
Chicago.  Mrs.  Kretzinger  is  a  graduate  of  Vassar  College,  a  woman  of  rare 
intelligence.  She  has  been  a  member  of  the  Austin  Woman's  Club  since  its 
organization,  and  for  two  terms  was  its  president. 


514 


SIS 


MARTIN  B.  MADDEN. 

An  extraordinary  feature  of  this  country  is  tlie  distinction  attained  in  local, 
state  and  national  affairs  by  self-made  men.  It  is  extraordinary  because  in  the 
struggle  for  supremacy  those  who  possess  the  advantages  of  birth  and  inherited 
wealth  would  seem  to  be  the  ones  to  reach  the  highest  prominence.  Neverthe- 
less, whatever  may  be  the  reason  for  it,  the  self-made  man  is  the  one  whom 
success  crowns  with  her  fairest  laurels.  This  distinction  attained  by  self-made 
men  is  a  feature  peculiar  to  this  country,  for,  whether  because  of  climate,  encour- 
agement of  example,  possibilities  of  acquisition,  it  is  certain  that  conditions  here 
are  more  favorable  than  anywhere  else  for  a  man  to  rise  to  the  highest  positions 
socially,  financially  and  politically.  The  men  of  America  who  have  had  the 
greatest  influence  upon  its  history  are  those  who  rose  from  the  ranks  of  the 
humblest.  The  youth  who  is  made  of  the  proper  material  need  not  circumscribe 
his  ambition ;  his  birth  and  beginnings  are  no  bar  to  his  progress.  This  is  the 
glory  of  our  free  country,  and  in  this  particular  the  United  States  stands  out  alone 
among  the  other  nations  of  the  earth. 

A  notable  example  among  the  distinguished  self-made  men  of  Illinois  is 
Martin  B.  Madden  of  Chicago.  His  rise  has  been  steady  and  rapid,  for  he  is 
yet  a  young  man.  Beginning  at  the  humblest  possible  station,  he  has  worked 
his  way  up  to  his  present  prominence  without  influence  and  by  sheer  force  of  his 
own  merit.  Although  not  a  native  of  America,  having  been  born  in  Darlington, 
England,  March  20,  1855,  Mr.  Madden  has  resided  in  the  country  of  his  adoption 
since  1860,  and  his  loyalty  to  it  is  unquestionable.  Commencing  work  at  ten 
years  old,  he  gradually  worked  his  way  up  the  ladder  of  fortune  until  he  is  now 
president  of  the  quarries  in  which  he  first  served  as  water  carrier,  the  stock- 
holders of  the  Western  Stone  Company  having  made  him  their  head,  January 
16,  1895.  A  man  of  many  interests,  in  addition  to  his  connection  with  the  stone 
trade,  Mr.  Madden  is  treasurer  of  the  Cable  Building  and  Loan  Association ;  a 
stockholder  and  director  in  the  Garden  City  Banking  and  Trust  Co.;  a  stock- 
holder in  the  Commercial  Loan  and  Trust  Co.,  and  is  a  stockholder  in  numerous 
other  well-known  enterprises.  He  also  is  an  extensive  owner  of  valuable  real 
estate  throughout  the  city. 

The  history  of  such  a  man  is  not  yet  complete.  What  has  been  done  is  but 
the  outline  of  what  may  be  expected.  Men  of  his  ability  do  not  stand  still.  All 
his  successes,  as  well  as  the  reverses  he  may  have  met  with  now  and  then,  are 
so  many  schoolmasters  which  have  taught  him  knowledge,  experience,  judgment 
and  discretion,  that  promptly  fit  him  for  higher  and  better  stations.  Every 
emergency  has  been  promptly  met  by  him ;  he  has  never  failed  to  seize  all  oppor- 
tunities that  offered  betterment  of  his  condition,  or  enlargement  of  his  sphere 
of  action,  and  no  matter  how  high  the  position  may  be  to  which  he  is  called,  he 
will  fill  it  in  the  same  conscientious  manner  he  has  observed  in  the  past.  In 
this  age  of  bustle,  hurry  and  rapid  development,  it  is  easy  enough  to  pick  up  men 
for  office  who  appear  bright  and  give  promise  of  brilliant  things,  but  the  expe- 
rience of  mankind  is  that  such  promises  too  frequently  fail  of  fruition.  On  the 
other  hand  there  are  good  men  who  accept  places  of  public  trust,  who  do  not 
feel  they  can  afford  to  take  the  time  from  the  management  of  their  own  affairs, 
and  the  result  is  that  they  neglect  altogether  to  perform  their  trusts,  or  what 
they  do  do  is  done  hastily  and  without  any  proper  regard  for  the  rights  of  the 
public.  When  a  man  is  encountered  who  regards  a  public  office  as  sacredly  as 
he  does  his  private  interests,  and  has  withal  the  ability  to  discharge  its  duties 
creditably,  such  an  one  is  entitled  to  the  confidence  and  gratitude  of  the  people. 

Those  who  have  followed  the  career  of  Martin  B.  Madden  of  Chicago 
cannot  fail  to  observe  his  rapid  progress  and  his  steady  gain  upon  public  favor. 
Within  the  past  ten  years  he  has  become  a  very  prominent  factor  in  the  political 
life  of  the  state,  and  numbers  his  friends  by  legions.  Eminently  successful, 

516 


517 


stimulated  by  the  achievements  he  has  won;  thoroughly  equipped  for  every 
possible  condition  or  duty,  it  is  not  possible  he  will  escape  higher  and  more 
important  stations.  The  people  incline  to  successful  men,  believing  them  to  be 
safe  and  desirable  representatives.  One  has  no  need  to  be  a  prophet  to  foresee 
in  Mr.  Madden's  extraordinary  career  the  promise  and  potency  of  a  life  that  will 
be  marked  by  higher  and  greater  successes.  The  light  of  the  future  is  the  lamp 
of  the  past,  and  in  his  case  the  rays  shine  out  clearly  in  the  path  ahead. 


CHARLES  LEYENBERGER. 

Charles  Leyenberger,  of  6159  Lexington  Avenue,  Chicago,  111.,  was  born 
in  Newark,  New  Jersey,  in  1844.  His  father,  Michael  Leyenberger,  was  a  native 
of  Germany,  born  at  Hunchbach,  near  Strasburg,  and  came  to  this  country  when 
twelve  years  of  age.  He  learned  the  trade  of  cabinet  making  and  was  an  indus- 
trious and  well  respected  citizen.  He  married  Margaret  Fix,  also  of  German 
descent,  raised  in  Pennsylvania.  A  branch  of  this  family  lives  in  the  state  of 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Leyenberger  was  a  woman  of  a  most  admirable  character ;  she 
made  a  lasting  and  lovable  impression  upon  her  son  Charles.  His  most  pleasing 
recollection  of  his  youth  is  the  tender  care  and  loving  affection  of  his  mother. 

Charles  Leyenberger  attended  the  public  schools  at  Newark ;  was  a  diligent 
student  and  took  such  an  education  as  became  the  foundation  for  the  knowledge 
acquired  for  a  successful  business  career.  He  was  employed  in  a  lawyer's  office 
for  a  time  and  felt  the  benefit  of  that  association.  He  then  secured  employment 
with  a  life  insurance  company  of  New  York.  He  devoted  his  time  and  attention 
assiduously  to  the  subject  of  life  insurance  and  mastered  the  science.  His  serv- 
ices with  that  corporation  were  so  satisfactory  that,  in  1878,  he  was  sent  to 
Chicago  by  the  Mutual  Benefit  Life  Insurance  company  to  fill  the  position  of 
State  Agent  for  Illinois.  For  twenty  years  Mr.  Leyenberger  conducted  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Mutual  Benefit  Company  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  As  a  result  of 
his  energy,  enterprise  and  strict  attention  to  business,  Mr.  Leyenberger  has 
become  one  of  the  leading  life  insurance  men  of  the  West,  and  he  is  recognized 
as  an  authority  upon  many  of  the  complicated  questions  that  arise  from  time 
to  time  in  connection  with  life  insurance.  Mr.  Leyenberger's  motto  in  life  is 
"Do  it,  and  it  is  done,"  and  in  all  his  business  he  acts  upon  this  principle. 

The  father  and  mother  of  Mr.  Leyenberger  remained  at  their  old  home  in 
Prospect  Street,  Newark,  N.  J.  It  was  always  an  agreeable  thing  for  tfieir  son 
to  pay  them  visits.  His  father  died  some  years  ago,  and  in  January,  1900,  Mr. 
Leyenberger  was  suddenly  called  east  by  the  death  of  his  mother,  who,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-one,  passed  to  her  final  rest.  She  and  her  husband  had  been 
active  members  of  the  Peddie  Memorial  Church ;  her  husband,  before  his  death, 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  German  Baptist  Church  of  Newark.  Mrs.  Leyen- 
berger left  five  children  surviving  her;  her  oldest  son,  Charles  Leyenberger, 
being  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Mr.  Leyenberger  is  a  public  spirited  man  and  contributes  both  time  and 
money  freely  to  the  promotion  of  every  good  work  brought  to  his  attention. 
Being  a  resident  of  Hyde  Park,  and  anxious  that  that  subdivision  of  the  city 
shall  remain  as  one  of  the  most  attractive  residence  districts,  he  has  identified 
himself  with  the  Hyde  Park  Protective  Association,  and  unites  his  efforts  with 
other  prominent  men,  to  suppress  the  unlawful  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors.  Mr. 
Leyenberger,  and  his  family  are  attendants  of  the  Lexington  Avenue  Baptist 
Church. 

Charles  Leyenberger  was  married  at  Newark,  N.  J.,  December  24,  1867,  to 
Alice  Gertrude  Lyon.  They  have  had  six  children,  four  daughters  now  living. 
They  have  also  two  granddaughters.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leyenberger  occupy  a 
delightful  home.  They  are  both  sociable  people,  have  many  friends,  and  their 
house  is  a  center  for  the  frequent  assemblage  of  agreeable  people. 

518 


519 


CICERO  J.  LINDLY. 

The  majority  of  the  men  who  have  legitimately  achieved  success  have  been 
men  of  courage,  honesty  of  purpose,  integrity  and  energy.  The  United  States 
has  given  rare  opportunities  to  men  with  those  characteristics,  and  Cicero  J. 
Lindly,  of  Greenville,  111.,  certainly  possesses  them  in  a  marked  degree.  He  is  at 
present  chairman  of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commission  of  Illinois,  and 
has  conscientiously  and  intelligently  performed  his  duties,  honoring  those  whom 
he  represents,  benefiting  the  public  and  doing  credit  to  himself.  Mr.  Lindly  is 
a  product  of  Illinois,  born  on  a  farm  near  St.  Jacobs,  Madison  county.  December 
n,  1857,  and  the  son  of  John  J.  and  Amanda  Agnes  (Palmer)  Lindly,  also 
natives  of  the  Prairie  State.  His  ancestors  came  to  Madison  county  in  the  early 
years  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  were  among  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  same. 
The  father  was  born  in  Madison  county  and  the  mother  was  born  where  a  portion 
of  Joliet  now  stands.  In  1867  the  father  moved  the  family  from  the  homestead 
near  St.  Jacobs  to  Lebanon,  to  take  advantage  of  McKendree  College  for  his 
children,  and  in  this  excellent  school  Cicero  J.  Lindly  received  a  thorough  and 
practical  education.  He  graduated  in  the  scientific  course  in  1877,  and  from  the 
law  department  two  years  later.  The  same  year  he  passed  an  examination  before 
the  Supreme  Court  at  Mt.  Vernon,  but  not  being  twenty-one  years  old  his  license 
was  withheld.  He  went  to  St.  Louis  with  ex-Governor  Fletcher,  and  at  the 
Court  of  Appeals  in  that  city  was  examined  again,  passed,  and  was  admitted  to 
practice  before  he  was  of  age. 

In  politics  Mr.  Lindly  has  been  unusually  active.  He  has  thoroughly  can- 
vassed the  state  every  campaign  since  1876.  In  1880  he  was  secretary  of  the 
St.  Clair  County  Republican  Convention,  being  prominently  connected  with  the 
Grant  and  anti-Grant  fight  that  year.  In  1884  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  Repub- 
lican State  Convention  at  Peoria,  and  was  Presidential  elector  that  year  on  the 
Elaine  and  Logan  ticket.  In  1886  Mr.  Lindly  was  elected  County  Judge  of 
Bond  County.  Two  years  later  he  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  Republican 
National  Convention  and  represented  Illinois  on  the  Committee  of  Credentials. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  special  committee  that  drafted  the  report  of  the  National 
Convention  on  the  Mahone-Wise  contested  case  from  Virginia.  In  1890  Mr. 
Lindly  was  nominated  for  Congress  in  the  old  i8th  Congressional  District,  and 
largely  reduced  the  Democratic  majority.  Trie  following  year  he  was  the  Repub- 
lican candidate  for  United  States  Senator  and  received  the  entire  vote  of  the 
Republican  party  when  Palmer  was  elected.  For  twenty  years  he  has  been  a 
personal  friend  of  Governor  Tanner.  In  February,  1897,  he  was  appointed 
chairman  of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commission  by  Governor  Tanner,  and 
was  reappointed  to  the  same  position  in  February,  1899.  He  has  the  record  of 
making  more  speeches  than  any  other  man  in  the  state  canvass  of  1896  and 
1898.  He  is  an  orator  of  ability  and  has  a  commanding  physique.  There  is 
scarcely  a  county  in  the  state  in  which  he  has  not  spoken.  He  has  been  a  dele- 
gate to  every  State  Convention  since  1882.  In  1898,  upon  the  death  of  the 
president  of  the  organization  known  as  the  National  Association  of  the  Inter- 
state Commerce  Commission  and  the  Railroad  Commissioners  of  the  various 
states  of  the  United  States,  Judge  Lindly  was  elected  at  Washington,  D.  C,  to 
fill  out  the  unexpired  term  in  May,  '98.  At  the  same  time  and  place  he  was 
elected  to  fill  the  full  term  of  president  of  this  august  body,  and  in  1899,  at  Den- 
ver, he  was  re-elected,  making  three  times  he  was  elecFed  to  that  position,  an 
honor  not  accorded  any  man  in  the  past.  This  is  an  important  and  influential 
body  of  men,  and  his  selection  as  president  of  the  organization  stamps  him  as  a 
man  in  whom  his  fellow  men  recognize  superior  ability  and  intelligence. 

Mr.  Lindly  was  married  to  Miss  Alice  McNeill,  of  Greenville,  111.,  December 
22,  1880.  She  is  the  daughter  of  A.  McNeill,  an  extensive  stock  dealer  and  land 
owner.  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  moved  again  to  the  old  homestead  near  St. 
Jacobs,  where  he  resided  for  two  years.  In  1882  he  purchased  a  section  of  land 
near  Greenville,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

520 


521 


ROBERT  WILSON   McCLAUGHRY. 

The  present  warden  of  the  United  States  Penitentiary,  Fort  Leaven- 
worth,  Kansas,  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  at  Fountain  Green, 
111.,  July  22,  1839,  his  father  being  Matthew  McClaughry,  a  native  of  Kortright, 
X.  Y.,  born  January  3,  1803,  and  dying  in  1879.  He  is  grandson  of  Richard 
McClaughry,  who  came  from  Ireland  to  New  York  in  1765  and  served  as  a 
private  in  a  New  York  -regiment  during  the  Revolution,  assisting  to  capture 
Burgoyne  and  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.  Father  of  subject  was 
a  farmer,  and  mother's  maiden  name  was  Mary  I.  Hume,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Catherine  Hume,  the  latter  a  daughter  of  Hugh  Rose-  Both  branches  of 
the  family  are  of  old  Scotch  and  Scotch-Irish  stock.  It  is  known  that  one 
ancestor  of  the  family  served  in  William's  army  at  the  Battle  of  the  Boyne  and 
that  another  was  a  dragoon  in  the  army  of  Cromwell. 

Robert  W.  McClaughry  was  educated  at  Monmouth  College,  Illinois,  taking 
the  classical  course  and  graduating  in  1860,  having  previously  attended  the 
common  schools  and  passing  his  boyhood  on  his  father's  farm.  After  gradua- 
tion he  was  employed  at  teaching  in  the  college  for  a  year,  having  in  view  a 
professorship  which  had  been  offered  him  by  that  institution.  Failing  health 
caused  him  to  relinquish  his  design.  He  removed  to  Carthage  in  August,  1861, 
and  in  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  A.  J.  Griffith,  bought  the  Carthage 
Republican,  becoming  its  editor  and  conducting  it  as  a  red-hot  Union  sheet. 
On  August  15,  1862,  having  sold  his  interest  in  the  paper,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  what  afterward  became  Company  B,  n8th  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was 
elected  Captain.  Upon  the  organization  of  his  regiment  he  was  elected  Major 
and  was  mustered  in  as  such  in  November,  1862.  He  served  with  the  regiment 
until  May,  1864,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  appointment  of  Additional  Pay- 
master, serving  as  such  until  his  final  muster  out,  on  October  13,  1865. 

While  he  was  in  college  the  country  was  in  the  throes  of  the  struggle 
immediately  preceding  the  Rebellion.  He  espoused  the  cause  of  Douglas,  for 
whom  he  cast  his  first  presidential  vote  in  1860.  Like  Douglas  himself,  he 
reversed  his  views  when  the  Union  was  assailed,  and  first  conducted  the  paper 
as  above  stated  in  the  interests  of  the  Federal  cause  and  later  fought  gallantly 
through  the  remainder  of  the  war  to  sustain  the  Union.  He  did  all  in  his 
power  to  counteract  the  baleful  influence  of  the  copperheads  while  the  war 
continued.  He  first  connected  himself  with  the  Republican  party  in  the  cam- 
paign of  1864,  when  the  question  of  continuing  the  war  was  the  all-absorbing 
topic.  During  a  month's  furlough  he  canvassed  the  State,  advocating  the  re- 
election of  Mr-  Lincoln  and  the  quelling  of  the  Rebellion.  In  November,  1865, 
he  was  elected  Clerk  of  Hancock  County,  holding  the  same  until  December, 
1869.  In  August,  1874,  he  was  called  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  to  the  position  of  Warden  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary,  con- 
tinuing until  December  I,  1888,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  an  invitation  from 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  organize  its  new  State  Reformatory.  On  May  15, 
1891,  he  was  made  Chief  of  Police  of  Chicago  by  Mayor  Washburne,  and  in 
August,  1893,  became  superintendent  of  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory  under 
appointment  of  Governor  Altgeld.  March  I,  1897,  he  again  took  charge  of 
the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at  the  request  of  Governor  Tanner,  but  July  I, 
1899,  assumed  his  present  duties. 

Late  in  the  '6o's  he  became  interested  in  a  large  stone  quarry  on  the  Missis- 
sippi River  in  Hancock  County,  and  furnished  the  stone  for  the  foundation 
and  basement  of  the  present  State  House  at  Springfield ;  for  the  railroad 
bridge  across  the  river  at  Keokuk  and  for  one  of  the  bridges  across 
the  river  at  Quincy.  In  1871  he  organized  the  Ste.  Genevieve  Stone 
Company  at  St.  Louis,  continuing  until  1873,  when  he  sold  out  and  began 
studying  law  with  Hon.  John  J.  Glenn,  having  previously  read  law  to  some 

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extent.  He  served  as  trustee  of  Carthage  College,  Monmouth  College  and 
Knox  College.  He  is  a  member  of  the  G-  A.  R.  and  of  the  Beta  Theta  Pi 
fraternity.  In  1895  he  was  a  delegate  of  the  United  States  and  of  Illinois  to  the 
International  Congress  at  Paris.  His  religious  views  are  Presbyterian.  He 
was  married  June  17,  1862,  to  Elizabeth  C.  Madden,  daughter  of  James  G. 
Madden,  attorney  of  Monmouth.  They  have  five  children — Charles  C.,  now 
warden  of  the  penitentiary  at  Waupun,  Wis. ;  Arthur  C.,  in  charge  of  the  Keeley 
Institute  at  Newark,  N.  J. ;  Matthew  W.,  record  clerk  and  identifying  officer 
with  his  father;  John  G.,  who  served  in  the  Spanish-American  War,  and  Mary 
C.,  who  is  pursuing  musical  studies  in  New  York. 


JONATHAN   MERRIAM. 

Jonathan  Merriam,  of  Armington,  Tazwell  County,  111.,  was  born  Novem- 
ber i,  1834,  in  the  village  of  Passumpsic,  Vt.  The  ancestors  of  the  Merriam 
family  came  from  Hadley,  Kent  County,  England,  in  the  year  1635,  and  settled 
in  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts.  Colonel  Merriam's  grandfather,  Isaac  Mer- 
riam, was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution ;  his  father,  Jonathan  Merriam, 
born  November  5,  1791,  in  Ashburnham,  Mass.,  was  a  soldier  of  the  War  of 
1812,  and  afterward  became  a  Baptist  minister.  He  married  Achsah  Olin,  who 
was  born  July  13,  1795,  at  Leicester,  Vt.  The  elder  Jonathan  Merriam  emi- 
grated from  Vermont  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Springfield,  111.,  but  in  1841  he 
removed  to  Tazwell  County,  settled  a  farm,  purchased  the  land  from  the 
Government,  and  received  a  patent  for  the  same,  signed  by  Martin  Van  Buren, 
President.  Upon  this  land  Mr.  Merriam  erected  a  building,  which  is  now  the 
homestead  of  his  son,  Jonathan.  He  died  October  22,  1846,  leaving  surviving 
him  his  widow  and  two  sons,  Henry  Marcellus,  and  Jonathan,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch;  two  daughters  and  a  son  having  died  when  young.  Mrs.  Merriam 
survived  her  husband  34  years,  dying  at  the  old  homestead,  December  26,  1880, 
in  her  86th  year. 

Colonel  Merriam  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  learned  the  business  of  agri- 
culture. His  early  education  was  begun  in  the  neighborhood  schools.  When 
sufficiently  advanced,  in  his  seventeenth  year,  he  entered  the  Illinois  University, 
paying  his  way  at  school  by  sawing  and  splitting  wood.  He  afterward  entered 
McKendree  College  and  studied  there,  but  did  not  graduate,  being  compelled 
to  leave  college  on  account  of  ill  health.  It  was  the  ambition  of  young  Merriam 
to  become  a  lawyer,  but  after  leaving  school  he  decided  to  engage  in  the  business 
of  farming,  and  although  from  time  to  time  he  has  been  occupied  with  many 
important  public  employments,  he  has  never  given  up  farming,  in  which  occu- 
pation he  has  been  a  leader  in  Tazwell  County. 

In  politics  Colonel  Merriam  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  he  identified 
himself  with  that  party  in  1856,  when  he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  and  voted 
for  Fremont  for  President.  His  father  had  been  a  Whig,  and  had  supported 
Henry  Clay  for  President.  Colonel  Merriam  served  as  School  Director,  as 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  Supervisor.  When  the  Civil  War  fell  upon  the  country 
he  entered  the  military  service,  and  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel  of 
the  U7th  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  in  August,  1862,  and  served  in  that 
capacity  until  the  end  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  August 
5,  1865.  Colonel  Merriam  performed  gallant  and  conspicuous  services  during 
the  war;  his  regiment  was  engaged  in  active  service,  and  participated  in  some 
33  battles  and  skirmishes. 

In  1869  Colonel  Merriam  was  elected  as  a  member  of  the  Constitutional 
Convention,  and  took  an  active  part  in  framing  the  present  State  Constitution. 
In  1873  he  was  appointed  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue  by  President  Grant,  for 
the  8th  Illinois  Revenue  District.  This  appointment  was  made  without  socilita- 
tion  on  his  part.  He  served  as  Collector  until  1882,  when  his  District  was 

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consolidated  with  the  7th  Collection  District,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  office  by 
Collector  James  W.  Hill  of  the  7th  District.  In  1894  Colonel  Merriam  was 
elected  to  represent  the  counties  of  Tazwell  and  Fulton  in  the  39th  General 
Assembly,  and  was  re-elected  to  the  4Oth  General  Assembly.  During  his  service 
in  the  House  of  Representatives  he  supported  Hon.  Shelby  M.  Cullom  for 
United  States  Senator,  and  also  Hon.  William  E.  Mason  for  United  States 
Senator.  The  one  being  elected  by  the  39th  and  the  other  by  the  4Oth  General 
Assembly.  Colonel  Merriam  was  appointed  U.  S.  Pension  Agent  by  President 
McKinley  in  January,  1898,  which  position  he  now  occupies  and  fills  with  entire 
satisfaction  to  the  government  and  the  old  soldiers. 

In  religious  belief,  Colonel  Merriam,  like  his  father  before  him,  is  a  Baptist. 
Colonel  Merriam  has  been  married  twice.  In  1859  ne  married  Betsy  Ann  Bar- 
land,  who  died  June  19,  1861,  leaving  a  daughter.  His  second  marriage  was 
to  Lucy  C.  White,  November  10,  1864.  They  have  a  family  of  six  children, 
three  daughters  and  three  sons.  The  entire  family  of  seven  children  are  now 
living.  Colonel  Merriam  physically  is  a  man  of  large  proportions,  and  obviously 
of  great  strength;  in  height  he  is  6  feet  3  inches  and  weighs  225  pounds.  He 
is  a  man  of  strong  mental  faculties,  of  great  strength  of  purpose,  indomitable 
as  a  worker  and  of  inflexible  integrity. 


THOMAS  M.  LOGAN. 

There  is  little  that  interests  one  more  than  the  career  of  a  man  who,  endowed 
with  energy  and  ambition,  enters  boldly  into  the  struggle  of  life  and  makes  for 
himself  a  high  place  in  the  busy  world.  In  choosing  a  pursuit  or  pursuits,  taste, 
mental  gift,  opportunity  and  disposition  to  labor  should  be  considered.  A  narra- 
tive of  success  in  life  affords  a  lesson  from  which  others  can  profit,  therefore  a 
sketch  of  the  life  of  Thomas  M.  Logan  will  be  proper  in  this  connection.  He 
is  a  native  of  the  Prairie  State,  born  on  a  farm  where  the  town  of  Murphysboro 
now  stands,  in  Jackson  county,  August  i,  1828.  In  him  were  inculcated,  early 
in  life,  the  thrift  and  energy  which  dominated  his  later  efforts.  He  was  one  ol 
a  good  old  fashioned  family  of  nine  children  born  to  John  and  Elizabeth  (Jenkins) 
Logan,  only  one  of  whom  besides  himself  is  now  living.  Six  grew  to  mature 
years.  The  father  was  a  successful  physician,  but  in  connection  with  this  also 
carried  on  farming  and  stock  raising,  with  which  he  also  met  with  a  fair  degree 
of  success.  He  owned  the  land  on  which  the  town  of  Murphysboro  now  stands 
and  donated  it  for  the  town.  Mrs.  Logan  was  a  sister  of  Alexander  M.  Jenkins, 
who  was  at  one  time  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Illinois. 

The  early  life  of  Thomas  M.  Logan  was  passed  in  assisting  his  father  on  the 
farm  and  in  attending  the  common  schools  of  Jackson  county,  where  he  received 
a  good  practical  education.  It  was  but  natural  that  when  he  came  to  man's 
estate  he  should  select  agricultural  pursuits  as  his  chosen  calling,  and  that  he 
should  succeed  as  well  in  this  and  in  stock  raising  as  his  father.  But  these 
arduous  duties  did  not  prevent  him  from  turning  his  attention  to  other  occupa- 
tions, and  for  some  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  telephone,  real  estate  and  hotel 
business.  Mr.  Logan  has  ever  manifested  a  deep  interest  in  political  affairs,  but 
did  not  become  identified  with  the  Republican  party  until  1862.  A  firm  belief 
in  the  principles  of  that  party  led  him  to  place  his  faith  with  it,  and  a  loyal  devo- 
tion to  the  cause  of  the  Union  prompted  him  to  raise  a  company  and  join  the 
3ist  Illinois  regiment  in  1862.  Mr.  Logan  has  been  twice  married,  first  in  1852 
to  Miss  Alethia  Gill,  and  second  to  Miss  Sally  Oliver  in  1874.  In  his  religious 
views  Mr.  Logan  is  a  Methodist. 


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JOHN  S.  MILLER. 

John  S.  Miller  is  a  native  of  New  York  State ;  he  came  to  Chicago  in  the 
spring  of  1874,  being  then  twenty-seven  years  of  age.  He  was  a  lawyer  of 
four  years  standing  when  he  came  to  Illinois,  was  licensed  to  practice  law  in 
his  adopted  State,  at  once  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Chicago,  and 
during  the  past  twenty-six  years  has  been  one  of  the  most  active  and  prominent 
men  in  the  profession.  He  has  been  identified  with  many  of  the  most  important 
cases  litigated  in  the  courts  of  Illinois ;  he  has  given  a  great  deal  of  time  and 
attention  to  questions  involving  the  titles  to  real  estate.  Many  of  his  cases 
have  passed  through  the  Supreme  Courts  of  the  States  and  the  United  States, 
where  Mr.  Miller  argued  his  cases  with  recognized  force  and  ability.  In  1891 
Mayor  Hempstead  Washburn  appointed  Mr.  Miller  Corporation  Counsel  for 
the  city  of  Chicago.  He  occupied  this  position  for  two  years-  During  his  in- 
cumbency of  this  office  two  important  controverted  questions  arose  between 
the  city  government  and  the  railroad  companies.  The  one  involving  a  question 
of  the  power  and  authority  of  the  city  government  to  compel  the  railroad 
companies  to  elevate  their  tracks,  and  thus  abolish  grade  crossings ;  the  other 
involved  the  power  and  authority  of  the  city  government  to  extend  the  streets 
of  the  city  over  the  tracks  of  the  railroad  companies.  Mr.  Miller,  as  the  chief 
law  officer  of  the  city,  took  the  affirmative  of  these  two  propositions,  and  his 
opinions  rendered  to  the  City  Council,  although  meeting  formidable  opposition 
by  railroad  attorneys  at  the  time,  are  now  recognized  as  sound  law,  thus  set- 
tling the  question  of  the  power  of  public  authorities  to  impose  reasonable  duties 
upon  railroad  corporations  and  require  them  to  fulfill  them. 

Probably  the  most  important  litigation  that  Mr.  Miller  has  ever  engaged 
in  was  the  celebrated  "Lake  Front  case,"  being  a  litigation  between  the  city 
of  Chicago  and  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company,  involving  the  validity 
and  construction  of  the  act  of  the  Illinois  Legislature  granting  to  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  a  large  portion  of  the  Lake  Front  and  submerged  lands  in 
the  outer  harbor  of  Chicago.  This  case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Court  of 
the  United  States,  and  was  argued  by  Mr.  Miller  before  that  court.  The  deci- 
sion in  that  litigation  was  adverse  to  the  railroad  company,  and  held  the  grant 
to  the  railroad  company  to  be  beyond  the  legislative  power  and  void,  and  sus- 
tained the  State  and  city's  title  to  the  lake  front  and  submerged  lands  and  waters 
of  the  harbor.  Mr.  Miller  retired  from  the  service  of  the  city  and  became  a 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Peck,  Miller  &  Starr,  composed  of  George  R.  Peck, 
John  S.  Miller  and  Merritt  Starr.  This  is  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of  the 
city  of  Chicago,  and  is  well  known  throughout  the  whole  United  States. 

Mr.  Miller  is  a  Republican  in  politics ;  he  is  thoroughly  familiar  with  the 
principles  and  history  of  the  Republican  party.  He  believes  that  his  party  is 
a  great  instrumentality  for  good  for  this  country  for  the  enactment  of  wise 
laws,  and  giving  the  people  an  honest  administration  of  the  government.  Mr- 
Miller  is  an  Episcopalian ;  he  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  Grace  Church,  but 
has  since  united  with  St.  Paul's  Church  at  Kenwood. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  May  24,  1847,  at  Louisville,  St.  Lawrence  County,  New 
York.  John  Miller,  his  father,  was  a  native  of  New  York ;  Mr.  Miller's  grand- 
father was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  of  Puritan  descent.  His  father  was  a 
member  of  the  bar,  and  was  for  several  years  County  Clerk  of  St.  Lawrence 
County.  The  maiden  name  of  his  mother  was  Jane  E.  McLeod;  she  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  extraction.  The  parents  of  young  Miller  gave  their  son  every 
opportunity  to  receive  an  education.  After  passing  through  the  necessary 
preparatory  studies,  he  entered  St.  Lawrence  University,  and  graduated  as 
Bachelor  of  Arts  in  1869.  He  was  professor  of  mathematics  for  one  year,  and 
professor  of  Latin  and  Greek  for  two  years  in  that  University.  He  had  been 
previously  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Ogdensburg,  New  York,  in  November,  1870, 

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hut  did  not  immediately  enter  upon  the  practice  of  the  profession  of  law.  Mr. 
Miller  resigned  his  professorship  in  the  St.  Lawrence  University  in  the  Spring 
of  1874,  and  removed  to  Chicago,  where  we  find  him  soon  engaged  in  the  active 
and  successful  practice  of  the  law. 

John  S.  Miller  was  married  December  12,  1887,  to  Ann  Gross,  daughter  of 
Dr.  James  E.  Gross,  of  the  city  of  Chicago.  They  have  two  children,  a  son  and 
a  daughter.  While  Mr.  Miller  has  been  deeply  engrossed  with  his  professional 
work  he  has  not  neglected  the  social  side  of  life;  he  has  a  delightful  home,  and 
he  and  Mrs.  Miller  are  the  center  of  a  large  and  agreeable  circle  of  friends,  and 
take  a  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  and  prosperity  of  their  church. 


HENRY  W.  LYNCH. 

Henry  W.  Lynch,  a  son  of  Jesse  Lynch  and  Harriet  W.  Lynch,  was  born  at 
Magnolia,  111.,  July  26,  1857,  where  his  father  then  resided.  Jesse  Lynch  was 
an  old  citizen  of  Sangamon  County,  was  well  acquainted  with,  and  a  great 
admirer  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  attended  the  convention  at  Chicago,  when 
Lincoln  was  nominated  for  president  in  1860. 

Henry  W.  Lynch  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  common  schools 
of  the  state  and  attended  the  University  of  Illinois'  for  two  years.  Young  Lynch 
was  an  industrious  boy,  and  devoted  himself  to  work  between  school  terms. 
After  leaving  the  university  he  taught  school  for  one  term,  after  which  he  took 
service  with  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  Railway  Company  at  Sheldon,  111..,  in 
1879,  as  bill  clerk.  Two  years  later  he  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  agent 
at  that  point,  where  he  remained  until  1888,  when  he  removed  to  Peoria,  111., 
and  engaged  in  the  business  of  a  wholesale  dealer  in  coal.  Mr.  Lynch  has  always 
devoted  himself  assiduously  to  the  business  at  which  he  was  from  time  to  time 
engaged,  and  he  became  a  thoroughly  competent  business  man.  Mr.  Lynch 
married  Frances  M.  Baldwin  of  Oxford,  Ind.,  July  24,  1884.  They  have  two 
boys,  namely,  Ralph  and  Harold. 

Mr.  Lynch  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  thoroughly  devoted  to 
the  principles  of  the  party,  and  ever  ready  to  perform  his  duty  in  connection 
with  the  politics  of  the  state.  After  becoming  a  citizen  of  Peoria,  he  rapidly 
formed  the  acquaintance  of  the  leading  men  of  the  city,  and  in  1895  was  elected 
Alderman  of  the  First  Ward  ancl  was  re-elected  in  1897.  In  1899  he  became  a 
candidate  for  the  office  of  Mayor.  The  canvass  was  active  and  exciting ;  the 
Democratic  party  had  a  full  complement  of  candidates.  The  election  came  off, 
and  the  Democratic  party  was  successful  in  their  entire  ticket  except  in  the 
election  of  their  candidate  for  Mayor.  Mr.  Lynch  was  elected  and  was  the  only 
Republican  who  was  successful  in  that  contest.  During  the  present  year,  1900, 
Mr.  Lynch  was  selected  as  a  delegate  to  the  state  convention,  held  in  Peoria, 
and  was  chairman  of  the  P'eoria  County  Delegation.  He  assisted  in  the  nomina- 
tion of  the  present  Republican  candidate  for  Governor,  Judge  Richard  Yates. 

Mayor  Lynch  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity ;  he  is  also  a  member 
of  the  Woodmen  of  America,  Foresters,  and  the  Order  of  Red  Men.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  he  and  his  family  attend  that  service. 
From  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  it  will  be  readily  seen  that  Henry  W.  Lynch  is 
one  of  the  rising  men  of  Peoria  County.  He  possesses  all  the  elements  of  suc- 
cessful leadership  and  will,  no  doubt,  attain  greater  influence  and  power. 


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ASA  CARRINGTON  MATHEWS. 

The  narrative  of  the  events  of  this  well  known  lawyer's  life  will  exemplify 
the  old  saying  that  "A  man  may  make  of  himself  what  lie  will."  Asa  Carrington 
Matthews  was  born  in  Perry,  111.,  in  1833,  a  son  of  Benj.  L.  and  Minerva  Carring- 
ton Matthews,  both  of  whom  trace  their  ancestry  to  Virginia  families  who  served 
in  the  war  of  1812.  Benj.  L.  Matthews  was  born  in  Roan  County,  N.  C.,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1806,  and  moved  to  White  County,  111.,  in  1817.  In  the  Civil  War  he 
was  a  captain  in  Company  B,  99th  Illinois.  Asa  C.  Matthews  received  his  early 
education  in  the  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  spent  three  years  at  McKendree 
College,  Lebanon,  111.,  and  graduated  at  Illinois  College,  Jacksonville,  111.,  in 

1855- 

Mr.  Matthews  became  a  Republican  at  the  bi^thof  Jhe  party  itself,  has  been 
active  in  all  campaigns,  and  in  1858  canvassed  his~Congressional  district  in  the 
interest  of  Mr.  Lincoln.  In  the  Civil  War  he  entered  as  a  private  in  Company 
C,  99th  Illinois,  and  afterward  became  Captain,  Major,  Lieutenant  Colonel  and 
Colonel  of  the  same  regiment ;  but  the  regiment  having  been  reduced  by  the 
casualties  of  war  below  the  minimum,  he  was  not  mustered  into  the  service  as 
a  full  colonel.  He  was,  however,  brevetted  colonel  for  meritorious  service  at 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  His  brigade  was  the  first  to  land  at  Bruensburg  April 
30,  1863,  and  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  Mr.  Matthews  commanded 
the  color  company.  When  all  his  seniors  in  rank  had  been  wounded  and  taken 
to  the  rear,  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  regiment.  There  he  held  the 
position  against  the  enemy's  fortifications  until  relieved  at  4  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. The  force  relieving  his  regiment  was  soon  repulsed,  and  Gen.  Burbridge 
requested  Mr.  Matthews  to  again  move  his  men  into  position,  which  he  did,  gal- 
lantly driving  the  enemy  back  into  its  fortifications,  and  holding  the  position 
until  midnight,  when  he  was  again  relieved.  His  military  record  includes  the 
history  of  the  campaigns  and  surrender  of  Vicksburg,  Indianola,  Fort  Espiranza 
in  Texas,  Mobile  and  the  campaign  against  Kirby  Smith  west  of  the  Mississippi. 
He  was  sent  by  Gen.  Canby  to  the  Indian  Nation  to  receive  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Standwatie,  who  with  Peter  P.  Pitchland,  governor  of  the  Choctaw  Nation, 
were  the  last  Confederates  to  surrender.  He  called  a  council  of  the  civilized 
tribes  of  Indians  in  September,  1865. 

Mr.  Matthews  has  held  many  important  positions  under  the  Republican 
party.  He  was  candidate  for  Congress  in  his  district  in  1872;  and  though  de- 
feated in  an  overwhelmingly  Democratic  district,  he  ran  some  two  thousand 
ahead  of  his  ticket.  During  the  administration  of  General  Grant,  he  was  col- 
lector of  internal  revenue,  and  was  supervisor  of  internal  revenue  for  Illinois, 
Wisconsin  and  Michigan,  which  latter  position  he  resigned.  He  has  several 
times  been  elected  to  the  Legislature,  and  was  speaker  of  the  House  of  the  36th 
General  Assembly.  During  the  administration  of  President  Harrison,  he  was 
First  Comptroller  of  the  Treasury  of  the  United  States,  an  office  of  dignity  and 
importance,  calling  for  a  profound  knowledge  of  law  and  great  experience  in 
affairs.  He  was  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  succeeding  Judge  C.  I.  Higbee. 

October  5,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Anne  E.  Ross,  daughter  of  Col. 
Wliliam  Ross,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  21  st  U.  S.  Infantry  in  the  war  of  1812, 
also  an  officer  in  the  Black  Hawk  War.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1819,  was  several 
times  a  member  of  the  Illinois  State  Senate  and  named  the  town  Pittsfield  in 
honor  of  his  old  home  in  Pittsfield,  Mass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matthews  have  three 
children :  Mrs.  Florence  G.  Lewis,  wife  of  Frank  Lewis,  a  merchant ;  Ross 
Matthews,  who  is  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  State  Bank ;  and  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Hull. 
Mr.  Matthews  is  fortunate  in  keeping  his  family  near  him — all  are  residents  of 
Pittsfield.  Mrs.  Matthews  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  which  she 
and  her  husband  attend. 


532 


533 


GEORGE  F.  MCKNIGHT. 

Captain  George  F.  McKnight  came  to  Chicago  in  1869-  He  was  then 
thirty-two  years  old,  with  a  broad  experience  in  the  affairs  of  the  world.  He 
first  engaged  in  the  business  of  fire  insurance,  and  for  ten  years  was  one  of  the 
leading  underwriters  of  the  city.  In  1879  ne  organized  the  Lake  Gas  Com- 
pany, of  which  he  was  Treasurer  and  Manager  for  nine  years.  He  then  became 
interested  in  the  iron  business ;  his  early  training  was  such,  added  to  his  natural 
capacity  for  business,  that  he  readily  mastered  all  the  details  of  the  different 
kinds  of  business  in  which  he  was  engaged,  so  as .  to  make  them  a  success. 
Captain  McKnight  is  a  native  of  New  York  State,  born  at  Buffalo,  March  9, 
1837;  his  father,  George  McKnight,  was  a  successful  business  man  at  Buffalo, 
and  was  a  large  packer  of  beef  and  pork.  He  died  March  4,  1845,  leaving  his 
son  George,  then  eight  years  old,  to  receive  his  education  and  make  his  way 
in  the  world.  George  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Buffalo. 
Upon  leaving  school  he  immediaely  went  to  work  on  the  dock,  was  employed 
as  clerk  on  the  Troy  and  Erie  Steamboat  Line,  and  mastered  the  intricacies 
of  this  business.  He  was  later  employed  in  the  same  capacity  by  the  Buffalo 
and  Cleveland  Steamship  Company.  This  brought  him  in  contact  with  all  kinds 
and  classes  of  people,  and  gave  him  an  opportunity  to  study  human  nature.  He 
then  took  employment  with  an  engineering  corps  connected  with  the  enlarge- 
ment of  the  Erie  Canal,  and  remained  in  this  service  until  1858,  when  he 
returned  to  Buffalo,  where  he  was  engaged  by  the  firm  of  John  M.  Hutchinson 
in  their  wholesale  leather  house.  He  continued  in  this  business  for  three  years. 
The  Civil  War  then  broke  upon  the  country,  and  George  F.  McKnight  entered 
the  military  service.  He  enlisted  in  Company  "G,"  First  New  York  Light 
Artillery,  known  as  "Frank's  Battery."  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  had  gained 
a  complete  knowledge  of  the  artillery  service,  and  March  3,  1863,  he  was  com- 
missioned Captain  of  the  I2th  New  York  Independent  Battery. 

Captain  McKnight  served  during  the  entire  war,  and  was  highly  respected 
for  his  ability  and  valor-  He  was  -honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  Although  he  spent  four  years  in  the  military  service,  he 
had  not  lost  his  taste  for  business,  nor  a  disposition  to  be  employed ;  going  to 
New  York  City  he  entered  the  oil  business,  which  he  continued  until  1869, 
when  he  came  to  Chicago.  Mr.  McKnight  has  had  a  varied  career,  he  has  never 
been  idle  and  his  occupations  have  steadily  increased  in  importance.  His  mili- 
tary life,  calling  forth  the  performance  of  the  highest  duties  of  citizenship,  that 
of  risking  one's  life  for  one's  country,  broadened  and  elevated  him  as  a  man,  as 
it  did  the  great  mass  of  those  who  served  in  the  great  struggle  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  the  Union. 

Captain  McKnight  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  ever 
been  ready  to  perform  his  political  duties  as  a  citizen.  His  first  entry  into 
official  life  was  when  appointed  by  Governor  Oglesby  as  a  member  of  the  Board 
of  Equalization  to  fill  a  vacancy.  He  was  twice  elected  to  this  position,  and 
brought  to  the  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  office  the  sound  judgment  and 
broad  business  experience  for  which  he  was  noted.  When  the  Town  of  Lake 
was  annexed  to  Chicago,  Captain  McKnight  was  elected  as  one  of  the  Aldermen 
to  represent  the  3ist  Ward,  then  created,  in  the  City  Council.  He  was  once 
re-elected  to  the  same  position,  and  served  the  city  faithfully  and  well.  Captain 
McKnight  is  a  member  of  the  3ist  Ward  Club,  and  has  often  been  a  delegate 
representing  the  Republican  party  in  State,  County  and  City  Conventions.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Club,  and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Home  Club  of 
Englewood  since  its  organization. 

George  F.  McKnight  was  married  to  Caroline  G.  Case,  October  22,  1853. 
They  have  one  son,  Sandford  C.  McKnight.  His  mother,  still  living,  now 
resides  with  him.  After  the  death  of  her  first  husband  she  married  James  W. 
Sandford,  of  Buffalo ;  well  known  and  prominent  as  a  real  estate  man  and  vessel 
owner  on  the  Lakes.  Mr.  Sandford  died  June  30,  1895.  Captain  McKnight, 
although  a  busy  man  all  his  life,  has  never  neglected  his  social  duties  and  the 
Home  life. 


535 


ROBERT  MCMURDY. 

Robert  McMurdy  was  born  March  8,  1860.  His  father,  Robert  McMurdy, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  was  an  Episcopal  clergyman  of  prominence,  originally  from 
Philadelphia;  his  mother,  Marcella  E.  Russell,  was  from  Salisbury,  Conn.  In 
1872  his  parents  moved  to  Chicago,  and  here  he  attended  and  graduated  from 
the  Hyde  Park  School  and  afterward  entered  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
the  literary  department  and  graduated  from  the  law  department  in  1880.  In 
1885  his  alma  mater  conferred  upon  him  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of 
Laws.  Later  he  was  president  of  the  local  Alumni  Association  of  that  institu- 
tion. In  1881  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Michigan,  and  in  the  same  year  to 
the  Illinois  bar.  He  opened  an  office  in  Chicago  and  soon  built  up  an  extensive 
general  practice.  For  two  years  he  lectured  on  Medical  Jurisprudence  in 
Hahnemann  Medical  College,  and  from  1890  to  1892  was  master  in  chancery 
of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County. 

In  1892  he  was  nominated  for  representative  by  the  Republicans  of  the 
then  second  senatorial  district  and  was  elected-  While  in  the  House  he  became 
identified  with  a  number  of  measures  of  importance,  notably  the  bill  increasing 
the  number  of  judges  in  Cook  County,  the  original  Torrens  Law,  the  Civil 
Service  Law  and  one  of  the  early  bills  for  the  consolidation  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  He  secured  the  passage  of  a  law  permitting  museums  in  public  parks 
to  charge  an  admission  fee,  and  on  a  referendum  the  law  was  adopted  by  the 
people.  This  law  was  passed  with  the  project  in  view  of  establishing  a  museum 
in  the  art  gallery  building  of  the  World's  Fair,  and  subsequently  Mr.  McMurdy 
identified  himself  with  the  promotion  of  the  Field  Columbian  Museum  and  was 
one  of  its  incorporators. 

He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Hamilton  Club  and  its  first  president, 
a  director  of  the  Chicago  Bar  Association,  President  of  the  Chicago  Law  Insti- 
tute, and  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Practice  Commission.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Royal  Arcanum  and  of  the  Sigma  Phi  College  Secret  Society,  of  which  he 
was  president  in  1893.  The  law  firm  with  which  he  is  now  connected  is  that  of 
Church,  McMurdy  &  Sherman,  Judge  William  E.  Church,  late  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Dakota,  being  the  senior  member.  He  was  for  many  years 
the  senior  member  of  the  law  firm  of  McMurdy  &  Job.  In  1891  Mr.  McMurdy 
was  married  to  Miss  Lillian  May  Harter,  of  Little  Falls,  N.  Y.,  who  died  in 
1897,  leaving  no  children. 


JOHN  W.  MITCHELL. 

Dr.  John  W.  Mitchell  of  Harrisburg,  Saline  County,  111.,  was  born  January 
15,  1825,  in  Pleasant  Township,  Switzerland  County,  Ind.  His  father,  William 
Mitchell,  a  native  of  Rhode  Island,  was  born  April  n,  1775.  He  removed  to 
western  New  York.  He  decided  to  move  to  the  Ohio  Valley;  in  1817,  with 
his  family  and  belongings  he  passed  down  the  Allegheny  and  Ohio  rivers  in  a 
flatboat ;  stopped  for  a  time  in  West  Virginia,  then  at  Long  Bottom,  Ohio-  In 
the  fall  of  1818  he  settled  at  Vevay,  Switzerland  County,  Ind. ;  he  purchased 
land  on  French  Creek,  including  a  water  power;  here  he  opened  up  a  farm  and 
erected  a  mill  for  grinding  and  sawing.  On  September  15,  1821,  his  wife  died, 
leaving  eight  children.  About  two  years  later  William  Mitchell  married  Mary 
Fraser,  a  widow ;  by  this  union  three  children  were  born — namely :  Lucinda,  John 
W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  Robert.  In  1826  Mr.  Mitchell  sold  his  farm 
and  removed  to  Madison,  Ind.,  then  the  largest  town  in  the  State.  On  Decem- 
ber 3,  1828,  he  was  accidentally  killed.  Upon  the  death  of  her  husband  Mrs. 
Mitchell  found  herself  with  large  responsibilities  and  but  little  means.  She 
taught  her  children  to  work- 

536 


537 


John  W.  Mitchell  was  self-supporting  from  the  age  of  12  years.  He 
attended  the  pay  schools,  was  a  good  student,  learned  rapidly,  and  soon  laid 
a  solid  foundation  for  an  education ;  he  was  fortunate  in  the  friendship  of  two 
families  in  Madison  who  had  good  libraries,  of  which  he  had  free  use.  At  the 
age  of  13  he  entered  a  store  as  a  clerk;  he  was  engaged  in  this  occupation  for 
five  years,  all  the  while  earnestly  continuing  his  studies.  At  eighteen  he  began 
the  study  of  medicine-  The  following  year  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness in  a  store-boat  on  the  Kentucky  river ;  he  pursued  this  business  for  several 
years,  extending  his  trade  down  the  Ohio,  Mississippi  and  Yazoo  rivers.  This 
sort  of  life  afforded  him  time  and  opportunity  for  reading  and  study,  which  he 
constantly  improved.  He  finally  settled  at  Rock  Quarry,  Pope  County,  111. 

In  December,  1850,  he  removed  to  Saline  County,  where  he  has  lived  ever 
since.  At  Independence  he  practiced  medicine,  conducted  a  store,  and  dealt 
in  produce,  sending  this  to  market  in  flatboats  down  the  Saline,  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers.  He  made  friends  and  prospered.  In  1855  he  removed  to 
Harrisburg,  the  present  county  seat,  built  the  first  storehouse  and  continued 
his  business  as  merchant  and  physician.  Dr.  Mitchell  now  felt  himself  settled; 
he  began  the  purchase  of  real  estate,  rapidly  acquiring  some  10,000  acres  of 
land.  He  has  made  two  additions  to  Harrisburg,  at  one  time  owning  two-thirds 
of  the  real  estate  of  the  town.  He  has  bought,  sold  and  improved  a  great  deal 
of  land,  and  now  owns  fifteen  or  twenty  valuable  farms.  In  1859  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  Robert  Mick,  an  experienced  merchant  with  plenty  of  capital ; 
they  did  a  large  and  profitable  business  as  merchants ;  they  also  erected  the  pres- 
ent Court  House  and  Jail  at  Harrisburg,  under  a  contract  with  the  County  Court. 

Dr.  Mitchell's  experience  in  trade,  his  extensive  knowledge  of  things  in 
general,  including  chemistry,  geology  and  mechanics,  supplemented  by  his 
extraordinary  executive  ability,  well  fitted  him  for  almost  any  kind  of  business- 
In  1860  he  bought  a  saw  mill  and  added  a  grist  mill ;  he  soon  sold  this  property 
and  at  once  erected  a  large  mill  property  for  grinding,  sawing  and  planing. 
This  property  was  a  great  benefit  to  Harrisburg  and  the  surrounding  country, 
establishing  a  market  for  grain  and  lumber.  Dr.  Mitchell  was  identified  with 
the  construction  of  the  Cairo  &  Vincennes  Railroad.  A  special  charter  was 
granted  to  this  company  by  the  .Illinois  Legislature  in  1867;  upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  the  Doctor  was  made  a  Director.  Green  B.  Raum  was 
chosen  President;  both  he  and  Dr.  Mitchell  were  at  that  time  living  in  Harris- 
burg. It  was  recognized  as  a  great  undertaking  to  finance  a  railroad  line  be- 
tween Cairo  and  Vincennes,  157  miles  in  length.  William  P.  Halliday  and 
Daniel  Hurd  of  Cairo,  presidents  of  the  banks  of  that  city,  were  also  directors 
of  the  company.  These  four  men  advanced  the  money  necessary  to  set  this 
enterprise  on  foot,  and  co-operated  cordially  in  securing  subscriptions  and  right 
of  way  along  the  line,  and  in  making  a  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  road, 
which  was  completed  in  1872.  Dr.  Mitchell  and  General  Raum  built  twenty 
miles  of  the  road.  After  the  construction  of  the  Cairo  &  Vincennes  Railroad 
Dr.  Mitchell  became  interested  in  coal  mining  properties ;  he  now  owns  the 
two  valuable  shipping  coal  mines  on  that  road,  namely,  the  New  Ledford.  near 
Harrisburg,  a  vein  eight  feet  thick,  and  the  Bald  Knob  of  500  acres,  in  Johnson 
County,  vein  five  feet  thick;  these  are  valuable  properties  and  produce  superior 
coal. 

It  will  be  seen  from  this  brief  summary  that  from  his  boyhood  to  the  present 
time  Dr.  Mitchell  has  been  actively  engaged  in  business.  He  has  had  a  wonder- 
fully successful  career  as  physician,  merchant,  builder,  real  estate  owner,  miller, 
farmer  and  coal  miner,  he  has  been  successful ;  all  of  these  occupations  and 
enterprises  engaging  his  attention  year  after  year,  and  all  receiving  due  care 
without  haste  or  worry.  He  has  been  a  large  employer  of  men,  always  has 
their  good  will,  and  is  considerate  of  their  rights  and  interests-  Dr.  John  W. 
Mitchell  is  a  many  sided  man ;  his  reading  is  extensive ;  he  is  well  posted  in 
literature  and  politics,  has  an  insight  into  the  arts,  sciences  and  mechanics :  he 
is  an  interesting  talker,  but  never  obtrudes  his  opinions,  and  never  makes 
speeches.  Those  who  know  Dr.  Mitchell  best  will  say  that  the  Almightv  made 
him  to  be  a  physician ;  it  is  in  this  profession  where  he  has  won  his  highest 

538 


539 


laurels.  For  years  he  has  met  professionally  physicians  of  large  ability  and  ex- 
perience; in  conferences  his  opinion  has  always  been  given  preference.  In 
diagnosing  and  treating  dangerous  diseases  he  has  an  extraordinary  faculty  and 
judgment;  the  cases  others  deem  hopeless  recover  under  his  skillful  hand.  In 
1861  Dr.  O.  F.  Kress  became  associated  with  Dr.  Mitchell.  Dr.  Kress  was 
a  graduate  of  the  University  of  Heidelburg,  and  a  man  of  rare  skill ;  they  had 
an  extensive  and  successful  practice.  Dr.  Kress  removed  to  Evansville,  Ind. ; 
since  then  Dr.  Mitchell  has  declined  general  practice,  confining  himself  to  office 
prescriptions  and  practice  in  the  families  of  a  few  old  friends. 

In  politics  Dr.  Mitchell  has  been  a  Republican  since  the  organization  of  the 
party.  He  has  been  too  busy  a  man  to  seek  any  important  offices,  but  has  at 
all  times  taken  an  active  part  in  the  politics  of  his  county  and  district,  attending 
conventions  and  exerting  a  strong  influence  in  support  of  the  Republican  ticket. 
He  has  been  Mayor  of  the  city  of  Harrisburg  several  times-  Dr.  Mitchell  was 
a  strong  Union  man  during  the  Civil  War  and  gave  his  aid  and  influence  in 
raising  troops.  His  activity  in  supporting  the  Union  cause  made  him  a  marked 
man  with  the  large  copperhead  element  of  Saline  County.  They  went  so  far 
as  to  hold  public  meetings  to  denounce  him  and  order  him  from  the  county,  but 
when  it  came  to  the  test  they  decided  not  to  pit  themselves  against  a  man  of 
such  well-known  courage  and  wonderful  will. 

Dr.  Mitchell  in  1864  married  Julia  Jackson,  a  native  of  Hardin  County, 
Illinois.  She  was  a  charming  young  woman  and  had  many  friends.  She  died 
in  childbirth  in  1866.  In  1869,  Dr.  Mitchell  married  Emma  S.  Mayville.  She 
was  born  in  Bangor,  Me.  They  have  had  two  children,  Charles  Mitchell  and 
John  W.  Mitchell,  Jr.  The  latter  died  July,  1886,  aged  twelve  years.  Dr. 
Mitchell  is  a  Mason  of  forty-nine  years  standing,  and  a  Knight  of  Honor. 


DANIEL  W.  MILLS. 

Daniel  W.  Mills  of  Chicago,  111.,  is  a  native  of  Warren  County,  Ohio,  where 
he  was  born  February  25,  1838,  on  his  father's  farm,  near  Waynesville.  His 
ancestors  were  early  settlers  in  North  America.  His  maternal  great-grand- 
father was  Joseph  Brown,  an  English  Quaker,  who  came  to  this  country  with 
William  Penn,  in  1632-  His  people  settled  in  Ohio  at  an  early  day,  and  his 
mother,  Susannah  Brown,  was  born  on  her  father's  farm  near  Cincinnati.  In- 
dians were  numerous  in  Ohio  at  that  time,  and  often  made  raids  into  the  white 
settlements.  At  the  age  of  three  years,  Mr.  Mills'  mother  was  carried  away 
by  a  band  of  Indians  and  for  a  time  held  in  captivity.  Mr.  Mills  was  left  an 
orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father,  and  the  family  was  necessarily  thrown  upon 
its  own  resources.  Mrs.  Mills,  the  mother,  inculcated  by  example  and  precept 
into  the  minds  of  her  children  the  necessity  of  industry  and  diligence  in  the 
performance  of  their  duties.  She  was  also  anxious  that  her  children  should 
avail  themselves  of  every  advantage  of  education  in  their  community. 

Young  Mr.  Mills  passed  through  the  common  schools  of  the  village  of 
Raysville,  and  also  through  the  High  School  of  Waynesville,  before  reaching 
the  age  of  nineteen.  He  accepted  employment  as  a  clerk  in  a  general  store", 
learned  the  business  of  a  merchant,  secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  his 
employers,  and  was  able  to  save  a  portion  of  his  small  earnings.  In  1859,  with 
what  money  he  had  saved,  and  by  the  assistance  of  a  rich  Quaker  named  Oscar 
Wright  of  Waynesville,  Mr.  Mills  was  enabled  to  embark  in  trade  at  Corwin, 
Ohio,  on  his  own  account.  He  kept  a  general  store  to  supply  all  the  wants  of 
town  and  country,  and  bought  and  sold  produce.  He  also  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  pork  packing.  In  the  midst  of  his  successful  career  as  a  merchant  the 
Civil  War  broke  out.  Mr-  Mills  at  once  closed  out  his  store  and  enlisted  in 
Company  "D,"  iSoth  Ohio  Volunteers.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
was  promoted  to  the  office  of  Captain,  and  kept  that  position  until  mustered  out 
of  the  service.  In  the  spring  of  1866  Mr.  Mills  concluded  to  cast  in  his  lot  with 
the  enterprising  citizens  of  Chicago.  He  had  saved  about  $5,000,  and  imme- 

540 


541 


diately  engaged  in  business.  He  became  a  manufacturer  of  candy,  and  after- 
wards engaged  in  the  lake  shipping  trade,  and  finally  in  the  purchase  and  sale 
of  real  estate.  His  financial  career  since  coming  to  Chicago  has  been  very 
successful.  He  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Chicago. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mills  is  a  Republican.  His  Quaker  ancestors  were  anti- 
slavery  in  their  sentiments,  and  he  took  the  anti-slavery  sentiment  by  heredity 
and  environment.  Mr.  Mills  has  always  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  participate  in 
the  political  affairs  of  the  city  and  county,  and  lie  has  become  a  strong  factor 
in  politics.  He  has  served  as  warden  of  the  Cook  County  Hospital  for  four 
years,  and  filled  the  position  with  credit  to  himself  and  with  great  benefit  to  the 
county.  He  has  twice  been  elected  alderman  of  the  I2th  ward  of  the  city  of 
Chicago,  and  represented  the  4th  Congressional  district  of  Illinois  in  the  55th 
Congress. 

Mr.  Mills  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic ;  of  the  Loyal 
Legion ;  is  a  Knight  Templar  and  a  Mason  of  the  32(1  degree.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  the  Lincoln  Club,  the  Menoken  Club  and  the 
Illinois  Club,  all  of  Chicago.  Captain  D.  W.  Mills  was  married  December  25, 
1871,  to  Miss  Lucy  Morrison,  daughter  of  the  eminent  citizen  ard  philanthropist', 
Orsemus  Morrison,  who  came  to  Chicago  in  1833,  and  was  the  first  Coroner 
of  Cook  Countv. 


JONATHAN   P.  MIDDLECOFF. 

Among  the  well-known  citizens  of  Eastern  Illinois  is  the  subject  of  this 
sketch.  His  birth  occurred  near  Richmond,  Wayne  County,  Ind.,  February  20, 
1838.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Theresa  (Newcomer)  Middlecoflf,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Washington  County,  Maryland,  where  the  father  was 
born  in  the  year  1800,  and  the  mother  nine  years  later.  Upon  their  marriage,  or 
soon  afterward,  they  removed  from  that  State  in  1827  to  Indiana,  where  they 
continued  to  reside  until  1847,  when  they  moved  to  Cincinnati,  in  which  city 
Mr.  Middlecoff  conducted  a  wholesale  grocery  for  several  years.  In  1861  he 
came  to  Ford  County,  Illinois,  where  his  death  occurred  five  years  later.  His 
widow,  who  moved  to  Paxton,  Illinois,  survived  him  until  1898. 

When  Jonathan  P.  Middlecoff  was  a  lad  nine  years  old  he  was  taken  by 
his  parents  to  Cincinnati,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools.  Later  he  con- 
tinued his  education  in  Woodward  College,  but  in  1857  ne  accompanied  hiS 
brother  Samuel  to  Illinois,  and  embarked  .in  the  mercantile  business  in  Ludlow, 
Champaign  County.  Upon  the  breaking  out  of  .the  war  Samuel  enlisted  in  the 
Federal  Army,  and  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  in  the  Fremont  Hussars. 
While  in  the  service  at  Warsaw,  Missouri,  he  died  and  his  remains  were  taken 
to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  and  buried  in  Spring  Grove  Cemetery.  In  1862  Jonathan 
P.  removed  to  Ford  County  and  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  continuing 
successfully  until  1867,  when  he  came  to  Paxton  and  opened  up  a  hardware 
store,  which  he  conducted  for  several  years.  In  1881  he  organized  the  Paxton 
Brick  and  Tile  Company,  of  which  he  was  elected  president  and  general  man- 
ager, and  has  ever  since  continued  to  hold  that  position.  During  this  period, 
largely  through  his  efforts,  the  company  has  built  up  a  very  large  and  successful 
business,  which  has  not  only  proved  profitable  to  the  owners,  but  has  been  a 
lasting  benefit  to  the  farmers  of  the  vicinity.  In  1888  he  assisted  in  organizing 
the  Paxton  Canning  Company,  of  which  he  became  president,  holding  that  posi- 
tion for  five  years.  He  is  an  extensive  real  estate  owner,  owning  several  farms 
and  much  valuable  city  property.  He  is  the  leading  stockholder  and  is  the 
president  of  the  company  owning  the  Middlecoff  Hotel,  which  was  built  for 
$36,000  and  is  named  in  his  honor.  It  is  one  of  the  best  hotel  buildings  in  the 
State,  outside  of  Chicago.  He  is  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Rice 
Collegiate  Institution,  president  of  the  Business  Men's  Association  of  Paxton, 
and  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Middlecoff's  first  vote  was  cast  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860.  Pie  has 
served  several  terms  as  supervisor"  of  Patton  township,  and  during  the  last  two 

I  .'  542 


543 


years  of  that  period  was  chairman  of  the  county  board.  He  has  filled  the  office 
of  Mayor  of  Paxton  four  terms.  In  1872  his  fidelity  and  services  to  the  Repub- 
lican party  were  rewarded  by  his  election  to  the  legislature.  He  served  on 
many  important  committees,  among  which  were  Public  Buildings  and  Grounds, 
Corporations,  and  County  and  Township  Organizations,  and  was  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  useful  members  of  the  House.  He  is  the  present  chairman 
of  the  Ford  County  Republican  Central  Committee.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Order.  In  January,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Fox,  daughter  of 
Richard  Fox,  native  of  Cincinnati,  where  she  was  educated.  Three  children 
were  born  to  this. union,  but  all  are  now  deceased.  .  Alice  and  Samuel  died  in 
infancy,  and  Addie  lived  to  young  womanhood,  when  she  died  February  9,  1891. 


THOMAS  E.  MILCHRIST. 

In  the  legal  profession,  perhaps  more  than  in  any  other  calling,  success 
comes  as  a  reward  of  earnest,  indefatigable  effort,  energy  well  directed,  and 
the  exercise  of  sound  common  sense.  There  are  no  chance  strokes  of  good 
luck,  no  fortuitous  circumstance  which  can  possibly  take  the  place  of  hard  work 
and  years  of  persevering  labor  in  the  law,  and  he  who  ranks  well  in  the  estima- 
tion of  his  colleagues  and  distinguished  members  of  the  profession  must  cer- 
tainly be  the  possessor  of  great  ability  and  knowledge  of  the  law.  Environment 
may  have  had  considerable  to  do  with  Thomas  E.  Milchrist's  choice  of  a  profes- 
sion;  but  man  is  only  endowed  with  a  capacity  to  learn,  and  knowledge  must 
be  acquired  through  individual  effort.  Therefore  his  prominence  as  a  lawyer 
is  due  entirely  to  his  study,  close  application,  his  thorough  mastery  of  the 
principles  of  jurisprudence  and  his  devotion  to  the  interests  of  his  patrons.  He 
was  born  at  Peel,  Isle  of  Man,  April  12,  1840,  and  crossed  the  ocean  to  America 
with  his  parents  when  but  eight  years  old.  They  settled  at  Brimfield,  Peoria 
County,  111.,  and  although  young  Milchrist's  early  days  were  passed  in  hard 
work  in  breaking  the  wild  prairie  or  in  other  ways,  he  succeeded  in  acquiring 
a  good  practical  education. 

In  August,  1862,  when  all  was  tumult  and  excitement,  Mr.  Milchrist,  feeling 
his  duty  to  his  country  paramount  to  everything  else,  enlisted  in  Company  G, 
1 1 2th  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  three  years  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion.  At  the  time  of  his  enlistment  he  was  nearly  twenty-two  years  old 
and  was  full  of  life  and  ambition.  He  participated  in  the  East  Tennessee  and 
Atlanta  campaigns  and  followed  General  Hood  to  Franklin,  where  that  des- 
perate and  bloody  battle  was  fought.  He  was  also  in  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
under  General  Thomas,  where  General  Hood's  army  made  its  last  stand  and 
was  practically  destroyed-  Then  the  regiment  proceeded  to  the  Carolinas,  where 
it  joined  General  Sherman.  Mr.  Milchrist's  military  record  is  a  very  creditable 
one,  and  he  was  promoted  successively  until  he  reached  the  rank  of  Captain. 

Returning  home  after  the  war,  Mr.  Milchrist  took  up  the  study  of  law,  and 
in  1868  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  practicing  his  profession  in  Henry  and  adjoining 
counties  until  1889.  In  the  last  named  year  he  came  to  Chicago  with  the  inten- 
tion of  making  the  second  great  city  in  the  United  States  his  home,  and  here 
he  has  resided  ever  since.  He  at  once  took  an  active  part  in  politics,  and  his 
support  has  ever  been  given  to  the  Republican  party,  not  from  selfish  motives, 
but  from  a  deep  and  abiding  conviction  that  the  principles  of  that  party  are 
essential  to  the  highest  welfare  of  the  country.  His  friends  in  the  party  find 
him  just  the  assistant  they  need,  for  he  is  ever  ready  to  sacrifice  personal  com- 
fort and  his  own  interests  to  promote  what  he  earnestly  believes  is  for  the 
welfare  of  his  fellow  men.  For  the  past  twenty-five  years  he  has  been  an  influ- 
ential figure  in  Republican  politics  in  Illinois.  For  eighteen  years  Mr.  Milchrist 
was  State's  Attorney  for  Henry  County,  and  Assistant  United  States  Attorney 
for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois  for  one  year.  In  August,  1890,  he  was 
appointed  United  States  Attorney  for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois  by  Presi- 
dent Harrison,  and  served  until  August,  1894,  when  he  was  employed  by  the 
Government  as  special  attorney  for  about  a  year,  and  made  a  most  conscientious 

544 


545 


and  successful  officer.  By  his  unusual  ability  in  every  line,  his  accurate  knowl- 
edge of  the  law  and  his  strict  conformity  to  professional  ethics,  he  has  won  a 
most  enviable  reputation.  He  has  also  shown  that  he  is  gifted  with  social  traits 
which  have  won  for  him  many  friends.  He  is  a  Knight  Templar  Mason,  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  a  member  of  the  military  order 
of  the  Loyal  Legion.  He  is  now  Senator,  representing  the  5th  Senatorial  Dis- 
trict of  Illinois. 


EDWIN  ALLSTON  MONGER. 

Edwin  Allston  Munger  is  a  bright  example  of  the  self-made  American  citi- 
zen, and  he  has,  by  a  laborious  career,  as  well  as  by  natural  genius,  earned  the 
excellent  reputation  that  is  accorded  him.  He  was  born  in  Topeka,  Kansas, 
February  26,  1869,  and  now  has  a  pleasant  home  at  3307  Rhodes  Avenue,  Chi- 
cago. He  is  a  son  of  Charles  P.  and  Vestella  Channing  Munger,  and  grand- 
son of  Darius  S.  Munger,  who  founded  the  city  of  Wichita,  Kansas,  and  who 
was  one. of  the  pioneers  of  that  section.  In  1870  the  father  of  our  subject 
removed  to  Osage  County,  Kansas,  on  the  Marias  des  Cygnes  River,  and  there 
made  his  home  until  about  1875,  when  he  located  in  Orleans,  Indiana.  In  the 
schools  of  that  village  young  Munger  received  the  rudiments  of  his  thorough 
education,  and  there  remained  until  sixteen  years  of  age,  spending  the  time  when 
not  in  school  clerking  in  a  grocery  store.  Having  a  pronounced  taste  for  sub- 
jects of  a  philosophical  and  historical  character,  much  of  his  spare  time  was 
spent  in  reading  books  that  dwelt  on  those  topics,  and  often  when  he  might 
otherwise  have  been  engaged  with  profit- 
When  sixteen  years  old  Mr.  Munger  went  to  Newton,  Kansas ;  engaged  in 
the  grain  business  with  an  uncle  for  a  year  and  then  for  a  year  more  was  clerk 
in  an  hotel  there.  Feeling  the  desire  for  a  better  education,  he  entered  the 
Kansas  State  Agricultural  College,  remained  there  a  year  and  then  taught  school 
during  the  following  winter.  In  the  spring  of  1889  he  came  to  Chicago  and 
entered  the  law  office  of  J.  Young  Scammon.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Scammon 
he  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  and  for  two  years  attended  law  school 
at  night.  At  an  early  age  he  had  decided  on  law  as  his  chosen  calling,  and  all 
his  energies  were  directed  toward  securing  a  thorough  training  in  that  line. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Law  in  the  class  of  1892,  and 
from  that  time  until  the  present  he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  his  profession. 
Mr.  Munger  has  been  highly  successful  in  his  general  practice  and  is  noted  for 
his  untiring  industry,  for  his  unvarying  courtesy  toward  every  one  with  whom 
he  comes  in  contact,  and  for  his  thorough  and  conscientious  discharge  of  duty 
to  his  clients.  Very  few  men  of  his  age  seem  to  have  so  bright  a  future  opening 
before  them. 

In  his  political  views  Mr.  Munger  affiliates  with  the  Republican  party.  He 
has  never  held  any  public  office  or  other  political  position,  and  has  rejected  a 
number  of  offers  of  political  preferment.  Socially  he  is  a  member  of  the  Fourth 
Ward  Republican  Club,  the  Hamilton  Club  and  the  Oakland  Culture  Club.  He 
has  been  twice  elected  National  President  of  the  Young  People's  League  of  the 
New  Jerusalem  Church  at  their  annual  conference.  He  was  a  director  in  the 
Hamilton  Club  for  the  year  1898-99,  and  elected  a  member  of  the  Political 
Action  Committee  of  the  same  club  for  the  year  1899-00.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  New  Jerusalem  Church  and  takes  an  active  interest  in  its  affairs.  On  the 
3ist  of  August,  1892,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Alcmena  Silke,  who  was  born  in 
Chicago-  They  have  a  bright  little  boy  now  five  years  old. 


546 


s^ 


547 


GEORGE  W.  MILLER. 

While  hundreds  in  our  great  republic  have  risen  from  poverty  to  affluence, 
there  are  comparatively  few  who  have  won  tributes  of  admiration  and  honor 
by  reason  of  the  splendid  intellectual  achievements  which  have  gained  them 
precedence  in  the  world  of  mental  activity  as  has  George  W.  Miller.  He  was 
born  on  a  farm  near  Oilman,  111.,  January  12,  1869;  son  of  Rufus  H.  and  Ellen 
M.  Miller,  natives  of  Ohio  and  Massachusetts  respectively.  The  parents  moved 
to  Illinois  when  young,  settled  in  Marshall  County,  and  in  1868  moved  to 
Iroquois  County,  where  they  now  reside.  Five  of  their  eight  children  are  now 
living. 

George  W.  Miller,  the  only  son,  was  educated  in  the  Gilman  public  schools 
and  graduated  with  honors  from  the  High  School  there  in  1887.  For  two  years 
after  this  he  taught  school  and  then  came  to  Chicago,  where  he  entered  the 
Union  Law  College  in  1889.  After  one  year  in  that  school  he  went  to  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.,  and  in  September,  1890,  entered  the  law  department  of  the  Colum- 
bian University,  where  he  took  the  two  years'  course  in  one  year  and  graduated 
in  1891  with  the  title  of  LL.  B.  He  was  employed  in  the  Census  Office  while 
in  Washington,  and  thus  paid  his  way  through  the  university.  In  1891  he  came 
to  Chicago  and  procured  a  position  in  the  law  office  of  Hon.  James  R.  Mann, 
continuing  in  that  position  until  January  I,  1894-  He  then  became  the  junior 
member  of  the  law  firm  of  Mann,  Hayes  &  Miller.  This  firm  was  one  of  the 
best  known  in  Illinois  and  continued  until  1898,  when  it  was  dissolved  by  the 
death  of  Mr.  Hayes.  Since  then  the  firm  has  continued  as  Mann  &  Miller. 

Politically  Mr.  Miller  is  a  strong  Republican,  although  his  father  was  and 
is  as  strong  a  Democrat.  In  the  fall  of  1894  he  was  elected  a  representative  in 
the  Illinois  General  Assembly  from  the  3d  Senatorial  District,  including  the 
3  ist,  33d  and  34th  wards  in  Chicago.  He  at  once  took  a  leading  position  in 
the  House.  He  was  a  member  of  a  number  of  important  committees,  including 
Committees  on  Judiciary  and  State  and  Municipal  Civil  Service  Reform.  Dur- 
ing this  session  he  introduced  and  procured  the  passage  of  the  present  Illinois 
Pharmacy  Law,  the  present  County  Civil  Service  Law,  and  also  what  is  known 
as  the  Torrens  Law.  In  1896  he  was  re-elected  to  the  4Oth  General  Assembly 
and  was  appointed  chairman  of  Committee  on  Judicial  Department  and  Prac- 
tice ;  a  member  of  the  Judiciary,  Civil  Service,  Finance,  Elections,  and  Repub- 
lican Steering  Committees.  In  this  session  he  introduced  and  procured  the  en- 
actment of  the  law  establishing  the  Branch  Appellate  Court;  the  bill  consoli- 
dating the  Supreme  Court  at  Springfield,  and  again  procured  the  enactment 
of  the  Torrens  Bill — the  law  of  1895  having  been  declared  unconstitutional  by 
the  Illinois  Supreme  Court.  His  second  term  expired  in  the  fall  of  1898,  and 
he  voluntarily  retired  to  devote  himself  to  the  practice  of  law.  In  October, 
1897,  he  was  appointed  a  Master  in  Chancery  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Cook 
County,  to  succeed  F.  W.  C.  Hayes.  He  was  at  that  time  twenty-eight  years 
old  and  the  youngest  master  in  the  courts.  He  was  reappointed  in  December, 
1897  for  two  years,  and  again  in  December,  1899.  In  May,  1898,  he  was  elected 
president -of  the  Hamilton  Club-  This  club  is  Republican  in  politics,  has  a 
membership  of  over  1,000,  and  is  the  leading  club  of  the  kind  in  the  West. 

In  August,  1892,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Carrie  E.  Sproule  of  Chicago. 
They  now  reside  at  9223  Drexel  Ave.  Although  but  thirty-one  years  old,  he 
has  won  an  enviable  position  in  politics  and  at  the  bar.  While  in  the  legislature 
he  was  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  debaters  in  the  Assembly,  and  he  is  known 
at  the  bar  and  upon  the  public  platform  as  a  speaker  of  exceptional  eloquence. 
Possessed  of  strong  personal  magnetism,  he  never  fails  to  make  new  friends  and 
rarely  loses  an  old  one. 


548 


CLIFTON  H.  MOORE. 

Clifton  H.  Moore,  one  of  the  oldest  and  prominent  lawyers  of  the  State, 
was  born  in  Kirtland,  Lake  County,  O.,  October  26,  1817;  son  of  Isaac  and 
Philena  (Blish)  Moore,  and  a  descendant  of  good  old  Revolutionary  stock-  Isaac 
Moore  was  an  unusually  successful  farmer,  owning  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
most  of  which  he  had  cleared  off  himself.  On  this  farm  he  and  his  devoted  wife 
resided  until  1830  or  1831,  when  they  exchanged  it  with  the  Mormons  for  a 
farm  in  Warrensville,  O.  This  was  the  first  farm  bought  by  the  Mormons  of 
an  unbeliever.  John  Moore,  the  paternal  grandfather  of  Clifton  H.,  was  a 
Revolutionary  soldier,  and  was  in  Fort  Stanwix  when  it  was  besieged  by  St. 
Leger,  with  his  British  regulars  and  Indians,  and  undoubtedly  was  saved  by 
General  Herkimer  and  his  eight  hundred  "Dutchmen."  He  was  with  General 
Washington  in  all  those  masterly  movements  from  New  York  to  Yorktown 
that  culminated  in  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  This  worthy  man  came  to  Ohio 
in  1811  and  made  his  home  in  Kirtland  and  Chester,  then  in  Geauga  County, 
until  his  death,  in  1845,  when  about  ninety-five  years  old.  He  was  a  self-made 
man,  having  been  left  an  orphan  when  but  five  years  old,  and  he  was  appren- 
ticed to  an  uncle,  named  Hyde,  as  soon  as  large  enough  to  work.  He  was 
engaged  in  fighting  the  Indians  and  British  for  ten  years,  being  first  with  the 
Third  New  York  Regiment  under  Colonel  Gansevort,  and  afterwards  with  the 
First  Regiment,  commanded  by  Colonel  Goose  Van  Schaick.  After  his  dis- 
charge from  the  army  he  made  some  effort  to  find  his  brothers  and  sisters,  but 
with  poor  mail  facilities  and  little  means  he  did  not  make  much  headway.  He, 
however,  found  one  sister  who  had  married  a  man  by  the  name  of  Groome,  and 
from  her  he  learned  that  the  other  children  had  gone  to  Virginia  and  Kentucky. 

Clifton  H.  Moore  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  manner  of  most  farmer  lads. 
In  the  active,  healthful  pursuits  of  the  farm,  with  plenty  of  pure  air  and  sun- 
shine, wholesome  food  and  hard  work,  he  grew  strong  and  robust  and  sound 
of  mind  and  body.  From  the  age  of  ten  to  fifteen  Mr.  Moore  can  truthfully 
boast  of  seeing  most  of  the  theological  luminaries  of  that  clay  in  Ohio,  consist- 
ing of  Hartwell,  Badger,  Rigdon,  Alexander  Campbell,  his  father  Thomas  Camp- 
bell, Joseph  Smith,  P.  P.  Pratt,  Orson  Hyde  and  Evangelists  Bouchard,  Finney 
and  Foot.  The  last  named  could  beat  Milton,  Pollock  or  Dante  in  describing 
the  torments  of  the  damned-  With  all  these  teachings  and  teachers  before  him, 
it  should  not  surprise  any  one  that  Mr.  Moore  has  not  joined  any  church, 
although  he  gives  liberally  to  all  of  them.  Up  to  the  age  of  sixteen  he  assisted 
on  the  farm  and  attended  school  winters,  after  which  his  father  "gave  him  his 
time,"  and  he  attended  school  at  Bedford  that  summer.  Up  to  1839  ne  went 
to  school  in  summer  and  taught  during  the  winter,  and  then  decided  to  turn 
his  face  toward  the  West.  About  the  first  of  May  of  that  year  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  settled  in  Pekin,  with  less  than  five  dollars  in  his  pocket,  but  with 
an  unlimited  amount  of  pluck  and  energy.  He  taught  in  Pekin  until  the  spring 
of  1840,  when  he  was  offered  a  position  to  write  in  the  court  house  at  Tremont 
by  Officers  John  H.  Morrison  and  John  Albert  Jones,  both  clerks  there.  Mr. 
Moore  now  remembers  both  with  deep  gratitude.  At  this  time  he  commenced 
reading  law  with  Messrs.  Baily  &  Wilmot,  and  in  1841  was  admitted  to  practice. 
Another  friend  who  aided  him  very  materially  with  advice  and  kind  acts  was 
Littleton  T.  Garth. 

In  August,  1841,  he  came  to  Clinton,  DeWitt  County,  111.,  and  in  connec- 
tion with  law  carried  on  other  enterprises,  for  he  saw  how  impossible  it  would 
be  for  any  lawyer,  in  any  of  the  small  county  seats,  to  make  more  than  a  decent 
living  by  the  pure  practice  of  law.  He  invested  all  his  spare  means  in  land,  the 
only  thing  in  which  money  could  be  made  in  Central  Illinois  in  that  early  day, 
and  has  surveyed  and  entered  in  his  time,  mostly  for  others,  between  seventy 

550 


<<p .  oy,  sh- 


551 


and  seventy-five  thousand  acres  of  land  in  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Missouri.  Although 
now  past  his  eightieth  birthday,  the  hand  of  time  has  dealt  leniently  with  him, 
and  he  hopes  to  remain  here  many  years.  He  thinks  Illinois  good  enough  for 
him.  He  attends  to  his  business  regularly  and  goes  to  Iowa,  Nebraska  and 
Kansas  once  a  year  to  look  after  his  lands  and  decide  upon  improvements. 


DAVID  S.  MYERS. 

David  S.  Myers  of  Pontiac,  111.,  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  His  grandfather  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  State.  His  father,  William  Myers,  was  born  in  1814  in  Brown 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  married  his  wife,  Margaret  E.  Myers-  William  Myers, 
politically,  was  identified  with  the  Whig  party.  He  was  an  anti-slayery_man, 
and  was  ranked  as  an  abolitionist  before  and  during  the  Civil  WarTtle  was 
an  earnest  agitator  for  universal  freedom,  and  no  man,  fleeing  from  slavery, 
was  ever  refused  assistance  in  his  effort  to  gam  his  freedom.  Mr.  Myers  was 
a  helper  in  the  "Underground  Railway"  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State.  He 
lived  on  a  farm  near  Russellville,  Ohio,  for  many  years,  within  one  mile  of  his 
birthplace.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming,  and  teaching  in  the  public 
schools  of  that  county.  He  taught  school  for  forty  successive  years,  beginning 
his  work  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Mr.  Myers  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party  immediately  upon  its  organization  and  voted  the  ticket  year  by  year  until 
his  death  in  March,  1896.  Mrs.  Myers,  the  mother  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  and  brought  up  near  Georgetown,  Ohio,  and  for  a  number  of  years 
was  a  schoolmate  of  the  late  CT.  S.  Grant.  She  was  born  in  1823,  and  died  in 
1897. 

David  S.  Myers  was  born  near  Russellville,  Ohio,  February  10,  1858,  and 
his  father  afforded  him  every  advantage  for  acquiring  a  good  education.  Upon 
reaching  man's  estate,  Mr.  Myers  followed  the  occupation  of  teaching  for  about 
five  years-  He  then  engaged  in  the  real  estate  business  at  Pontiac  in  the  year 
1885,  and  continued  that  business  until  February,  1899.  During  this  period  he 
was  engaged  largely  in  the  purchase  of  swamp  lands  in  Illinois.  His  real  estate 
operations  were  large,  and  among  these  there  was  the  making  of  seven  additions 
to  the  town  of  Pontiac.  These  acreage  properties  were  from  time  to  time  sub- 
divided into  town  lots  and  sold  to  prospective  home  builders.  In  1899  Mr. 
Myers  made  a  new  departure  in  business  and  organized  the  Pontiac  State  Bank. 
He  was  made  president  of  this  institution  by  a  unanimous  vote  of  the  stock- 
holders. This  bank,  although  new,  bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant financial  institutions  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Myers  cast  his  first  vote  in  1880  for  James  A.  Garfield  for  President, 
including  the  whole  of  the  Republican  ticket,  and  has  been  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  Republican  party  from  that  date.  Mr.  Myers  was  elected  Mayor  of  Pon- 
tiac on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1897.  In  1898  he  was  elected  chairman  of  the 
Republican  County  Central  Committee  of  Livingston  County. 

David  S.  Myers  was  married  February  9,  1887,  to  Louise  Catherine  Slyder, 
daughter  of  Simon  F.  Slyder  of  Pontiac,  one  of  the  best-known  residents  of  the 
county,  and  an  old  citizen  of  the  county,  who  has  reared  a  family  of  five  daugh- 
ters and  five  sons,  all  of  whom  are  grown  to  maturity  and  are  prominent  citizens 
of  Livingston  County.  Mr.  Myers  has  had  an  active,  successful  career  at  Pon- 
tiac, and  he  possesses  the  entire  confidence  of  the  public. 


552 


553 


GEORGE  W.  PATTON. 

George  W.  Pattern,  of  Pontiac,  111.,  was  elected  Circuit  Judge  in  the  Elev- 
enth Judicial  Circuit,  June  7,  1897,  and  on  the  bench  is  adding  to  the  high  repu- 
tation for  legal  ability  which  he  won  at  the  bar.  He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in 
Woodford  County,  in  this  State,  whither  he  was  brought  in  infancy  from  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1851,  by  his  parents,  Samuel  R.  and  Jane  Patton.  His  father  was 
a  man  of  broad  mind  and  great  force  of  character.  His  mother  was  possessed 
of  a  remarkable  memory,  keen  wit  and  strong  common  sense. 

Judge  Patton  was  educated  at  the  State  Normal  University  at  Normla, 
III.,  finishing  the  course  in  1871-  He  studied  law  with  the  celebrated  firm  of 
Hay,  Green  and  Littler,  at  Springfield,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  by  the 
Supreme  Court  in  1875,  in  the  same  class  with  Hon.  W.  J.  Calhoun,  ex-Senator 
T.  C.  Kerrick,  of  Bloomington,  and  George  Torrance,  now  Superintendent  of 
Illinois  State  Reformatory.  After  engaging  in  teaching  and  other  pursuits  for 
several  years  to  procure  funds  for  a  home  and  a  law  library,  he  began  prac- 
tice in  Fairbury,  111.,  in  1881,  but  in  1883  removed  to  Pontiac,  the  county  seat 
of  Livingston.  Within  ten  years  he  was  rated  as  one  of  the  leading  lawyers 
of  the  Eleventh  Circuit.  He  never  held  any  office  until  his  election  to  the 
bench,  and  his  service  as  a  jurist  has  been  marked  by  ability  and  probity. 

His  devotion  to  the  law  has  not  prevented  him  from  familiarizing  himself 
with  good  literature  and  general  history.  He  also  has  a  comprehensive  grasp 
of  current  issues  and  the  concerns  of  public  policy.  He  is  a  staunch  advocate 
of  a  protctive  tariff  along  the  lines  of  the  present  law.  He  favors  the  gold 
standard  until  the  great  commercial  nations  agree  upon  some  other,  and  en- 
dorses our  national  banking  system.  He  strenuously  opposes  "asset  banking," 
believing  it  to  be  unsafe  and  perilous.  Pie  stands  for  national  expansion  and 
the  retention  by  the  United  States  of  every  island,  Cuba  excepted,  where  Amer- 
ican valor  has  planted  the  flag. 

Judge  Patton  joined  the  Republican  party  in  1886,  and  was  at  once  put 
into  the  field  as  a  speaker.  Prior  to  that  he  was  in  a  sense  a  "free  lance,"  but 
never  supported  the  Democratic  State  or  National  candidates.  As  a  rule,  he 
supported  the  Republican  candidates-  Since  1886  he  has  always  voted  the 
Republican  ticket  from  President  down.  In  the  campaigns  of  1888,  1892,  1894 
and  1896  he  spoke  under  the  auspices  of  the  Republican  State  Central  Com- 
mittee. Of  Judge  Patton's  ability  as  a  political  speaker  and  committeeman,  the 
following  extract  from  a  letter  from  Hon.  Samuel  P.  Mooney,  of  Springfield, 
111.,  in  answer  to  inquiry  on  the  subject,  gives  evidence:  "1  well  remember  his 
valuable  services  as  a  member  of  our  State  Central  Committee  from  1894  to 
1896.  His  prompt  attendance  and  active  labors  as  such  member,  together  with 
his  earnest  and  able  work  as  one  of  our  speakers,  did  very  much  to  bring  about 
our  splendid  victory  in  1894.  In  1896  I  was  again  placed  at  the  head  of  our 
Bureau  on  Speakers,  and  in  making  up  my  list  I  placed  Judge  Patton's  name 
among  the  most  prominent  speakers  of  our  party  in  the  State.  He  was  as- 
signed to  speak  in  a  large  number  of  places,  such  as  Tuscola,  Lincoln,  Aledo, 
Streator,  Lexington,  Bloomington,  Riverside,  Englewood,  El  Paso,  Kewanee, 
Princeton,  Ottawa,  and  in  Chicago  the  entire  last  week  of  the  campaign.  I 
received  a  report  from  all  his  meetings,  and  can  say  truthfully  that  we  had  no 
speaker  that  gave  better  satisfaction,  and  did  more,  in  my  opinion,  to  promote 
our  success  in  that  campaign  that  he  did.  The  earnest,  clear,  logical  and  elo- 
quent way  in  which  he  set  forth  the  principles  of  our  party  and  the  forcible 
manner  in  which  he  showed  up  the  fallacies  of  the  'heaven-born  ratio  of  16  to  I,' 
did  a  great  deal  to  enlighten,  strengthen  and  encourage  our  Republican  friends 
as  well  as  convince  many  Democratic  voters  of  their  error.  The  Republican 
party  owes  him  much  for  his  grand  and  successful  work,  and  he  did  it  without 
fee  or  reward  from  the  committee." 

554 


555 


Judge  Pattern  married  Miss  Flo  Cook,  of  Fairbury,  111.,  Sept.  20,  1877. 
They  have  two  children,  Marie,  aged  16,  and  Proctor,  aged  6.  The  social  posi- 
tion of  the  family  is  of  the  highest.  The  Judge  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
and  Odd  Fellows'  societies,  and  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Reared 
amid  humble  environments,  he  attributes  his  success  to  hard  work  in  his  pro- 
fession and  the  partiality  shown  him  by  the  common  people. 


ISAAC  N.  PEARSON. 

This  eminent  member  of  the  Republican  party  of  Illinois  was  born  in 
Centerville,  Butler  County,  Penn.,  July  27,  1842.  His  parents  were  Isaac  S. 
and  Lydia  (Painter)  Pearson,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  ancestors 
came  from  England  in  1686,  settling  in  Philadelphia,  among  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  father  of  Isaac  N.  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits,  and  served 
with  distinction  in  the  Legislature  of  Pennsylvania  as  a  representative  of  the 
Whig  party.  He  died  in  1845,  leaving  seven  children,  Isaac  N.  being  the 
youngest.  Upon  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  widow  with  her  family  moved 
to  Newcastle,  Penn.,  and  in  1849  came  to  Illinois,  settling  near  La  Harpe.  In 
1858  she  moved  to  Macomb,  111.,  where  she  resided  until  her  death  in  1872,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years.  Isaac  N.  Pearson  was  educated  near  La  Harpe 
and  at  Macomb,  and  during  his  early  years  did  much  to  assist  his  widowed 
mother,  working  on  a  farm  and  on  the  streets,  chopping  wood,  making  gar- 
dens, and  various  other  similar  labors,  with  which  to  secure  money  to  educate 
himself  and  sustain  his  mother. 

About  the  time  the  war  broke  out  he  secured  a  situation  in  the  office  of 
the  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  upon  becoming  of  age  was  appointed  deputy 
by  that  official.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican,  and  upon  the  success  of  the 
Democratic  ticket  in  1864  he  lost  his  position,  and  the  following  spring  ac- 
cepted a  clerkship  in  a  banking  house  in  Bushnell,  where  he  remained  till 
1868.  In  that  year,  the  Republicans  having  succeeded  in  electing  their  ticket 
in  McDonough  County, .he  was  given  his  old  position  as  deputy  clerk,  which  he 
retained  for  four  years.  So  efficient  were  his  services  that  in  1872  the  party 
honored  him  by  a  unanimous  nomination  for  the  office  of  Circuit  Clerk,  to 
which  he  was  elected  by  a  greater  majority  than  any  other  member  on  the 
ticket.  In  1876  he  was  renominated  by  acclamation,  and  was  again  elected  by  a 
greater  majority  than  any  other  on  the  ticket,  running  three  hundred  votes 
ahead.  In  June,  1880,  before  his  term  of  office  had  expired  he  was  elected 
cashier  of  the  Union  National  Bank  of  Macomb,  which  office  he  occupied  until 
January,  1883,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  the  office  of  representative  in  the 
Thirty-third  General  Asembly  from  the  Twenty-seventh  District,  composed  of 
the  counties  of  McDonough  and  Warren,  having  been  elected  the  previous 
November.  Upon  his  resignation  of  his  position  as  cashier,  he  .was  elected  vice- 
president  of  the  bank.  In  the  Legislature  Mr.  Pearson  introduced,  among 
other  important  measures,  the  original  bill  for  the  appointing  of  State  In- 
spectors of  Coal  Mines,  out  of  which  grew  the  present  excellent  law  on  that 
subject.  During  the  session  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Fees  and 
Salaries,  a  member  of  the  Committees  on  Corporations,  Banks  and  Banking, 
Finance,  and  several  special  committees.  In  1886  he  was  nominated  by  ac- 
clamation for  the  office  of  State  Senator,  and  was  elected  over  the  Democratic- 
Greenback  candidate  by  581  majority.  During  the  session  of  the  Thirty-fifth 
Assembly  he  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Mines  and  Mining,  and  mem- 
ber of  the  Committees  on  Appropriations,  Banks  and  Banking,  Railroads,  Fees 
and  Salaries,  Military,  State  Library,  Roads  and  Highways,  and  several  special 
committees.  In  the  State  Convention  of  1888  he  was  a  candidate  for  Secretary  of 
State,  the  opposing  candidates  being  General  J.  N.  Reece,  Hon.  W-  F.  Calhoun, 

556 


557 


ex-Speaker  of  the  House,  and  Hon.  Thomas  C.  McMillan.  After  an  exciting- 
contest  Mr.  Pearson  was  nominated  on  the  fifth  ballot.  He  immediately  resigned 
his  office  as  State  Senator  and  entered  into  the  State  campaign  with  great  spirit, 
and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  25,287,  the  largest  given  any  candidate  on  the 
ticket.  In  January,  1889,  he  assumed  the  duties  of  Secretary  of  State,  and  made 
an  efficient  and  popular  officer,  with  the  people  of  the  State,  and  extremely 
popular  in  the  ranks  of  his  party.  In  1892  he  was  renominated  with  little,  if  any, 
opposition,  receiving  1,081  votes  out  of  1,235.  The  Democrats  carrying  the 
State  that  year,  he  with  all  other  Republican  candidates  was  defeated,  but  his 
popularity  was  shown  by  his  running  nearly  6,000  votes  ahead  of  the  Presi- 
dential ticket.  Upon  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  office  he  returned  to  Macomb 
and  devoted  his  time  in  looking  after  his  various  business  interests. 

In  1894  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jennie  M.  Robinson,  a  daughter 
of  Honorable  J.  C.  Robinson,  deceased,  a  former  prominent  Democratic  poli- 
tician of. the  State.  Mrs.  Pearson  lived  but  a  few  months  after  her  marriage, 
dying  the  September  following.  Mr.  Pearson  is  one  of  the  stockholders  and  di- 
rectors of  the  Macomb  Pottery  Company,  and  of  the  Macomb  Electric  Light 
and  Gas  Company,  and  a  stockholder  in  the  Union  National  Bank  of  Macomb ; 
he  is  also  a  large  land  holder.  He  is  prominent  in  secret  society  circles,  being 
a  Mason  and  Knight  Templar,  a  member  of  the  A.  O.  U.  W.,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Odd  Fellows,  in  all  of  which  organizations  he  is  active  and  is  a 
popular  member  and  speaker.  He  is  a  man  of  excellent  business  ability  and  of 
strict  integrity.  In  person  Mr.  Pearson  is  tall,  dignified  and  polished  in  his 
manners,-  sociable,  temperate  and  generous,  and  there  is  no  charitable  object, 
nor  public  enterprise,  but  what  secures  his  hearty  and  active  support- 


EMERY  B.  MOORE. 

E.  B.  Moore  of  Austin,  Chicago,  111.,  is  a  descendant  of  Revolutionary 
stock.  His  ancestors  came  to  this  country  at  an  early  date,  in  search  of  religious 
and  civil  liberty.  His  great-grandfather,  Noah  Bardwell,  was  an  officer  under 
General  Washington  during  the  Revolutionary  War. 

E.  B.  Moore  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  educated  at  Wilburham 
Academy.  He  was  employed  as  a  bookkeeper  at  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and 
when  twenty-four  was  at  the  head  of  the  firm  of  I.  S.  Parsons  &  Co.,  Florence, 
Massachusetts.  His  health  being  somewhat  impaired,  he  decided  to  take  a  rest 
and  come  west  and  seek  a  wider  field  for  his  enterprise  and  energy.  He  reached 
Chicago  in  1875,  and  permanently  located  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Moore  has  built 
up  a  very  large  business,  and  is  now  the  largest  individual  manufacturer  of  wood 
carpet  and  parquet  floors  in  the  United  States.  He  has  brought  to  bear  upon 
his  business  a  high  style  of  art,  both  in  the  design  and  construction  of  this  class 
of  work,  and  now  produces  in  large  quantities  in  numerous  designs,  beautiful 
floor  material  for  public  and  private  buildings.  He  is  also  a  large  manufac- 
turer and  dealer  in  hard  lumber  for  flooring. 

Mr-  Moore  has  been  a  lifelong  Republican.  He  has  never  held  an  elective 
office,  although  he  has  been  frequently  urged  to  become  a  candidate ;  he  prefers 
to  remain  a  worker  in  the  ranks.  He  never  fails  to  render  substantial  aid  to 
the  party  at  all  times.  He  was  president  of  the  Board  of  Education,  District 
No.  2,  in  the  Town  of  Cicero,  from  1892  to  1896. 

E.  B.  Moore  was  married  November  28,  1867,  to  Susan  Ella  Smith,  of 
Northampton,  Mass.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  have  a  beautiful  home  at  Austin, 
and  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances.  They  dispense  a  generous 
hospitality,  and  are  both  earnest  and  diligent  in  church  work. 


558 


lijmw' 


> — ^ 


559 


GEORGE  RECORD  PECK. 

George  R.  Peck,  lawyer,  born  near  Cameron,  Steuben  County,  N.  Y.,  May 
15,  1843,  was  the  youngest  son  of  Joel  M.  and  Amanda  (Purdy)  Peck;  his 
earliest  American  ancestor  was  William  Peck,  who  came  from  England  to  New 
England  in  1637.  His  parents  removed  in  1849^0  Jefferson  County,  Wis.,  set- 
tled near  Palmyra,  where  he  remained  at  home,  alternating  work  and  study, 
until  1861.  He  was  fond  of  study,  and  early  manifested  a  keen  love  for  litera- 
ture, reading  every  good  book  within  reach,  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
entered  the  Palmyra  high  school.  Two  years  later  he  became  a  teacher,  and 
in  1859  entered  Milton  College,  at  Milton,  Wis. 

On  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  left  college,  and  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  the  First  Wisconsin  Heavy  Artillery,  of  which  he  soon  became  a  lieutenant ; 
and  finally  was  promoted  to  a  captaincy  in  the  Thirty-first  Wisconsin  Infantry. 
He  was  with  Sherman's  army  in  its  march  to  the  sea,  and  was  engaged  in  all 
the  important  battles  and  sieges  of  that  eventful  campaign.  In  the  spring  of 
1865  he  participated  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and,  having  been  mus- 
tered out  of  service,  returned  to  Janesville,  Wis.,  where  he  began  the  study  of 
law.  In  1866  he  was  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  this  being  his  first  and  last 
elective  office. 

In  1871  Mr.  Peck  removed  to  Independence,  Kan.,  in  company  with  George 
Chandler,  afterwards  Assistant  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  and  there  practiced 
his  profession  until  1874,  when  he  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  United 
States  District  Attorney  for  Kansas.  His  first  great  case  was  an  action  on 
behalf  of  the  government  for  the  recovery  of  960,000  acres  of  land  in  Kansas, 
including  a  large  proportion  of  the  counties  of  Labette,  Neosho,  Montgomery, 
Allen  and  Wilson.  He  was  reappointed  to  the  position  by  President  Hayes,  but 
resigned  three  years  later  to  form  a  partnership  in  Topeka,  with  Hon.  Thomas 
Ryan,  who  was  later  United  States  Minister  to  Mexico,  and  is  now  (1900)  As- 
sistant Secretary  of  the  Interior.  In  1879  ne  was  retained  by  the  Atchison,  To- 
peka &  Santa  Fe  Railroad  Company,  and  for  fourteen  years  from  1881,  with 
the  exception  of  a  few  months,  was  General  Solicitor  of  its  entire  system  of 
railways,  extending  through  thirteen  States  and  Territories. 

His  skillful  defense  of  an  injunction  suit  in  1891,  brought  against  the  com- 
pany by  a  stockholder  of  the  St.  Louis  &  San  Francisco  Railway,  a  part  of  the 
Great  Atchison  System,  which  they  were  atempting  to  purchase,  gave  him  a 
reputation  among  the  foremost  railroad  lawyers  of  the  country.  In  1892,  his 
successful  defense  of  the  Trans-Missouri  Freight  Association,  which  had  been 
arraigned  by  the  United  States  Attorney  General,  under  the  Anti-Trust  Act, 
again  brought  him  prominently  before  the  country,  as  an  able  and  eloquent 
advocate.  He  removed  from  Topeka  to  Chicago  in  1893,  and  when  the  Atchison 
System  went  into  liquidation  in  December  of  that  year,  he  demonstrated  his 
ability  to  deal  with  the  difficult  problems  of  the  receivership  by  entering  on  a 
policy  which  effected  reorganization  in  a  marvelously  short  period.  He  re- 
signed as  general  solicitor  of  the  Atchison  System  in  September,  1895,  to  be- 
come general  counsel  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  Company, 
and  also  formed  the  firm  of  Peck,  Miller  &  Starr,  which  has  been  concerned 
in  reorganization  proceedings  and  general  legal  business  for  several  of  the 
largest  railroad  corporations  in  the  country. 

Mr.  Peck  has  been  a  life-long  Republican,  and  has  always  been  a  prominent 
factor  in  politics.  Upon  the  death  of  Senator  P.  B.  Plumb,  in  1892,  he  was 
strongly  urged  to  accept  election  as  United  States  Senator  from  Kansas,  but 
declined,  and  has  since  confined  his  political  services  to  making  speeches  in 
behalf  of  Republican  National  and  State  candidates,  and  to  the  duties 'of  delegate 
to  several  conventions.  He  was  widely  mentioned  as  a  Presidential  possibility 
in  1896,  but  declined  to  allow  his  name  used. 


560 


561 


Socially,  he  enjoys  a  wide  popularity  and  influence.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  Chicago,  University,  Marquette  and  Union  League  Clubs  of  Chicago,  and 
is  a  moving  spirit  in  the  Loyal  Legion,  of  which  he  has  been  commander.  He 
exerts  wide  influence  in  behalf  of  patriotism,  good  government,  sound  morals 
and  practical  Christianity.  He  has  repeatedly  made  orations  at  university,  pub- 
lic and  educational  celebrations,  and  is  reputed  one  of  the  most  eloquent  men 
in  the  West.  He  believes  in  the  widest  and  highest  possible  education,  and 
that  the  state  should  provide  it.  He  abhors  avarice  and  the  thousand  social 
ills  to  which  it  leads-  He  shows  his  faith  in  his  principles  by  adorning  his  life 
with  deeds  of  kindness  and  generosity.  He  is  justly  considered  one  of  the  fore- 
most citizens  of  the  West.  In  1866  he  was  married  to  Miss  Arabella  Burdick, 
daughter  of  R.  S.  and  Abbie  Burdick  of  Janesville,  Wis.,  who  died  at  San  An- 
tonio, Texas,  March  5,  1896. 


GEORGE  H.  MUNROE. 

George  H.  Munroe  resides  in  Joliet,  Will  County,  where  he  has  become 
prominent  in  business  and  politics,  and  has  been  one  of  the  leaders  in  building 
up  that  large  and  prosperous  city.  He  was  born  in  Brownville,  Jefferson 
County,  N.  Y.,  September  24,  1844,  and  came  to  Will  County  with  his  parents 
in  1849.  They  settled  upon  a  farm  south  of  Joliet,  where  they  resided  until  the 
fall  of  1862,  when  they  removed  to  Joliet,  his  father  having  been  elected  Sheriff 
of  the  county.  Mr.  Munroe  served  as  Deputy  Sheriff  under  his  father. 

In  1865  he  entered  into  partnership  with  his  father,  George  Munroe,  under 
the  firm  name  of  G.  Munroe  *&  Son,  the  firm  doing  a  retail  and  wholesale 
produce  and  grocery  business  for  upwards  of  twenty  years.  Mr.  Munroe's 
principal  business  now,  however,  is  the  mortgage  loan  and  real  estate  business, 
in  company  with  his  only  brother,  Major  Edwin  S.  Munroe,  under  the  firm  name 
of  George  H.  &  Edwin  S.  Munroe.  Mr.  Munroe  has  filled  many  positions  of 
trust  to  his  credit  and  to  the  advantage  of  the  estates  and  trusts  placed  in  his 
care.  He  is  interested  in  farm  lands,  and  his  farm,  known  as  "Hotel  Munroe 
Farm,"  near  Joliet,  is  one  of  the  well  known  farms  of  Will  County-  He  is  a 
director  and  vice-president  of  the  Western  Stone  Company  of  Chicago,  and  also 
a  director  in  the  Joliet  National  Bank  of  Joliet. 

Mr.  Munroe  has  ever  been  an  earnest  Republican,  taking  an  unusual  interest 
in  clean  politics,  but  has  never  been  an  office  seeker.  In  the  fall  of  1894,  when 
his  party  tendered  him  the  nomination  of  State  Senator,  he  gladly  accepted  the 
honor  and  did  his  part  in  joining  his  colleagues  in  a  thorough  canvass  of  the 
county,  every  candidate  on  the  Republican  ticket  receiving  unprecedented  majori- 
ties, his  own  majority  being  over  2,500,  although  four  years  before  the  Demo- 
crats had  elected  their  Senator.  In  the  Democratic  city  of  Joliet,  where  so  many 
laboring  men  reside,  Mr.  Munroe's  majority  was  over  1,100.  In  the  Senate 
he  was  placed  upon  the  leading  committees,  and  was  one  of  its  hardest  workers 
and  most  efficient  members,  being  the  author  of  a  number  of  important  bills, 
which  became  laws.  All  worthy  measures  received  his  support. 

Many  of  the  unfortunates  of  the  State  have  good  reason  to  remember  the 
hard  work  of  Senator  Munroe.  It  was  owing  to  the  tact  and  persistence  of 
Mr.  Munroe  that  the  following  institutions  were  established :  The  Woman's 
Relief  Corps  Home,  located  at  Wilmington ;  the  Female  Prison  in  Joliet ;  the 
Home  for  the  Incurable  Insane  located  at  Peoria,  now  nearing  completion,  all 
these  bills  having  been  introduced  by  him  in  the  Senate.  At  the  end  of  his  term 
Mr.  Munroe  declined  to  be  considered  as  a  candidate,  feeling  that  he  could  not 
longer  neglect  his  private  affairs. 


562 


ys^Si-     'f 


563 


WILLIAM  P.  PEIRCE. 

Hon.  William  P.  Peirce  of  Hoopeston,  111.,. was  born  in  Villenova,  Chau- 
tauqua  Co.,  N.  Y.,  March  25,  1830.  He  is  a  son  of  Austin  Peirce  of  New  York- 
State,  a  man  of  recognized  standing  in  public  affairs  and  a  noted  physician  and 
surgeon.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  educated  at  the  Academy,  now  the 
State  Normal  School  at  Fredonia,  N.  Y.  He  devoted  some  years  to  teaching, 
preceding  his  study  of  medicine  and  surgery,  and  was  finally  graduated  at  the 
University  in  the  City  of  New  York  in  the  class  of  1852.  He  removed  from  his 
native  state  to  Coldwater,  near  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession.  At  that  time  the  agitation  of  the  slavery  question  began.  Dr. 
Peirce  remained  at  Coldwater  for  four  years,  but  in  the  spring  of  1856  he  de- 
cided to  leave  the  south,  believing  from  the  intensity  and  bitterness  of  feeling 
then  prevailing  in  the  south,  that  a  great  collision  at  arms  between  the  south 
and  the  government  was  imminent  in  the  near  future.  Being  under  an  un- 
pleasant espionage  by  reason  of  his  outspoken  Union  sentiments,  he  abandoned 
his  lucrative  practice  in  Mississippi  and  removed  to  Lisbon,  Kendall  Co.,  111. 
On  December  i8th,  1856,  he  was  married  to  Mary,  eldest  daughter  of  Levi  H. 
Rood  of  La  Salle  Co.  Dr.  Peirce  took  an  active  part  in  the  Republican  cam- 
paign of  1856,  making  many  public  speeches  for  Fremont  in  Northern  Illinois. 
He  was  even  more  active  and  eloquent  in  the  support  of  Lincoln  in  1866,  and 
created  a  sensation  by  repeating  in  northern  Illinois  the  substance  of  a  speech 
he  heard  made  by  Senator  Henry  S.  Foot  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss. 

On  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  Dr.  Peirce  offered  his  services  as  a 
medical  officer,  but  on  learning  that  three  hundred  and  forty-six  applicants  were 
awaiting  examination,  he  at  once  commenced  raising  a  company,  and  on  the 
1 5th  day  of  July,  1861,  Company  "D,"  36th  Illinois  Volunteers  was  enrolled 
and  he  was  commissioned  captain.  He  served  in  the  command  of  his  company 
until  he  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the  88th  Illinois  Infantry,  more  commonly 
known  as  the  "2nd  Board  of  Trade  Regiment."  Later  he  was  selected  as  a 
Brigade  Surgeon  under  General  William  A.  Lytle.  Dr-  Peirce  was  then  de- 
tailed for  service  on  the  Operating  Board  of  the  2nd  Division,  4th  Army  Corps, 
and  served  in  the  sanguinary  engagements  at  Chattanooga,  Missionary  Ridge, 
Resacca,  Dallas,  Kennesaw  Mountain,  and  Atlanta.  He  was  afterwards  chief 
operating  surgeon  of  the  division  until  the  close  of  the  war.  During  his  mil- 
itary service  of  four  years  he  was  accountable  for  large  quantities  of  govern- 
ment property,  valued  at  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars,  yet,  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  he  was  in  a  few  weeks  able  to  settle  with  the  Auditor  of  the  Treasury 
and  obtain  his  receipt  in  full  for  every  article  which  had  passed  through  his 
hands. 

In  1866  he  was  elected  to  represent  his  county  in  the  State  Legislature  and 
served  with  faithfulness  and  integrity.  Two  years  later  he  declined  a  re-nom- 
ination. In  1869  he  was  almost  unanimously  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  conven- 
tion of  1869  and  1870,  called  to  revise  the  State  Constitution.  In  that  body  his 
faithfulness,  industry,  and  skill  in  debate  gave  him  prominence,  and  many 
clauses  and  sections  of  that  instrument  were  written  by  his  pen.  The  questions 
relating  to  the  power  of  municipalities  to  vote  aid  to,  or  take  stock  in  rail- 
road or  other  corporations,  were,  after  weeks  of  angry  debate,  settled  by  him 
in  a  brief  speech  proposing  a  separate  submission  of  the  question  to  the  people. 
The  "Peirce  section,"  now  a  part  of  the  State  Constitution,  denies  to  all  muni- 
cipalities the  right  to  vote  aid  for,  or  make  donations  to,  or  become  a  stockholder 
in,  any  railroad  or  other  corporation.  His  most  remarkable  public  document, 
as  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Federal  Relations,  was  on  the  power  of  a  state 
to  limit,  or  restrict,  or  deny,  by  constitutional  amendment  or  otherwise,  the 
power  of  the  State  Legislature  to  act  upon  proposed  amendments  to  the  Consti- 
tution of  the  United  States.  He  denied  such  constitutional  authority. 

564 


/       . 


565 


In  1870  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate,  and  took  a  leading  part,  serving 
on  the  most  important  committees.  Dr.  Peirce  was  recently  first  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  chairman  of  its  committee  on 
Surgery,  and  has  written  largely  on  surgical  topics.  His  services  have  always 
been  called  for  in  political  campaigns,  and  he  has  gallantly  sustained  and  de- 
fended the  principles  and  policy  of  the  Republican  party.  His  voice  has  been 
heard  in  several  counties  of  Northern  and  Eastern  Illinois,  pressing  the  claims 
of  the  Republican  standard  bearers  from  Fremont  to  McKinley. 

Dr.  Peirce  has  been  twice  married.  His  first  marriage  was  unfruitful.  In 
1879  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  Anderson,  and  to  them  were  born  four  sons, 
William  P.  Peirce,  Jr.,  June  26,  1880,  James  Garfield  Peirce,  Sept.  12,  1881, 
Gurdon  Lamartine  Peirce,  July  5,  1884,  and  John  Logan  Peirce,  May  2,  1887. 
It  will  be  seen  from  this  brief  sketch  of  Dr.  Peirce,  that  he  has  had  an  interesting 
and  eventful  career.  He  is  a  man  of  great  influence  in  the  community  in 
which  he  lives,  a  recognized  leader  in  the  thought  and  action  of  his  people.  As 
a  Physician,  Surgeon,  Soldier,  and  a  Stalwart  Republican  Orator,  he  stands  out 
in  the  history  of  the  state  of  Illinois  as  an  interesting,  unique  personality. 


HENRY  D.  NICHOLLS. 

No  one  knows  better  than  the  trained  politician  how  valuable  to  his  organ- 
ization and  to  the  successful  accomplishment  of  a  legislative  program  is  the 
work  of  the  unostentatious  but  able  committeeman.  The  saying,  "old  men  for 
counsel,  young  men  for  action,"  is  very  true,  but  in  the  case  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  it  has  been  reversed.  Henry  D.  Nicholls  was  a  good  man  for  coun- 
sel, although  he  was  young  when  he  was  in  politics,  but  being  young,  he  was  also 
available  for  action.  The  valuable  services  he  rendered  his  state  and  his  party 
were  far-reaching  in  their  effect,  and  will  not  soon  be  forgotten.  Mr.  Nicholls 
has  been  a  stalwart  Republican  all  his  life,  and  he  served  his  party  well,  both  in 
office  and  out.  He  came  from  the  land  of  the  Quakers,  being  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, March  13,  1846.  His  education  was  received  in  the  high  schools  of 
his  native  city,  where  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  youth.  The  sturdy  thrift  of 
his  stock  required  that  the  children  should  learn  some  profitable  trade  or  occu- 
pation, and  accordingly  when  young  Nicholls  completed  his  schooling  he  at 
once  transferred  his  energies  to  the  carpenter's  bench,  to  which  he  devoted 
himself  for  several  years,  and  in  which  he  attained  a  thorough  knowledge  and 
proficiency. 

In  1865,  the  fever  that  drew  men  out  into  the  West  almost  against  their 
wills  took  possession  of  Mr.  Nicholls,  and  he  forthwith  crossed  the  plains  and 
spent  three  years  on  the  frontier.  He  then  returned  to  Philadelphia  and  became 
foreman  of  Disston  &  Sons'  famous  saw  manufactory.  His  technical  skill  and 
adaptability  kept  him  in  the  foremost  ranks  of  the  men  whose  special  talents 
were  building  up  that  great  business,  and  in  1872  he  was  given  the  responsible 
charge  of  establishing  a  department  of  the  Philadelphia  house  at  Chicago. 
With  characteristic  energy  Mr.  Nicholls  devoted  his  entire  time  and  talent  to 
the  successful  accomplishment  of  this  project,  and  in  this  he  succeeded  beyond 
the  expectations  of  the  men  he  represented.  Under  his  careful  management 
the  Chicago  branch  developed  into  a  large  and  profitable  property.  Mr.  Nich- 
olls conducted  it  for  eighteen  years  and  only  resigned  control  in  1900  to  assume 
charge  of  the  Cincinnati  branch  of  the  same  firm.  In  this  new  position  Mr- 
Nicholls  is  meeting  with  the  same  success  as  he  won  in  Chicago,  and  no  doubt 
will  duplicate  the  good  work  he  did  there. 

Mr.  Nicholls'  political  career  has  been  confined  to  a  term  in  the  Illinois 
Legislature,  to  which  he  was  elected  on  the  Republican  ticket  from  the  I5th 
District  of  Chicago.  His  work  as  a  member  of  the  4Oth  General  Assembly  was 

566 


HENRY    D.   NICHOLLS. 


567 


able  and  valuable,  and  he  gave  every  indication  of  taking  a  place  among  the 
notable  men  of  his  party.  He  was  especially  strong  in  committee  work,  and 
his  judgment  in  important  matters  was  always  held  in  high  esteem  by  party 
leaders  on  each  side  of  the  house.  Personal  considerations,  however,  prevented 
his  remaining  in  politics,  and  he  accordingly  withdrew  to  private  life,  where 
the  demands  of  his  growing  business  were  making  constantly  increasing  claims 
on  his  time  and  attention.  His  retirement  from  public  life  has  been  sincerely 
regretted  by  his  many  friends  and  political  associates. 


JACOB  NEWMAN. 

Jacob  Newman  was  born  November  12,  1853.  His  parents  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  where  their  son  remained  with  them  for  some 
time.  He  was  taught  to  work,  and  his  experiences  were  similar  to  those  of 
other  farm  lads.  He  attended  the  common  school  of  the  neighborhood,  and 
laid  the  foundation  for  an  education  when  he  left  home  to  begin  life  upon  his 
own  responsibilities.  He  had  ambition,  intelligence  and  perseverance,  qualities 
of  mind  and  heart  which  were  bound  to  give  him  success. 

He  settled  at  Noblesville,  Indiana,  where  he  remained  six  years.  In  1867 
he  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  has  made  his  permanent  home.  By  careful 
study  he  prepared  himself  for  college,  and  by  industry  and  economy  he  was 
able  to  accumulate  the  expenses  of  a  collegiate  course.  He  entered  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago  and  was  a  diligent  student.  He  added  to  his  limited  means 
by  earnings  made  outside  of  school  hours,  and  graduated  with  honor  with  the 
class  of  1873. 

Mr.  Newman,  after  the  usual  examination  for  the  bar,  was  licensed  to' 
practice  law  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  He  formed  a  partnership  with 
Judge  Graham,  and  the  firm  of  Graham  and  Newman  soon  became  well  known 
in  Chicago,  and  had  a  successful  business  career.  Some  years  later  Judge1 
Graham  left  Chicago  and  removed  to  the  far  West,  Mr.  Newman  succeeding 
to  the  law  business  of  the  firm  upon  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership.  He 
was  able,  by  diligence  in  his  profession  and  by  the  confidence  he  had  secured 
amongst  his  clients,  to  retain  his  old  clientage  and  add  materially  to  it.  In 
1881  Mr.  Newman  formed  a  partnership  with  Adolph  Moses,  Esq.,  one  of 
the  most  prominent  and  successful  lawyers  in  the  city.  The  firm  of  Moses  & 
Newman  had  a  highly  successful  career  and  continued  for  nine  years.  Mr. 
Newman  is  an  all  round  lawyer ;  it  may  be  well  said  that  he  is  a  specialist 
in  all  its  branches.  In  the  preparation  of  his  cases  for  the  court  and  for  trial, 
he  is  untiring  in  covering  every  important  and  available  point  for  success ;  he 
is  a  splendid  trial  lawyer.  Mr.  Newman  has  been  identified  with  many  im- 
portant cases  in  Chicago.  His  identification  with  the  Chicago  Gas  Trust  liti- 
gation attracted  wide  attention. 

Mr.  Newman  is  a  gentleman  of  agreeable  presence,  engaging  manners, 
and  has  a  wide  circle  of  frieinds  and  acquaintances.  In  politics  Mr.  Newman 
is  a  staunch  Republican,  has  a  full  knowledge  of  the  principles  and  achievements 
of  the  party,  and  gives  the  party  and  its  candidates  his  unfailing  support  from' 
a  high  sense  of  public  duty.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  Chi- 
cago Historical  Society,  and  other  organizations  of  the  city.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 

Jacob  Newman  was  married  May  30,  1888,  to  Miss  Minnie  Goodman, 
daughter  of  Hugo  Goodman,  one  of  the  early  and  substantial  settlers  of  Chi- 
cago. Mrs.  Newman  is  a  lady  of  intelligence  and  education,  and  makes  the 
home  of  her  husband  an  agreeable  place  for  their  wide  circle  of  friends. 

568 


569 


FERDINAND  W.  PECK. 

The  old  Peck  homestead  was  located  in  the  very  heart  of  the  present  city 
of  Chicago,  where  the  endless  tides  of  trade  and  commerce  ebb  and  flow  and 
where  human  achievements  will  roll  on  until  the  end  of  time.  Here  in  the 
city  of  his  birth  and  where  he  is  known  the  best,  are  laid  the  scenes  of  his  great- 
est triumphs  and  are  found  the  fruition  of  his  brightest  hopes.  He  was  born  in 
1848  at  the  old  homestead,  and  received  his  education  in  the  city  schools.  He 
early  began  a  business  career,  and  from  that  time  to  the  present  has  been  con- 
stantly identified  with  the  wonderful  growth  of  the  city  and  the  earnest  pro- 
moter of  enterprises  having  for  their  object  the  commercial  supremacy  of  this 
great  inland  city.  His  alert  and  receptive  faculties,  his  enthusiasm  for  local 
public  enterprises,  his  invincible  integrity  and  his  high  character  and  conspicu- 
ous ability  contribute  to  make  him  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  Chicago. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  enumerate  the  benefits  which  have  resulted  from  his 
enterprise  and  public  spirit.  Few  parts  of  the  city  have  escaped  his  watchful 
attention  and  earnest  care.  He  has  contributed  immensely  to  the  beauty  and 
advancement  of  the  city,  and  many  great  enterprises  remain  monuments  to  his 
courage  and  genius.  Among  them  is  the  Auditorium  Building,  which  was  con- 
ceived and  carried  to  completion  by  Mr.  Peck.  The  structure  is  owned  by  a 
corporation,  of  which  he  is  president,  and  contains  the  largest  and  most  noted 
opera  house  in  the  world.  He  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Education  and  vice-president  of  that  body.  He  was  vice-president  of  the  Co- 
lumbian Exposition  and  not  a  little  of  its  splendid  success  was  due  to  his  efforts 
and  intelligence.  He  was  a  member  of  the  commission  sent  to  Europe  by 
the  government  in  the  interests  of  the  exposition  in  1891.  He  was  the  main 
support  of  the  movement  which  culminated  in  the  erection  of  the  splendid 
monument  over  the  graves  of  the  Confederate  soldiers  buried  here.  In  many 
other  ways  he  has  been  connected  with  the  large  commercial  and  public  move- 
ments of  Chicago,  and  now  stands  before  the  world  and  before  the  people  of 
this  western  metropolis  as  one  of  its  most  representative  and  public  spirited 
citizens. 

He  is  unostentatious  and  wholly  approachable  by  persons  of  all  stations, 
is  democratic  and  sympathetic  in  heart,  is  exceedingly  fair,  frank  and  just, 
and  blessed  with  a  personality  that  sparkles  and  charms  and  casts  a  glow  of 
welcome  upon  all  who  approach  him.  He  has  been  heard  to  say  a  hundred 
times  that  he  respects  infinitely  more  a  man  who  attains  position  through  merit 
than  through  riches.  He  possesses  wonderful  energy  and  unquailing  deter- 
mination and  nothing  within  the  range  of  human  possibility  seems  to  daunt 
him  in  the  least  when  once  he  prepares  his  plan  to  act.  He  is  eminently  fitted 
for  the  responsible  position  which  he  now  fills-  He  never  has  been  a  candidate 
for  office,  and  was  not  for  that  of  Commissioner  General  to  the  Paris  Exposi- 
tion of  1900.  The  office  came  to  him  as  a  recognition  of  his  distinguished  abili- 
ties from  President  McKinley.  The  labor  which  fie  performed  in  preparing  the 
exhibit  of  the  United  States  at  the  exhibition  was  enormous,  but  it  was  con- 
ducted with  such  excellent  taste  and  with  such  a  close  observance  of  individual 
claims  and  rights  that  not  a  ripple  was  caused  in  the  preparation  for  the  great 
show.  It  is  safe  to  say  that  the  United  States  was  well  taken  care  of  at  Paris  in 
1900.  Mr.  Peck  is  the  head  of  a  most  happy  family,  having  a  wife,  four  sons  and 
two  daughters. 


570 


\ 


571 


MAX  PAM. 

Max  Pam,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  in  the  Empire  of  Austria,  July 
16,  1865.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  two  years  old.  He 
received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  free  schools  of  Chicago,  and  upon 
his  graduation  from  the  high  school,  he  took  up  a  collegiate  course  of  study, 
and  while  prosecuting  this,  entered  upon  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of 
Adolph  Moses.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Illinois  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  Adolph  Moses,  having  an  apprecia- 
tion of  the  legal  ability  of  Mr.  Pam,  invited  him  to  a  partnership,  and  the  firm 
of  Moses,  Pam  &  Kennedy  was  established  in  1889,  and  continued  for  eight 
years,  at  which  time  Mr.  Pam  associated  himself  with  Charles  H.  Donnelly, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Pam  &  Donnelly.  Later  on  Edward  T.  Glennan,  Harry 
Boyd,  Albert  E.  Dacey,  and  Hugo  Pam  were  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  con- 
tinued for  two  years,  under  the  title  of  Pam,  Donnelly  &  Glennan,  when  Mr. 
Donnelly  was  elected  to  the  circuit  bench  and  withdrew  from  the  firm,  where- 
upon William  J.  Calhoun  entered  the  firm,  which  is  now  known  as  Pam,  Cal- 
houn  &  Glennan.  Mr.  Pam  is  now  but  thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  yet  is  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  most  able  and  successful  law  firms  in  the  city  of  Chicago. 

Mr.  Pam  is  an  active  practitioner ;  he  is  a  safe  counsellor,  thoroughly  pre- 
pares his  cases,  and  as  a  trial  lawyer  has  few  equals  in  the  West.  Among  his 
clients  are  many  of  the  largest  railroads  and  other  corporations  of  the  coun- 
try, amongst  these  being  the  American  Steel  &  Wire  Company,  Federal  Steel 
Company,  American  Bonding  and  Trust  Company  of  Baltimore,  Maryland 
Casualty  Company,  Baltimore  &  Ohio  Railroad  Company,  Lake  Shore  & 
Michigan  Southern  Railroad  Company,  N.  Y-  C.  &  St.  L.  Railroad  Company 
(Nickel  Plate),  Omaha  &  St.  Louis  Railroad  Company,  Omaha,  Kansas  City  & 
Eastern  Railroad  Company,  Kansas  City  &  Omaha  Connecting  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  reorganized  Kansas  City,  Pittsburg  &  Gulf  Railroad  Company,  Dav- 
enport, Rock  Island  &  Northwestern  Railroad  Company. 

In  politics  Mr.  Pam  is  a  thorough  Republican.  He  adheres  to  the  politi- 
cal organization,  not  for  the  purpose  of  seeking  office,  but  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  principles  of  the  party.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club  and 
several  other  social  and  professional  clubs  of  the  city.  While  he  is  a  genial 
man  by  nature,  and  always  an  agreeable  associate,  his  profession  has  so  strong 
a  hold  upon  him  that  he  cannot  properly  be  called  a  club  man. 


JAMES  H.  PADDOCK. 

James  H.  Paddock  was  born  May  29,  1850,  in  Lockport,  Illinois ;  his 
parents  were  old  settlers  in  the  State.  His  father,  Col  John  W.  Paddock,  was 
an  able  and  prominent  lawyer  prior  to  the  Civil  War ;  he  practiced  in  the  courts 
of  Kankakee,  Will  and  Iroquois  Counties.  In  1862  he  raised  the  ii3th  Regi- 
ment of  Illinois  Volunteers  and  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  Colonel ;  he 
performed  gallant  and  meritorious  services  with  his  regiment.  He  was  in  the 
great  campaign  and  siege  of  Vicksburg,  during  which  service  he  was  much  ex- 
posed and  contraced  a  serious  sickness.  After  the  capture  of  that  great 
stronghold  Col.  Paddock  was  treated  in  the  hospital  at  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where 
he  died,  in  August,  1863.  For  five  years  after  the  death  of  his  father,  James 
H.  Paddock  spent  much  of  his  time  on  the  farm  of  his  uncle,  Harvey  Warner, 
in  Wesley  Township,  Will  County.  Mr.  Paddock  received  a  common  school 
education. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  was  appointed  page  in  the  Illinois  State  Senate. 
This  event,  small  in  itself,  undoubtedly  gave  direction  to  and  greatly  influenced 

572 


573 


his  after  life.  He  was  a  fine  looking  boy,  with  pleasing  address,  attentive  to 
his  duties  and  accommodating,  and  he  made  many  friends.  In  1869  he  was 
made  Assistant  Postmaster  of  the  Senate.  From  this  time  forward  his  ad- 
vancement was  constant  and  rapid.  Few  men  in  the  history  of  the  State  have 
been  so  closely  and  continuously  identified  with  that  important  branch  of  the 
Legislature.  In  1859  Mr.  Paddock  was  elected  Assistant  Secretary  of  the 
Senate;  he  held  the  position  until  the  close  of  the  session  of  1875.  I"  l&77 
he  was  chosen  Secretary  of  the  Senate,  and  was  re-elected  in  1879  and  1881. 
In  1895  he  was  again  elected  Secretary  of  the  Senate  and  re-elected  in  1897  and 
1899.  After  his  experience  with  the  legislative  branch  of  the  government,  he 
was  appointed  Chief  deck  in  the  office  of  the  Secretary  of  State  in  1881,  and 
held  that  position  until  1889,  when  he  was  appointed  Secretary  of  the  Railroad 
and  Warehouse  Commission ;  he  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  for  four 
years. 

In  1893  Mr.  Paddock  was  appointed  by  Governor  Altgeld  as  a  member 
of  the  State  Board  of  Live  Stock  Commissioners,  as  the  Republican  represen- 
tative on  the  board.  He  held  this  position  during  Governor  Altgeld's  term  of 
office.  When  Governor  Tanner  took  the  executive  office  he  reappointed  Mr- 
Paddock  on  the  board,  and  in  1897  he  was  made  chairman,  which  position  he 
now  holds.  In  all  the  varied  positions  occupied  by  James  H.  Paddock  he  has 
shown  remarkable  aptitude  for  public  affairs ;  he  is  a  man  of  fine  judgment  and 
splendid  executive  ability.  He  has  a  very  wide  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  is 
probably  as  well  known  as  any  man  in  the  State.  His  success  in  public  life 
shows  that  he  is  popular,  capable  and  efficient. 

In  1873  Mr.  Paddock  married  Mary  L.  Crawford,  of  Kankakee.  They 
have  two  children,  a  son,  Harry  W.  Paddock,  and  a  daughter,  Frances  C. 
Paddock. 


CHARLES  S.  RANNELLS. 

The  life  of  Charles  S.  Rannells,  chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Commit- 
tee, is  in  some  respects  a  very  interesting  one.  It  is  a  life  that  exemplifies  all 
those  qualities  which  form  the  character  of  the  self-made  man,  and  as  such,  it 
conveys  its  own  lesson  to  everyone  who  may  read  it,  and  this  article  will  com- 
mend itself  to  all  as  an  honest,  if  imperfect,  attempt,  to  tell  something  of  the 
career  of  one  who,  under  all  circumstances,  has  striven  conscientiously  to  do  his 
whole  duty,  and  in  so  doing  has  reached  a  high  degree  of  success-  Like  many 
others  who  have  made  a  success  of  life,  Mr.  Rannells  was  born  and  reared  on  a 
farm,  his  birth  occurring  in  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  December  5,  1857.  After 
receiving  a  good  practical  education  in  the  common  schools  he  entered  the  Il- 
linois College  at  Jacksonville  and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  June,  1879. 
Nor  did  he  leave  the  farm  at  this  juncture,  but  returned  to  it  and  has  since  been 
actively  engaged  in  tilling  the  soil  and  in  cattle  feeding. 

His  active  pursuits  on  the  farm  did  not  cause  him  to  lose  sight  of  his  duties 
as  a  citizen,  and  several  times  he  was  a  member  of  Morgan  County  Republican 
Committee.  In  1894-96-98  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Committee  from  the  i6th 
Congressional  District,  and  in  1894  was  appointed  by  Chairman  Tanner  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Executive  Committee  and  Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee.  In 
the  year  1896  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  Executive  Committee  by 
Chairman  Hitch,  and  in  1898  was  elected  chairman  of  the  Republican  State 
Committee.  The  year  previous  to  the  last  named  date  he  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Committee  by  Gov.  John  R.  Tanner. 
With  a  clear  and  well  trained  mind,  qualified  by  nature  and  improved  by  culture 
to  a  high  degree  of  susceptibility,  Mr.  Rannells  will  still  continue  to  meet  the 
cordial  approbation  of  those  with  whom  he  has  business  relations,  and  will  en- 
large the  already  wide  circle  of  his  acquaintances  and  will  occupy  even  a  larger 
place  and  gain  a  firmer  hold  upon  the  public  confidence  and  esteem. 

574 


575 


GEORGE  C.  RANKIN. 

Was  born  in  Monmouth,  111.,  and  was  there  reared  and  educated,  finishing 
at  Monmouth  College,  from  which  institution  he  was  duly  graduated  with 
honor.  His  literary  ability  was  shown  while  he  was  in  the  college,  and  he  be- 
came the  poet  of  his  class  and  the  editor  of  the  college  paper.  He  joined  the 
Beta  Theta  Pi  Society  and  was  chosen  editor  of  the  national  magazine  issued  by 
that  organization,  and  a  little  later  was  elected  general  secretary  of  that  fra- 
ternity in  the  United  States.  Like  his  father,  Col.  Rankin  has  ever  been  a 
staunch  Republican,  and  has  taken  great  pride  on  all  proper  occasions  to  show 
his  fealty  to  that  organization.  His  father  was  a  personal  friend  of  Abraham 
Lincoln. 

Colonel  Rankin  was  scarcely  out  of  college  when  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  politics,  and  in  many  ways  exhibited  his  devotion  to  his  party.  Several 
times  at  the  State  Republican  Conventions  he  served  as  one  of  the  secretaries, 
and  on  these  occasions  still  further  enhanced  his  reputation  as  a  worker  in  the 
Republican  ranks.  He  held  the  position  of  City  Clerk  of  Monmouth  for  two 
terms-  A  little  later  he  was  elected  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Warren 
County  and  was  re-elected  twice,  serving  in  all  eleven  years,  each  succeeding 
election  giving  him  a  larger  majority  than  before,  the  last  giving  him  300  votes 
ahead  of  his  ticket.  He  served  as  secretary  of  the  Association  of  Circuit  Clerks 
of  Illinois,  until  he  resigned  the  Circuit  Court  Clerkship  to  accept  the  postmas- 
tership  of  Monmouth  tendered  him  by  President  Harrison  in  1891.  In  June, 
1895,  he  was  a  delegate  from  the  State  of  Illinois  to  the  National  Convention  of 
Republican  League  Clubs  at  Cleveland,  O.  In  1896  he  was  one  of  the  leading- 
candidates  for  the  Republican  nomination  for  Secretary  of  State  of  Illinois,  re- 
ceiving 273  votes  in  the  state  convention. 

From  an  early  stage  in  his  career  he  has  been  connected  with  the  press  of 
the  State.  He  served  as  correspondent  of  the  Chicago  Journal,  Tribune,  Inter- 
Ocean,  and  Times,  the  St.  Louis  Globe-Democrat  and  the  New  York  Herald. 
He  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the  executive  committee  of  the  National 
Editorial  Association,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  conventions  of  that  organiza- 
tion held  at  San  Francisco,  Chicago  and  Asbury  Park,  N.  J.  The  honorary 
position  of  Assistant  Adjutant  General  of  Illinois,  carrying  with  it  the  rank  of 
Colonel,  was  held  by  him  for  four  years.  He  was  a  delegate  from  this  State 
to  the  National  Convention  of  the  National  Guard  officers  convened  at  Washing- 
ton in  1890.  He  has  been  secretary  of  the  Warren  County  Agricultural  Society 
for  twenty-three  years,  and  is  the  present  Treasurer  of  the  Business  Men's  As- 
sociation of  Monmouth.  He  is  also  secretary  of  the  Twilight  Club,  the  famous 
social  organization  of  Monmouth. 

For  several  years  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  State 
I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  I.  O.  O-  F.  Orphans'  Home.  In 
1896  he  was  elected  Grand  Master  of  the  75,000  Odd  Fellows  and  Rebekahs  of 
Illinois.  He  was  a  member  of  the  World's  Fair  Committee,  and  was  on  the 
staff  of  Grand  Sire  Underwood.  He  is  treasurer  of  Lodge  No.  160  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Rebekah  and  Encampment  Lodges  and  commandant  of  Canton  No. 
25.  He  is  also  a  member  of  Monmouth  Blue  Lodge,  Warren  Chapter,  Gales- 
burg  Commandery,  Medinah  Temple  of  Chicago,  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Mu- 
tual Aid,  Home  Forum,  etc.  He  is  editor  of  the  Monmouth  Republican-Atlas, 
and  president  of  the  Illinois  Bankers  Life  Association  of  Illinois. 

He  was  elected  to  the  41  st  General  Assembly  of  Illinois  in  November,  1898. 
and  was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  Military  Affairs,  and  member  of  the 
committees  on  appropriations,  canals,  education,  finance,  fish  and  game,  print- 
ing, public  charities  and  state  and  county  fairs.  He  was  also  member  of  the 
joint  conference  committee  on  the  omnibus  bill  and  on  the  appropriations  for 
the  charitable  institutions. 


576 


577 


LYMAN  BEECHER  RAY. 

Lyman  Beecher  Ray  of  Morris,  Gruncly  County,  111.,  was  born  August  17, 
1831,  at  Hinesburgh,  Vermont.  His  parents,  John  Ray,  and  Annis  Beecher 
Ray  were  people  of  high  standing;  and  were  descendants  of  pioneer  settlers  in 
Vermont.  Lyman  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  was  taught  the  handicraft  of  that 
avocation.  He  received  a  good  English  education  in  the  district  schools  of 
Vermont,  and  the  village  academy.  He  taught  school  several  winters,  and  had 
an  experience  of  one  year  as  merchant's  clerk.  Upon  reaching  his  majority 
in  1852,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Kane  County,  where  he  secured  em- 
ployment in  a  general  store.  He  continued  in  this  employment  for  about  three 
years,  when  he  removed  in  1855  to  the  town  of  Morris,  his  present  home;  here 
he  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  on  his  own  account-  Mr.  Ray  was  a 
successful  merchant,  he  carried  on  his  business  as  a  merchant  in  the  town  of 
Morris  for  33  years,  retiring  from  trade  in  1888. 

Mr.  Ray  was  not  content  to  confine  his  entire  energies  to  the  hum-drum 
career  of  a  merchant  in  pursuit  of  wealth ;  at  an  early  age  he  decided  to  perform 
his  full  duty  as  a  citizen  in  respect  to  the  political  affairs  of  his  County  and  State. 
In  1856  he  identified  himself  with  the  great  movement  in  Illinois  in  opposition 
to  the  Kansas-Nebraska  Bill.  He  was  one  of  the  men  who  organized  the  Re- 
publican Party  in  Grundy  County  in  1856.  In  that  memorable  canvass  Mr.  Ray 
gave  earnest  support  to  Gen.  Fremont  for  President  and  Col.  William  H.  Bissell 
for  Governor.  He  also  took  an  active  part  in  the  Douglas-Lincoln  campaign  of 
1858,  and  in  1860  he  was  an  earnest  supporter  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  President, 
and  Richard  Yates  for  Governor.  Mr.  Ray  became  a  well  known  and  popular 
man  in  his  County;  he  has  been  habitually  selected  as  a  delegate  to  Republican 
State  Conventions  during  the  past  thirty  years.  In  1872  Mr.  Ray  was  nom- 
inated as  a  Republican  Candidate  for  the  Legislature,  and  was  elected.  He 
served  during  the  sessions  of  1873  and  1874.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  and  served  with  great  credit  for  four  years.  But  still  higher  po- 
litical honors  were  awaiting  him ;  in  1888  Mr.  Ray  was  nominated  by  the  Repub- 
ilcan  State  Convention  of  Illinois  as  a  candidate  for  Lieutenant  Governor,  and 
was  elected  with  a  great  majority  on  the  ticket  with  Governor  Fifer.  Governor 
Ray  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  with  ability  and  dignity;  as  a  presiding 
officer  of  the  Senate  he  gave  entire  satisfaction  to  his  colleagues  and  upon  re- 
tiring from  the  office  left  a  record  of  which  any  man  might  be  proud-  Gov- 
ernor Ray  was  re-nominated  to  the  office  of  Lieutenant  Governor  by  the  Re- 
publican State  Convention  in  1892,  on  the  ticket  with  Hon.  Joseph  W.  Fifer,  who 
was  nominated  for  Governor.  The  Democrats  carried  the  State  of  Illinois  that 
year  and  elected  Governor  Altgeld. 

Mr.  Ray  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  Republican  State  Convention  of 
1880.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  in  1885,  during  the  memorable  contest 
over  the  United  States  Senatorship,  and  was  one  of  the  103  members  who  voted 
for  and  elected  Gen.  Logan  to  the  Senate.  He  presided  over  the  State  Senate 
in  1891  when  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate. 
Gov.  Ray  was  President  of  the  "State  League  of  Republican  Clubs"  of  Illinois 
in  1894.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  National  Convention  of  Republican 
League  Clubs  and  was  a  member  of  the  Committee  on  Resolutions.  There 
was  a  strong  disposition  in  the  Committee  to  report  a  resolution  in  favor  of  the 
free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver.  Gov.  Ray's  strong  opposition  to  this 
movement  influenced  the  committee  against  making  such  a  declaration. 

Gov.  Ray  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club  of  Chicago.  He  was  married 
December  20,  1858,  to  Julia  N-  Reading,  daughter  of  Judge  James  N.  Reading. 
Gov.  and  Mrs.  Ray  have  but  one  child,  Julia  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Clifton  W. 
Jordan,  of  Joliet,  Illinois. 


578 


579 


C.  W.  RAYMOND. 

Judge  C.  W.  Raymond,  of  Watseka,  111.,  one  of  the  most  eminent  lawyers 
and  distinguished  politicians  of  the  State,  was  born  in  Dubuque,  la.,  but  when  a 
boy  was  brought  to  Onarga,  111.  by  his  mother.  There  he  was  educated  at  the 
public  schools,  finishing  at  Grand  Prairie  Seminary  and  with  a  short  course  at 
Wabash  College.  Upon  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  his  father,  William  M. 
Raymond,  took  an  active  interest  in  the  Federal  cause,  assisted  in  raising  volun- 
teers for  the  field  and  became  captain  of  Company  C,  Fifty-second  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  in  which  capacity  He  did  his  country  invaluable  and  gallant  serv- 
ice, finally  losing  his  life  at  the  battle  of  Nashville.  While  securing  his  educa- 
tion the  subject  taught  school  in  the  country  districts,  worked  upon  a  farm  and 
in  the  flax  mill  to  secure  funds  to  enable  him  to  continue  his  studies. 

In  1878  he  came  to  Watseka  and  began  to  interest  himself  in  politics,  and 
soon  thereafter  secured  the  position  of  deputy  county  clerk,  and  still  later  was 
appointed  deputy  circuit  clerk  of  Iroquois  County,  serving  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  his  constituents.  While  thus  engaged  he  diligently  pursued  the  study 
of  law,  of  which  profession  he  had  determined  to  become  a  member,  and  in  1886 
was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar  of  the  State,  and  since  that  time  has  actively  and 
very  successfully  practiced  this  profession-  After  beginning  the  practice  it  was 
not  long  before  he  could  easily  hold  his  own  with  the  best  lawyers  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  State.  This  fact  brought  him  a  great  increase  in  clientage  and  a 
corresponding  increase  in  his  income  and  in  his  popularity  and  influence.  He 
continued  to  take  great  interest  in  politics  and  became  known  as  one  of  the 
most  active  and  uncompromising  Republicans  in  the  State.  His  recognized 
ability  as  a  lawyer  and  his  skill  as  a  politician  secured  for  him  the  position  of 
Master  in  Chancery  for  four  years.  Succeeding  this  he  was  still  further  hon- 
ored by  his  selection  for  the  responsible  post  of  judge,  in  which  capacity  he  served 
for  four  years,  a  portion  of  the  time  holding  court  in  Chicago  for  Judge  Carter. 
He  was  now  recognized  by  the  bar  of  the  State  as  one  of  the  most  incorruptible 
and  able  jurists  in  the  West.  His  practice  still  further  increased,  many  very 
important  cases  coming  to  his  management.  In  1890  he  was  the  attorney  for 
Hon.  John  L.  Hamilton  before  the  legislature  of  Illinois,  whose  seat  was  con- 
tested by  H.  A.  Butzow,  the  Democratic  candidate.  After  long,  vigorous  and 
trying  contest,  during  which  the  highest  legal  talent  and  sagacity  were  dis- 
played on  both  sides,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  triumphantly  seated.  It  will  be  recol- 
lected that  this  was  the  memorable  time  when  many  seats  were  contested  be- 
fore the  legislature,  and  the  highest  legal  talent  in  the  State  was  called  into 
service.  In  nearly  all  the  contested  cases  Mr.  Raymond  was  consulted  and  was 
obliged  to  remain  at  Springfield  until  all  were  disposed  of.  In  the  severe  and 
protracted  litigation  over  funds  received  but  not  accounted  for  by  certain 
County  officers  he  was  employed  by  the  county  and  succeeded  in  winning  a  sig- 
nal victory.  His  practice  is  now  very  large  and  is  of  the  very  best  character. 
It  may  be  said  that  he  is  on  one  side  or  the  other  in  nearly  all  the  important 
cases  in  his  county,  and  is  consulted  in  many  outside  cases  from  which  not  a  lit- 
tle of  his  income  comes-  He  is  thus  intimately  connected  with  the  jurispru- 
dence of  Eastern  Illinois  and  is  ranked  as  one  of  the  most  capable  lawyers  in  the 
State. 

He  served  as  vice-president  of  the  State  Bar  Association  when  Lyman 
Trumbull  was  president,  and  has  taken  a  lively  interest  in  its  affairs.  He  has 
been  active  in  politics,  serving  his  congressional  district  one  term  on  the  State 
Central  Committee,  and  was  president  of  the  State  Republican  League  for  two 
years.  He  has  made  many  addresses  on  public  questions  in  this  and  adjoining 
States,  and  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  fight  for  McKinley  instructions  in  Illi- 
nois in  1896.  He  declined  the  position  of  Civil  Service  Commissioner  ten- 
dered him  by  President  McKinley,  preferring  to  practice  his  profession.  He  is 
a  bachelor,  a  member  of  the  Illinois  division  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  Sons  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  of  the  Marquette  and  Hamilton  Clubs  of  Chicago. 

580 


(L 


&L^f/IA^*-<4~<4>-^i~> 


581 


JOHN  F.  RECTOR. 

The  father  of  subject,  Abraham  Rector,  was  a  native  of  Albany,  N.  Y.,  born 
April  12,  1809.  He  was  drowned  at  sea  off  Sacramento,  California,  by  the 
wreck  of  the  schooner,  Bunea  Day,  on  which  he  was  a  passenger,  February  u, 
1851.  His  wife,  formerly  Miss  Joannah  Cadwell,  was  born  at  Janesville,  N.  Y., 
November  7,  1810,  and  died  at  Cairo,  111.,  December  28,  1887.  Her  second  hus- 
band was  Robert  Thompson,  whom  she  married  at  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  in  1857. 
Little  is  known  of  subject's  paternal  ancestry  beyond  the  fact  that  his  grand- 
father, John  Rector,  came  from  Leipsig,  Germany,  about  1790.  The  maternal 
great  grand-father  was  Milton  Cotton,  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  who  was  with 
Washington's  command  when  the  latter  reached  West  Point  just  after  Arnold's 
treason  was  discovered-  Family  tradition  says  that  he  witnessed  the  execution 
of  Major  Andre.  The  maternal  grandmother,  Clarissa  Cotton-Cadwell,  was 
born  at  Rutland,  Vt.,  in  1787,  and  died  at  Canton,  Ind.,  in  1879.  The  maternal 
great  grandfather  was  Able  Cadwell,  of  Massachusetts,  who  died  near  Syracuse, 
N.  Y.,  in  August,  1840.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  Matthew  Cadwell  who 
died  in  1847,  aged  sixty-two  years.  The  Cottons  trace  their  genealogy  direct  to 
the  famous  Cotton  Mather. 

John  F.  Rector  attended  the  common  schools  at  Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  four 
winters  only,  having  to  leave  at  the  age  of  twelve  to  assist  in  the  support  of  his 
mother,  two  sisters  and  a  younger  brother.  He  learned  to  set  type  in  a  print- 
ing office,  clerked  in  a  store,  etc.  Notwithstanding  this  he  managed,  through 
the  gentle  influence  of  his  mother,  to  acquire  a  fair  education  in  the  English 
branches.  Born  January  i,  1842.  he  was  fourteen  years  old  when  he  was  taken 
by  his  step-father  to  a  farm  near  Golconda,  111.  Here  he  experienced  very  hard 
work  that  robbed  boyhood  of  much  of  its  charms.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the 
Rebellion  he  enlisted  with  his  mother's  consent,  but  against  that  of  his  step- 
father. He  became  a  private  in  Company  F,  Twenty-ninth  Illinois  Infantry  at 
Camp  Butler  in  July,  1861.  On  January  i,  1864,  he  veteranized.  He  par- 
ticipated in  many  arduous  marches,  bloody  battles  and  exhausting  campaigns, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  Springfield  November  30,  1865-  He  fought  at  Fort 
Henry,  at  Fort  Donelson  (where  he  received  a  gunshot  wound  through  the 
hand),  Pittsburg  Landing,  or  Shiloh,  siege  of  Corinth,  last  great  battle  of  Cor- 
inth ;  was  captured  by  VanDorn  at  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  and  paroled,  was  ex- 
changed and  served  in  part  of  siege  of  Vicksburg,  siege  and  capture  of  Mobile 
and  the  campaign  in  Texas,  was  promoted  through  all  grades,  becoming  Second 
Lieutenant  in  September,  1864,  and  near  the  close  of  the  war  was  commissioned 
captain,  coming  home  in  command  of  his  company.  He  served  on  the  staffs  of 
Generals  Brayman,  Lawler  and  Mower ;  served  as  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  at 
Natchez  and  Millican,  Tex.,  receiving  at  the  latter  place  tons  of  munitions  of  war 
and  the  paroles  of  many  of  Kirby  Smith's  disbanded  troops  in  the  summer  of 
1865.  His  whole  military  career  was  characterized  by  steady  persistence,  gal- 
lantry in  action  and  pronounced  loyalty  to  the  Federal  cause. 

After  the  war  he  engaged  in  farming;  was  married  on  February  2,  1868,  to 
Miss  N.  E.  Bozman,  of  Allen  Springs,  111.,  a  descendant  of  the  Pryor  family  of 
Kentucky,  born  near  Golconda,  111.,  September  i,  1845;  moved  to  Anna,  thence 
to  Cairo  in  1870,  where  he  went  to  work  as  a  printer.  After  eight  years  his  eye- 
sight failed,  when  he  clerked  for  several  years  in  dry-goods  stores.  He  then  re- 
sumed newspaper  work,  and  for  eight  years  was  editor  of  the  Cairo  Daily  Tele- 
gram, serving  at  the  same  time  as  correspondent  of  half  a  dozen  metropolitan 
newspapers.  He  served  four  years  as  surveyor  of  customs  at  Cairo  under  ap- 
pointment of  President  Harrison  in  1890-  In  1894  was  elected  County  Clerk 
by  an  immense  majority,  but  resigned  the  office  in  February,  1898,  to  become 
Postmaster  at  Cairo  by  appointment  of  President  McKinley.  His  first  connec- 
tion with  the  Republican  party  was  in  a  boys'  marching  club  during  the  Fremont 

582 


583 


campaign  in  1856.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  member  of  the  Republican 
party.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  County  Central  Committee  for  twenty 
years,  was  chairman  for  four  years.  Is  a  member  of  Warren  Stewart  Post  G.  A. 
R-,  is  an  Odd  Fellow  and  member  of  the  Military  Order  the  Loyal  Legion.  He 
•s  a  Universalist.  His  children  are  Susan  J.  and  John  F.  Jr. 


WILLIAM  BARRET  RIDGELY. 

William  Barret  Ridgely  was  born  July  19,  1858,  in  Springfield,  111.  His 
ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  America,  he  being  directly  de- 
scended from  Richard  Warren,  who  came  over  on  the  Mayflower,  and  Simon 
Huntington,  who  sailed  with  the  first  expedition  to  Connecticut,  but  died  at  sea, 
leaving  a  widow  and  nine  sons,  who  were  the  founders  of  the  well  known  family 
of  the  name.  The  Ridgely  s  settled  in  Maryland  and  Delaware  in  the  i/th  cen- 
tury, and  the  Barrets,  his  mother's  ancestors,  were  members  of  the  original  Lon- 
don Company,  who  sent  the  colonists  to  Virginia,  settling  there  as  early  as 
1660. 

Mr.  Ridgely's  grandfather,  Nicholas  H.  Ridgely,  came  West  from  Balti- 
more in  1824,  and  entered  the  United  States  Bank  of  St.  Louis.  He  remained 
in  that  city  some  time,  and  finally  removed  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  opened 
a  private  bank.  Mr.  Ridgely  conducted  his  business  as  a  banker  with  so  much 
skill  and  prudence  that  whatever  depression  or  panic  might  occur  in  the  general 
business  of  the  country,  the  Ridgely  Bank  maintained  an  unshaken  credit.  When 
the  National  Banking  law  was  enacted  this  private  bank  was  converted  into  a 
National  Bank  and  has  continued  so  ever  since.  The  family  have  been  engaged 
continuously  in  banking  since  that  date,  Mr.  Ridgely  being  the  third  generation 
who  have  been  officers  of  the  Ridgely  National  Bank  at  Springfield,  111.  His 
father,  Charles  Ridgely,  grew  up  in  the  bank,  and  became  one  of  the  best  known 
and  most  successful  business  men  in  Central  Illinois.  As  a  banker  his  standing 
was  not  excelled,  and  he  instilled  into  the  minds  of  his  sons  the  importance  of 
thoroughly  qualifying  themselves  for  business.  The  Ridgely  Bank  was  one  oT 
the  Illinois  Banks  which,  in  April,  1861,  made  the  generous  offer  to  Governor 
Yates  of  a  loan  of  $600,000  to  the  State  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  Charles 
Ridgely  married  Jane  M.  Barret,  the  mother  of  William  Barret  Ridgely. 

William  received  his  early  education  in  Springfield,  but  later  went  to  the 
Rensselaer  Polytechnic  Institute,  at  Troy,  N.  Y.  He  was  a  close  and  success- 
ful student,  graduating  in  1879,  with  a  degree  of  Civil  Engineer.  This  careful 
training  laid  the  foundation  for  his  great  success  in  the  management  of  large 
manufacturing  and  mining  industries.  Having  finished  his  education,  Mr. 
Ridgely  entered  at  once  into  an  active  business  career.  He  became  manager  of 
the  Springfield  Iron  Co.,  a  large  manufacturing  enterprise,  which  has  been  in 
successful  operation  for  a  number  of  years,  and  added  very  much  to  the  pros- 
perity and  business  activity  of  Springfield.  These  works  were  finally  consol- 
idated with  the  Republic  Iron  and  Steel  Co.,  and  Mr.  Ridgely  was  appointed 
Manager  of  the  Northwestern  District,  with  headquarters  in  Chicago.  His 
broad  experience  in  the  former  company,  and  his  marked  ability  for  executive 
administration  won  for  him  the  respect  of  his  associates,  and  their  confidence  in 
his  judgment. 

Mr.  Ridgely  first  became  actively  interested  in  politics  in  1888.  He  organized 
protective  tariff  clubs,  and  participated  with  enthusiasm  in  the  campaign.  Since 
1892  he  has  been  an  active  worker  on  the  Sangamon  County  Republican  Com- 
mittee, taking  part  in  the  campaign  which  resulted  in  Sangamon  County  being 
carried  by  the  entire  Republican  ticket  for  the  first  time  in  its  history.  Mr. 
Ridgely  is  Secretary  of  the  Illinois  Republican  League,  having  held  this  posi- 
tion since  1896.  In  May,  1897,  he  was  appointed  Postmaster  of  Springfield, 
111.  He  held  this  position  two  years,  resigning  to  become  the  District  Manager 
of  the  Republic  Iron  and  Steel  Co. 

584 


585 


Mr.  Ridgely  had  an  extended  experience  in  connection  with  the  military  es- 
tablishment of  the  State.  He  served  five  years  in  the  Illinois  National  Guard, 
and  was  for  three,  years  Lieutenant  of  the  Governor's  Guard  at  the  State  Capitol. 
He  was  also  two  years  on  the  staff  of  Brig.  General  Reese ;  in  all  of  these  posi- 
tions he  performed  his  duties  with  intelligence  and  fidelity. 

He  was  married  October  24,  1882,  to  Ella  Cullom,  daughter  of  Hon.  Shelby 
M.  Cullom,  now  United  States  Senator  from  Illinois.  Mr.  Ridgely  is  a  member 
of  the  Sangamon  Club  of  Springfield,  the  University  and  Technical  Clubs  of  Chi- 
cago, the  Iron  and  Steel  Institute  of  Great  Britain,  the  American  Institute  of 
Mining  Engineers,  and  the  American  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers. 


THOMAS  J.  ROBINSON. 

This  gentleman,  so  well  known  in  Rock  Island  and  elsewhere  for  many 
years,  but  who  passed  from  life  recently  after  a  long,  honorable  and  active  career, 
was  born  in  the  town  of  Hope,  now  App'eton,  Maine,  July  28,  1818-  His  par- 
ents were  John  and  Polly  (Dillaway)  Robinson,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives 
of  the  State  of  Maine.  At  the  age  of  twenty  years,  or  in  1838,  Thomas  J.  Robin- 
son came  west  to  Whitehall,  Greene  County,  Illinois,  but  remained  only  two 
years,  returning  to  the  State  of  Maine.  Five  years  later  he  again 
came  to  this  State  via  the  chain  of  great  lakes,  Chicago,  Joliet, 
LaSalle  and  the  Illinois  River,  and  for  two  years  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school  in  the  vicinity  of  Whitehall.  Succeeding  this 
he  found  employment  for  four  or  five  years  as  a  deputy  in  the  offices  of  the 
County  Treasurer  and  County  Clerk  of  Greene  County.  About  this  time  he 
purchased  a  farm  on  Rock  River  near  the  present  town  of  Hillsdale,  and  after 
farming  upon  the  same  for  two  years  he  moved  to  Port  Byron  and  engaged  in 
merchandising  and  milling.  He  continued  at  these  occupations  until  1853,  when 
he  removed  to  Rock  Island  and  assumed  charge  of  the  ferry  between  that  city 
and  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  continued  operating  it  until  his  death  in  1899,  either 
in  the  capacity  of  Master  of  the  boat  or  President  of  the  company.  He  became 
widely  known  in  this  occupation,  an  old  and  faithful  landmark  that  will  be  greatly 
missed.  But  his  active  business  operations  were  not  confined  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  ferry.  He  engaged  in  other  pursuits  among  which  were  the  follow- 
ing Rock  Island  enterprises :  A  glass  company,  a  quilt  manufacturing  com- 
pany, a  street  car  company  and  a  watch  company.  All  these  various  organiza- 
tions gave  him  abundant  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  his  excellent  capacity  for 
business.  They  were  not  all  assumed  at  once,  but  were  taken  on  as  the  years 
rolled  round  and  his  varied  business  opportunities  suggested  the  wisdom  of  such 
a  course.  In  1871  he  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  movement  which  led  to  the 
organization  of  the  Rock  Island  National  Bank,  taking  a  large  block  of  its  stock 
and  becoming  its  president,  which  office  he  field  for  many  years  and  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  His  prominence  in  business,  his  strict  probity,  his  urbanity 
and  fair  dealing  under  all  circumstances  made  him  one  of  the  most  prominent 
arid  influential  characters  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

In  his  earlier  years  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics  and  was  one  of  the 
strongest  of  the  advocates  of  anti-slavery  principles  in  his  section  of  the  State. 
He  was  originally  a  Whig,  and  following  the  same  tendency  he  became  a  Re- 
publican upon  the  organization  of  that  party,  in  the  ranks  of  which  he  was  ever 
after  to  be  found.  He  never  lost  his  interest  in  politics,  but  his  numerous  bus- 
iness occupations  so  engaged  his  time  in  later  years  that  he  was  unable  to  take 
an  active  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  chose  the  Whig  and  the  Republican  par- 
ties because  of  his  avowed  hostility  to  the  aggressions  of  slavery.  He  did  much 
during  the  war  to  facilitate  the  enlistment  of  volunteers  for  the  Federal  service 
and  in  other  ways  to  advance  the  cause  of  the  Union.  As  chairman  of  the  board 
of  supervisors  during  the  war  he  did  everything  in  his  power  to  influence  the 
county  to  a  course  of  liberality  toward  the  raising  of  money  and  the  procurement 

586 


•p*,. 


587 


of  supplies  to  aid  the  troops.  As  Rock  Island  was  a  central  point  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  army,  these  efforts  were  of  great  usefulness  in  encouraging  en- 
listments and  in  discouraging  the  action  of  the  copperheads.  Beginning  in  1849 
he  served  two  terms  as  associate  justice  of  the  county-  He  served  as  delegate  to 
several  conventions  of  his  party,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  a 
Mason,  becoming  a  Knight  Templar,  Everts  Commandery,  No.  18. 


MORRIS  ROSENFIELD. 

Among  the  many  foreigners  who  Have  attained  distinction  and  amassed  a 
competence  in  this  country  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Mueh- 
ringen,  Germany,  December  18,  1841,  and  is  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Ellen  Rosen- 
field,  respected  citizens  of  that  country.  He  passed  his  youth  in  the  usual  fashion 
of  boys  of  that  country,  and  after  completing  his  education  in  the  high  school  of 
his  native  town  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years  he  found  himself  at  liberty  to  go 
where  he  wished,  his  time  after  that  date  being  his  own.  He  was  not  satisfied 
with  the  opportunities  afforded  young  men  in  his  native  country,  and  at  last  con- 
cluded to  cross  the  ocean  to  the  United  States  in  the  hopes  of  bettering  his  con- 
dition. He  landed  at  New  York  with  scarcely  a  penny  to  his  name,  and  came 
west  to  Rock  Island  receiving  some  assistance  from  his  uncles,  Joseph  and 
Mayer,  who  were  engaged  in  the  wholesale  hardware  business  in  Rock  Island. 
They  gave  him  employment  for  a  considerable  length  of  time  as  an  errand  boy 
and  assistant  in  their  store.  In  the  meantime  he  continued  his  studies,  much  of 
the  time  at  night,  taking  up  the  mastery  of  English  and  paying  particular  atten- 
tion to  the  form  of  government  under  which  he  had  come  to  live  and  form  a 
part.  In  this  way  he  soon  understood  English  as  well  and  even  better  than 
many  of  the  natives,  and  had  become  familiar  with  the  fundamental  principles  of 
the  government,  having  thoroughly  studied  the  Constitutions  of  the  United 
States  and  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  made  himself  so  useful  to  the  firm  of  his 
uncles  that  after  a  few  years  he  was  taken  into  the  partnership. 

He  was  industrious,  honest,  intelligent  and  faithful  to  every  trust,  and  ad- 
vanced rapidly  in  the  confidence  of  his  business  associates.  Before  long,  believ- 
ing he  saw  better  chances  in  other  directions,  he  sold  his  interest  in  the  store  and 
purchased  a  small  wagon  and  blacksmith  repair  shop  at  Moline,  111.,  and  en- 
tered into  partnership  with  J.  A.  First  under  the  firm  name  of  First  &  Rosen- 
field.  They  began  the  maufacture  of  wagons  on  a  small  scale,  having  at  the  start 
only  two  men  employed  in  the  works ;  but  with  all  the  energy  of  which  he  was 
capable  and  with  a  fixed  determination  to  succeed  he  set  diligently  to  work  un- 
der many  discouragements  to  build  up  the  factory  and  to  realize  something  on 
the  little  capital  he  had  managed  to  save.  The  firm  thrived,  and  in  the  early 
seventies  he  bought  Mr.  First's  interest,  and  took  into  the  partnership  Charles 
A.  Benson  and  changed  the  name  of  the  establishment  to  The  Moline  Wagon 
Company.  Thus  they  continued  until  Mr.  Benson's  death  in  1885,  after  which 
Mr.  Rosenfield  continued  alone.  He  steadily  increased  and  expanded  the  busi- 
ness, adding  this  and  eliminating  that,  until  it  stands  today  as  a  splendid  monu- 
ment to  his  industry,  integrity  and  executive  ability,  employing  500  men.  He 
became  identified  with  other  branches  of  business,  was  vice-president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Moline,  besides  being  a  director  and  stockholder  in  many 
other  industrial  enterprises.  He  was,  of  course,  president  of  the  Moline  Wagon 
Company  which  he  had  built  up  and  made  so  successful. 

From  the  commencement  of  his  interest  in  the  public  affairs  of  this  coun- 
try he  affiliated  himself  with  the  Republican  party,  to  which  he  remained  faithful 
during  the  balance  of  his  eventful  life.  He  was  not  an  aspirant  for  political 
favors,  preferring  to  aid  in  piloting  the  party  craft  to  its  destined  harbor  and 
cargo.  However,  he  served  as  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention 
which  nominated  James  G.  Blaine  for  the  Presidency,  and  also  to  the  conven- 

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tion  which  nominated  Benjamin  Harrison  for  the  second  term.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  served  as  chairman  of  the  Rock  Island  County  Republican  Club.  He 
was  an  ardent  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  a  charter  member  of  the  local 
chapter.  He  was  married  November  12,  1874,  to  Miss  Julia  E.  Ottenheimer  of 
Cincinnati,  Ohio.  In  August,  1895,  he  was  taken  seriously  ill  and  was  advised 
to  go  abroad.  There  he  suffered  a  relapse  and  died  Jan.  25,  1899,  in  Germany. 


LEONARD  F.  ROSS. 

The  father  of  subject  was  Ossian  M.  Ross,  a  native  of  Duchess  County,  N. 
Y.,  and  the  mother  Miss  Mary  Winans  a  native  of  New  Jersey.  They  came  to 
Illinois  in  1820,  and  to  Fulton  County  in  1821,  the  father  engaging  in  farming 
and  trading  with  the  Indians.  He  became  proprietor  of  Lewiston,  and  of 
Havana  on  the  river  ten  miles  distant.  He  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  of 
1812,  and  his  grandfather,  Capt.  Thomas  Lee,  in  the  Revolutionary  War  in  sev- 
eral New  York  organizations.  In  1829  Ossian  M.  Ross  removed  from  Lewis- 
town  to  Havana,  where  he  engaged  extensively  in  farming,  stock  raising  and 
merchandising.  He  also  kept  hotel  and  operated  a  ferry  across  the  Illinois 
River,  and  so  continued  until  his  death  in  January,  1837. 

Leonard  F.  Ross  assisted  his  father  in  the  various  occupations  mentioned 
until  the  latter's  death,  and  the  succeeding  four  years  attended  the  common 
schools  of  the  county,  and  finally  spent  one  year  at  Illinois  College,  Jacksonville. 
He  then  read  law  with  Davidson  &  Kellogg,  Canton,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  December,  1844.  I"  ^45  ne  began  practicing,  and  in  November  of  the  same 
year  married  Miss  Catherine  M.  Simms,  daughter  of  Col.  R.  C.  Simms  of  Lewis- 
town.  In  May,  1846,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  K,  Fourth  Regirnent 
Illinois  Volunteers,  commanded  by  Col.  E.  D.  Baker,  for  the  Mexican  War,  went 
to  the  front,  and  on  September  4,  1846,  was  promoted  to  the  First  Lieutenantcy 
of  his  company.  He  commanded  his  company  at  the  investment  and  capture 
of  Vera  Cruz  in  March,  1847,  and  at  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  three  weeks  later. 
In  January,  1847,  ne  wa.s  the  bearer  of  important  dispatches  from  General  Scott 
to  Generals  Taylor  and  Paterson,  and  with  an  escort  of  twenty  men  traversed 
the  enemy's  country  from  Matamoras  to  Victoria,  a  distance  of  300  miles,  cov- 
ering the  distance  in  less  than  six  days.  He  commanded  the  body-guard  of  Gen. 
Shields  and  Col.  Baker  and  Maj.  Harris  while  they  made  the  dangerous  recon- 
noissance  of  the  enemy's  lines  immediately  before  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo.  In 
June,  1847,  ne  was  discharged  and  came  home. 

In  August,  1847,  ne  was  elected  ProHate  Justice  of  Fulton  County  for  two 
years,  and  was  then  elected,  without  opposition,  County  Clerk  for  four  years- 
Before  his  term  expired  he  began  farming  and  stock  raising  south  of  Lewistown, 
and  was  also  interested  in  a  mercantile  establishment  at  Ipava,  111.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Baltimore  in  1852,  and  to 
the  same^aTOncThnati  in  1856,  working  at  both  Conventions  in  the  interest  of 
Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He  was  present  at  the  Baltimore  convention  of  1860,  but 
was  not  a  delegate,  and  on  this  occasion  many  Southern  statesmen  declared  to 
him  that  "if  either  Lincoln  or  Douglas  should  be  elected  he  would  have  to  make 
his  way  to  the  White  House  through  seas  of  blood,  sah ! — seas  of  blood,  sah !" 
whereupon  he  replied,  "Whoever  is  fairly  elected  must  be  the  President  if  he 
does  have  to  go  through  'seas  of  blood.'  " 

When  the  Rebellion  broke  out  lie  raised  a  company  at  Lewistown  and 
tendered  it  to  the  Government.  It  became  Company  H,  of  the  Seventeenth 
Regiment,  and  when  that  regiment  was  organized  he  was  elected  Colonel.  He 
at  once  prepared  it  for  service,  and  was  the  first  Douglas  Democrat  to  take  com- 
mand of  a  regiment  of  Illinois  soldiers.  During  1861  he  served  mainly  in  Ken- 
tucky arid  Missouri;  in  1862  in  West  Tennessee  and  Northern  Mississippi,  and  in 
1863  in  Arkansas  and  Mississippi.  His  record  is  a  part  of  the  record  of  his 
regiment.  After  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg  and  the  re-opening  of  the  Missis- 
sipi  River,  believing  the  war  to  be  virtually  at  an  end,  he  resigned  and  came 

590 


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591 


home  to  attend  to  his  private  business  which  had  suffered  greatly  in  his  absence. 
In  1862  his  wife  died  and  he  married  again  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Warren  of  Monroe- 
ville,  O.  In  March,  1866^  he  settled  on  a  farm  near  Avon,  111.,  and  for  sixteen 
years  devoted  himself  to  farming,  stock  raising  and  dairying. 

He  served  as  collector  of  internal  revenue  for  three  years,  ran  as  a  Repub- 
lican for  Congress  in  1868,  but  was  defeated,  in  1872  was  a  delegate  to  the  Na- 
tional Republican  convention  at  Philadelphia,  in  1874  was  an  independent  can- 
didate for  Congress,  but  was  defeated,  and  was  otherwise  very  prominent  in 
politics.  He  has  given  his  hearty  support  to  all  the  Republican  candidates  for 
the  Presidency  from  Gen.  Grant  to  McKinley.  In  1882  he  removed  to  two  farms 
near  Iowa  City,  la.,  and  engaged  extensively  in  importing  and  breeding  fine 
stock  and  dairying.  In  1884  he  visited  England  and  Scotland  to  examine  the 
fine  herds  of  that  country-  He  has  made  four  trips  to  California  and  in  one  of 
them  visited  Oregon  and  Washington.  In  January,  1898,  he  visited  Florida  and 
the  Island  of  Cuba,  and  while  he  was  in  Havana  on  the  I5th  of  February,  the 
Maine  was  destroyed.  Soon  afterwards  he  visited  Mexico,  reviewing  some  of 
the  scenes  of  the  Mexican  War. 

He  was  the  first  secretary  and  afterward  the  president  of  the  Fulton  County 
Agricultural  Society.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  and  first  president  of  the 
Avon  Agricultural  Society,  and  while  in  Iowa  was  president  of  the  Red  Polled 
Cattle  Club  of  America,  for  nine  years,  and  served  as  president  of  the  Johnson 
County  Fine  Stock  Association.  He  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd  Fellow,  member  of  the 
G.  A.  R.,  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  Loyal  Legion,  Sons  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  Good  Templars.  He  came  from  Iowa  in  1894  and  joined  his  brother, 
Hon.  Lewis  W.  Ross,  and  others  in  organizing  the  First  National  Bank  of  Lew- 
istown  and  served  two  years  as  vice-president  and  president.  He  has  seven 
children  living — five  sons  and  two  daughters.  One  son,  Frank  F.,  is  a  soldier 
in  the  Philippines,  another,  Willis  W.,  is  in  the  gold  mines  of  Alaska,  and  one 
daughter,  Adele,  is  devoting  her  life  to  art. 


ANDREW  RUSSEL. 

Andrew  Russel,  the  eldest  son  of  William  and  Emily  Gallaher  Russel,  was 
born  June  17,  1856,  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  Illinois,  where  he  received 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  and  at  Illinois  College.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen,  he  began  his  business  career  as  bookkeeper, — afterward  teller  in  the 
Jacksonville  National  Bank,  where  he  remained  until  December,  1890,  leaving 
there  to  become  a  member  of  the  new  banking  firm  of  Dunlap,  Russel  &  Co., 
which  started  in  business  January  I,  1891.  In  1887,  for  the  first  time  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  city,  the  treasurer  was  chosen  by  election,  Andrew  Russel  being  the 
successful  candidate, — which  office  he  has  held  four  times. 

His  grandfather,  Doctor  Andrew  Russel,  a  surgeon  of  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois  in  1834.  Espousing  the  cause  of  the  Whigs  ; 
at  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  in  1856,  he  naturally  became  one  of  its 
founders ;  holding  so  strictly  to  its  political  principles  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1861,  that  not  one  of  his  descendants  has  ever  departed  from  his  teachings. 
The  maternal  grandfather,  Rev.  William  Green  Gallaher,  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, came  to  Illinois  from  Tennessee  about  1830.  Both  grandfathers  having 
always  opposed  slavery  showed  their  political  principles  by  prominent  connection 
with  the  Underground  Railway.  The  father,  William  Russel,  one  of  the  oldest 
and  most  esteemed  citizens  of  Jacksonville,  has,  with  his  sons, — lived  up  to  the 
religious  and  political  principles  of  the  family,  being  both  a  Presbyterian  and  a 
Republican. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  a  member  of  the  County  Central  Com- 
mittee several  times ;  Chairman  of  the  City  Central  Committee ;  was  candidate 
for  Circuit  Clerk  in  1888,  being  defeated  by  a  majority  of  twenty-three  in  a 
strongly  Democratic  County ;  and  is  the  present  candidate  for  State  Senator  from 
the  Thirty-fourth  District.  He  is  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Independent 

592      ' .  • 


593 


Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Modern  Woodmen  of  America ; 
one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Jacksonville  Public  Library  and  a  member  of  the  Art 
Association. 

In  1891  Andrew  Russel  was  married  to  Clara,  daughter  of  Rufus  Putman 
Robbins  of  Cairo,  Illinois.  They  with  their  five  children  reside  at  present  in 
Jacksonville.  For  cleanness  of  life  and  sterling  integrity,  both  socially  and  polit- 
ically, Andrew  Russel  has  never  been  questioned. 


WILLIAM  RUSSEL. 

William  Russel  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Scotland.  He  was 
born  in  the  year  1823  at  Whiteclough,  in  the  parish  of  Crawford-John.  He  is 
one  of  the  two  surviving  sons  of  the  late  Dr.  Andrew  Russel  and  Agnes  Scott 
Russel.  When  he  was  but  a  few  years  old  the  family  removed  to  Rothsay,  on 
the  beautiful  and  picturesque  Isle  of  Butte,  where  they  lived  until  their  removal, 
in  1834,  to  the  United  States-  In  those  early  days  the  trip  across  the  Atlantic 
Ocean  was  not  what  it  is  to-day  on  the  splendid  steamships  that  cross  the  ocean 
in  a  week.  Dr.  Russel  and  his  family  made  the  trip  across  the  Atlantic  in  a 
sailing  vessel-  They  came  West  by  canal  boat  and  stage,  and  at  the  end  of  a 
slow  and  tedious  journey  arrived  in  Morgan  County,  and  settled  about  ten 
miles  southeast  of  Jacksonville,  where  the  doctor  entered  a  large  tract  of  land 
and  pursued  the  business  of  farming.  This  land,  well  improved,  remained  in 
the  possession  of  the  family  until  a  recent  date.  Dr.  Russel  was  a  man  of  fine 
education,  had  graduated  at  the  medical  college  of  Edinburgh  and  began  his 
professional  career  as  a  surgeon  in  the  British  Army,  after  which  he  prac- 
ticed medicine  and  surgery  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  partnership  with  Dr.  Burns, 
a  member  of  the  Burns  family,  founders  of  the  Cunard  Steamship  line.  On 
coming  to  this  country,  Dr.  Russel  gave  up  the  practice  of  medicine  on  ac- 
count of  ill  health  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming.  He  was  a  public  spir- 
ited man,  anxious  to  see  the  country  developed.  He  was  one  of  the  large 
original  stockholders  of  the  Jacksonville,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad,  now  the 
Chicago  &  Alton  Railroad.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig.  He  was  an  anti- 
slavery  man,  and  was  in  sympathy  with  what  was  known  as  the  "Underground 
Railway."  He  never  refused  shelter  and  aid  to  a  slave  fleeing  north  for  his 
freedom.  Mrs.  Russel,  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Agnes  Scott,  be- 
longed to  a  prominent  old  Scotch  family,  and  was  a  first  cousin  of  the  Right 
Honorable  William  E.  Gladstone. 

The,  education  of  William  Russel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  begun 
in  a  school  in  Rothsay,  and  completed  under  a  private  tutor  in  this  country. 
After  having  spent  a  few  years  on  his  father's  farm,  in  1849  ne  came  to  Jack- 
sonville -and  took  a  position  in  Gillett's  dry  goods  store.  Two  years  later,  he 
and  his  brother  Andrew  opened  a  retail  store  for  the  sale  of  dry  goods  and 
general  merchandise,  from  which  he  retired  in  1888.  In  1891  he  became  one 
of  the  partners  in  the  banking  house  of  Dunlap,  Russel  &  Co-  He  married 
Emily  Gallaher,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  William  Green  Gallaher  and  Sarah 
Kautz  Gallaher,  in  the  year  1853.  Rev.  William  Gallaher,  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, was  born  and  raised  in  Tennessee  and  came  to  Illinois  in  its  early  set- 
tlement. In  politics^he  wa§,-a--Whig.  He  was  especially  interested  and  very 
active  in  the  "UndergrouncLJR.ailway."  Andrew  Russel,  the  eldest  son  of  Wil- 
liam Russel,  is  one  of  the  partners  in  the  banking  house  of  Dunlap,  Russel  & 
Co. ;  William  G.  is  a  farmer ;  James  G.,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  Thomas 
Scott  holds  a  position  in  the  bank.  Of  the  six  daughters,  four  are  engaged 
in  teaching:  Jane  and  Margaret  in  the  School  for  the  Deaf,  at  Philadelphia; 
Mary,  in  Oklahoma ;  and  Elizabeth  in  the  public  schools  at  Jacksonville,  while 
Catherine  and  Isabel  are  at  home. 

Mr.  Russel  is  a  strict  Presbyterian,  having  been  brought  up  in  that  church 
from  earliest  infancy.  He  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Westminster  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Jacksonville  during  its  entire  history.  He  has  been  a  Republican 

594 


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f 

since  the  beginning  of  the  party,  previous  to  which  time  he  was  a  Whig.  He 
voted  for  the  first  Republican  candidate  for  President.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  "Young  Ladies'  Athenaeum"  of  this  city,  and  also 
of  the  Jacksonville  Gas  Company.  He  is  a  constant  reader  and  is  a  great 
Bible  and  history  student.  Is  tall,  slender,  with  brown  hair  and  clear  blue 
eyes  He  is  the  typical  Scotchman  in  appearance,  as  well  as  in  character  and  dis- 
position. The  influence  of  his  life,  his  diligence,  firmness,  benevolence,  unright- 
ness,  and  kindness,  have  been  felt  by  all  those  who  have  come  in  contact  with 
him- 


GEORQE  A.  SANDERS. 

The  West  is  full  of  men  of  Eastern  birth,  ancestry  and  education,  who 
have  distinguished  themselves  in  public  affairs,  and  among  them  is  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  July  4,  1836,  in  Williamstown,  Mass.,  his 
parents  being  Anthony  and  Celinda  B.  Sanders,  both  of  whom  were  of  English 
descent.  The  father  was  a  thrifty  farmer,  and  to  himself  and  wife  were  born 
a  family  of  fourteen  children,  eleven  of  whom  grew  to  maturity.  Subject  first 
attended  the  town  schools  and  later  entered  Wliliams  College,  and,  taking  the 
regular  classical  course,  was  duly  graduated  with  distinction  and  with  the  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts.  While  thus  securing  an  education  he  contracted  debts 
which  he  afterward  paid  by  teaching  school. 

Leaving  college  in  1861  he  soon  afterward  came  to  Centralia,  Illinois, 
where  he  was  employed  as  principal  and  in  grading  the  common  and  high 
schools  of  that  city.  While  thus  engaged,  though  the  work  was  difficult  and 
exacting,  he  found  time  to  commence  his  legal  studies  by  mastering  the  lead- 
ing text-books  on  the  fundamental  principles  of  law,  and  after  his  work  in 
bringing  the  local  schools  up  to  a  high  degree  of  success  had  been  brought 
to  a  gratifying  finality,  he  entered  the  office  of  Sweet  &  Orme,  of  Bloom- 
ington,  111.,  then  one  of  the  most  distinguished  firm  of  lawyers  in  the  State, 
and  continued  in  a  more  thorough  and  systematic  manner  to  still  further  per- 
fect himself  in  the  law.  He  was  examined  regarding  his  legal  requirements 
by  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Supreme  Court  and  was  duly  licensed  in 
December,  1863,  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  the  State.  Later  he  was  licensed 
to  practice  in  the  United  States  District  and  Circuit  Courts,  and  in  1881  he 
was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  He  first 
formed  a  partnership  for  practice  at  Centralia  with  Hon.  Richard  Nelson,  and 
after  the  latter's  death  became  associated  with  Gen.  Erastus  N.  Bates,  at  the 
same  place,  and  so  continued  until  1868,  when  the  latter  was  elected  State 
Treasurer.  Mr.  Sanders  served  under  Gen.  Bates  for  two  terms  as  Assistant 
State  Treasurer,  and  was  continued  in  the  same  position  by  his  successor,  Hon. 
Edward  Rutz,  for  two  years. 

From  the  organization  of  the  party  he  had  been  a  strong  and  unflinching 
Republican,  and  since  reaching  manhood  had  taken  great  interest  in  the  suc- 
cess of  his  party.  He  had  a  liking  and  a  special  fitness  for  the  uncertain 
game  of  politics,  and  his  position  of  Assistant  State  Treasurer  had  brought 
him  wide  acquaintance  in  Illinois  and  an  intimate  knowledge  of  its  political 
affairs.  He  was  therefore  brought  forward  by  his  friends  before  the  Repub- 
lican State  Convention  for  State  Treasurer,  but  failed  to  secure  the  nomination 
by  three  votes.  He  served  as  City  Attorney  and  as  Elector  of  the  Republican 
ticket  in  1872,  but  aside  from  these  positions  has  preferred  and  confined  him- 
self to  the  practice  of  his  profession.  However,  he  still  continues  to  take 
great  interest  in  the  success  of  Republicanism,  and  has  taken  an  active  part 
as  an  effective  speaker  in  every  State  and  National  campaign. 

Mr.  Sanders  is  a  great  student  of  art,  science  and  general  literature ;  has 
made  many  contributions  to  the  current  literature  of  the  day  on  those  topics, 
and  has  written  several  books  which  are  of  great  interest  on  the  subjects 
discussed.  He  has  traveled  much  over  the  country  and  is  familiar  with  our 

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social  and  political  surroundings  and  requirements.  He  is  a  musical  critic 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Authors'  Club  of  Springfield.  He  has 
served  as  director  of  the  First  Congregational  Church  choir  of  Springfield  for 
thirty  consecutive  years.  Associated  with  him  in  the  practice  of  law  have  been 
Frank  R.  Williams,  Ralph  W.  Haynes  and  W.  R.  Bowers.  His  practice  is 
large  in  the  line  of  railroad  and  corporation  securities  and  at  the  same  time 
of  a  satisfactory  and  profitable  character.  He  is  a  member  of  the  State  and 
National  Bar  Associations,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  convention  of  the  latter 
at  Detroit  in  1897.  In  1898  Illinois  College  conferred  upon  him  the  degree 
of  Doctor  of  Laws- 


NATHANIEL  C.  SEARS. 

Judge  Sears  was  born  at  Gallipolis,  O.,  August  23,  1854,  and  now  resides 
at  No.  2465  Kenmore  Avenue,  Chicago,  111.  His  ancestors  were  of  revolu- 
tionary stock.  His  great  grandfather  was  a  soldier  of  the  Continental  Army 
and  served  under  Washington ;  his  father,  Amos  G.  Sears,  is  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont, as  was  his  mother,  Susan  A.  Davis.  They  married,  came  west,  settled 
at  Elgin,  111.,  and  resided  there  for  many  years.  Mr.  Sears  was  a  principal  of 
the  academy  of  that  place.  Mrs.  Sears  was  prominent  in  educational  and 
benevolent  work.  These  good  people  are  still  living  and  reside  with  the  Judge 
in  Chicago. 

Judge  Sears,  as  it  will  be  readily  understood,  has  had  splendid  advantages 
for  acquiring  an  education-  He  passed  through  his  father's  academy  at  Elgin, 
studied  at  Knox  College,  and  at  Amherst,  entered  the  university  of  Berlin, 
Germany,  and  studied  there  for  some  time  and  finally  graduated  at  Amherst 
with  the  class  of  1875.  He  received  the  degree  of  A.  M.  from  Amherst  in 
1877,  and  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  from  the  Northwestern  University  in  1878. 
After  completing  his  studies,  Mr.  Sears  came  to  Chicago.  He  had  no  ac- 
quaintances here,  and  without  introduction,  immediately  went  to  work  seeking 
a  position  as  law  clerk  with  some  good  firm,  and  was  employed  in  the  law 
office  of  William  H.  King,  a  practitioner  of  high  repute  at  that  day-  Remain- 
ing with  Mr.  King  for  one  year,  Mr.  Sears  passed  the  necessary  examination 
before  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  and  was  licensed  to  practice  law.  He  at 
once  entered  into  a  partnership  with  Isaac  Adams,  under  the  firm  name  of 
Sears  &  Adams  and  began  the  practice  of  law.  The  business  of  the  firm  grew 
and  in  a  short  time  Mr.  Lieb's  name  was  added  to  the  firm  name.  Mr.  Sears 
continued  the  active  and  successful  practice  of  law.  In  1881,  upon  a  dissolution 
of  the  old  firm,  he  continued  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Sears  Ik  Foster, 
and  later  on,  in  1887,  Mr.  Foster  having  retired,  the  firm  was  changed  to 
Sears  &  Arend. 

Mr.  Sears  was  elected  Judge  of  the  Superior  Court  of  Cook  County  in 
1897,  and  was  soon  promoted  to  the  position  of  Judge  of  the  Appellate  Court 
of  the  first  district  of  Illinois,  which  position  he  now  holds.  In  the  practice 
of  law,  while  Judge  Sears  prepared  his  cases  well,  he  devoted  his  attention  al- 
most entirely  to  the  trial  practice,  and  has  been  eminently  successful.  He  was 
the  principal  counsel  for  the  defense  in  many  celebrated  cases.  As  an  advo- 
cate few  men  at  the  Chicago  Bar  have  been  so  effective  and  so  successful. 

In  politics  Judge  Sears  has  been  a  Republican  from  his  majority.  His 
father  was  a  Whig,  and  when  that  party  retired  from  the  political  field  he 
naturally  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party.  Nathaniel  C.  Sears, 
therefore,  derived  his  Republicanism  through  the  early  teachings  of  his  father. 
He  took  an  active  part  in  the  political  campaign  of  1884,  making  a  number  of 
effective  speeches  for  Elaine  and  Logan.  In  1897  Judge  Sears  was  nominated 
by  the  Republicans  as  a  candidate  for  Mayor  of  Chicago.  In  that  campaign 
the  party,  unfortunately,  was  divided,  while  the  Democratic  party  was  solid  for 
their  candidate,  Carter  H.  Harrison.  Three  independent  candidates  appeared 
in  the  field,  namely :  J.  Irving  Pierce,  Washington  Hesing  and  John  M.  Har- 

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Ian.  As  a  result  of  this  division,  Judge  Sears  was  defeated,  judge  Sears  has 
never  been  a  candidate  for  any  other  political  office. 

Judge  Sears  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  Hamilton,  University,  and 
Marquette  Clubs.  He  is  a  Mason,  Knight  Templar,  Shriner,  and  an  Odd  Fel- 
low; in  all  these  clubs  and  societies  he  takes  a  deep  interest.  He  served  for 
one  year  as  president  of  the  Congregational  Club ;  is  a  member  of  the  law 
faculty  of  the  Northwestern  University;  has. been  president  of  the  Amherst 
College  Alumni  Association,  and  of  the  D.  K.  E.  Alumni  Association.  He  is 
a  member  and  trustee  of  the  North  Shore  Congregational  Church. 

While  devoted  to  the  duties  of  the  bench,  the  Judge  has  a  warm  side  for 
the  sports  of  the  field  and  stream,  and  is  noted  for  his  success  in  bringing 
down  big  game  and  catching  trout  in  the  streams  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Nathaniel  C.  Sears  was  married  May  26,  1887,  at  Elgin,  111.,  to  Laura  Raymond 
Davidson,  daughter  of  Orlando  Davidson,  well  known  as  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Illinois,  and  as  a  man  of  strong,  sterling  character,  and  a  leader  in 
Republican  politics  in  his  county  from  the  organization  of  the  party.  Mrs. 
Sears  was  educated  at  Vassar,  and  is  a  lady  of  rare  intellectual  and  social  char- 
acter. She  is  not  excelled  by  her  husband  in  fondness  for  fishing  and  hunting. 
Judge  and  Mrs.  Sears  have  an  elegant  home  and  a  wide  circle  of  friends- 


NICHOLAS  SENN. 

Dr.  Nicholas  Senn  is  a  native  of  Eastern  Switzerland.  He  was  born  in 
the  Canton  of  St.  Gaul,  Oct.  31,  1834.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  when 
Nicholas  was  eight  years  of  age  he  came  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
his  family  the  greater  advantages  of  the  United  States.  He  settled  in  Wash- 
ington County,  Wis.  Young  Senn  attended  the  district  schools,  where  he  ac- 
quired his  earlier  education.  He  also  attended  the  grammar  school  at  Fond 
du  Lac,  from  which  he  graduated  with  honor.  He  taught  school  for  several 
years,  and  in  1864,  under  the  encouragement  and  tutelage  of  Dr.  Munk,  of 
Fond  du  Lac,  began  the  study  of  medicine.  Two  years  later  Mr.  Senn  came 
to  Chicago  and  entered  the  Chicago  Medical  College,  from  which  he  grad- 
uated with  honor  in  1868.  He  was  appointed  as  resident  physician  to  the  Cook 
County  Hospital,  upon  a  competitive  examination,  and  served  a  year  and  a 
half.  After  leaving  the  service  of  the  Cook  County  Hospital,  he  removed  to 
Ashford,  Fond  du  Lac  County,  in  1869,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  where  he  remained  five  years. 

Seeking  a  wider  field  for  his  life  work,  he  removed  to  Milwaukee,  and 
soon  became  attending  physician  to  the  Milwaukee  Hospital.  Dr.  Senn's 
practice  was  largely  confined  to  surgery,  and  he  became  greatly  in  demand  in 
important  cases-  He  was  either  attending  or  consulting  surgeon  in  nearly  all 
the  important  cases  of  the  county,  and  his  reputation  as  a  surgeon  extended 
throughout  the  Northwest.  The  doctor  continued  in  Milwaukee  for  a  number 
of  years.  In  1878,  animated  by  a  desire  to  have  the  experience  of  foreign 
investigation  and  study,  he  went  abroad,  and  studied  for  a  year  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Munich,  from  which  institution  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D. 
Upon  his  return  to  the  United  States,  he  was  elected  by  the  College  of  Physi- 
cians and  Surgeons  to  the  chair  of  Practice  of  Surgery,  and  Clinical  Surgery, 
which  he  held  for  three  years,  after  which  he  accepted  the  chair  of  Principles 
of  Surgery  in  Rush  Medical  College.  Since  1891  he  has  ocupied  the  chair  of 
Practice  of  Surgery  and  Clinical  Surgery. 

His  field  of  usefulness  became  broader  and  broader.  He  is  professor  of 
surgery  in  the  Chicago  Polyclinic,  attending  surgeon  to  the  Presbyterian  Hos- 
pital, and  Surgeon-in-Chief  at  St.  Joseph's  Hospital.  He  has  served  as  Presi- 
dent of  the  American  Medical  Association,  is  ex-President  of  the  American 
Surgical  Association ;  an  Honorary  Fellow  in  the  College  of  Physicians  (Phila- 
delphia) ;  a  life  member  of  the  German  Congress  of  Surgeons ;  a  correspond- 

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ing  member  of  the  Harveian  Society  (London) ;  and  Honorary  Member  of 
La  Academic  de  la  Medicina'  de  Mexico ;  an  Honorary  Member  of  the  D. 
Hayes  Agnew  Surgical  Society  (Philadelphia) ;  a  member  of  the  British  Medi- 
cal Association,  and  of  the  prominent  national,  state  and  local  societies.  Dr. 
Senn  is  also  Surgeon  General  of  the  National  Guard  of  Illinois,  ex-president 
of  the  Association  of  Military  Surgeons  of  the  United  States,  and  in  the  late 
Spanish-American  War  was  Chief  Surgeon  of  the  United  States  Volunteers 
and  Chief  of  operating  staff  with  the  army  in  the  field.  He  received  official 
recognition  from  the  War  Department  for  meritorious  service  in  surgical  work 
during  the  Cuban  campaign  and  for  scientific  study  of  typhoid  fever  among 
the  troops.  A  mere  mention  of  Dr.  Semi's  publications  will  indicate  to  some 
extent  their  scope  and  value.  Among  them  are  the  following,  all  of  which  are 
accepted,  not  only  in  America,  but  also  in  Europe :  "Principles  of  Surgery," 
"Experimental  Surgery,"  "Tuberculosis  of  the  Bones  and  Joints,"  "Surgical 
Bacteriology,"  "Intestinal  Surgery,"  "The  Pathology  and  Treatment  of  Tu- 
mors," and  "Tuberculosis  of  the  Genito-Urinary 'Organs."  At  present  he  is 
engaged  on  a  voluminous  work  entitled  "Practical  Surgery." 

Dr-  Senn  has  conferred  a  lasting  benefit  on  Chicago  and  the  West  gen- 
erally by  bis  presentation  to  the  Newberry  Library  of  the  famous  Senn  col- 
lection of  rare  medical  works.  A  large  share  of  them  were  gathered  by  him- 
self, but  the  most  valuable  portion  of  them  constituted  at  one  time  the  library 
of  the  celebrated  Dr.  William  Baum,  late  professor  of  surgery  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Gottingen,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  German  Congress  of  Sur- 
geons. This  collection  of  rare  books,  the  result  of  half  a  century  of  careful 
accumulation,  were  saved  from  the  fate  of  a  public  auction  by  Dr.  Senn,  and 
were  donated,  together  with  his  own  extensive  library,  to  the  Newberry 
Library,  where  they  are  separately  shelved  and  catalogued  and  known  as  the 
"Senn  Collection."  Recently  he  purchased  and  presented  to  the  Newberry 
Library,  the  library  of  the  famous  physiologist,  Du  Bois  Raymond,  of  Berlin, 
Germany-  Dr.  Senn  has  received  recognition  for  his  great  attainments  in  medi- 
cine and  surgery,  and  is  noted  as  an  M.  D.,  LL.  D.,  and  Ph.  D.  Dr.  Senn  is  a 
resident  of  Chicago. 


ALBERT  LAVINGTON  SERCOMB. 

Albert  L.  Sercomb  is  a  man  whose  native  abilities  have  elevated  him  to 
the  first  rank  among  business  men  in  this  country.  He  is  of  pleasing  address 
and  knows  how  to  gain  and  retain  the  friendship  of  all  with  whom  he  comes 
in  contact.  He  has  just  attained  his  majority  as  manager  of  the  Western 
branch  of  the  Meriden  Britannia  Company,  for  it  was  in  1878,  a  little  over 
twenty-one  years  ago,  that  he  came  to  Chicago  from  New  York,  where  he 
had  held  a  position  with  the  same  company  from  1875-  He  has  now  been  ap- 
pointed general  manager  of  the  International  Silver  Co.,  which  is  comprised 
of  sixteen  of  the  largest  silver  companies  in  the  United  States.  Mr.  Sercomb 
was  born  in  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  August  22,  1847,  but  is  of  English  ancestry, 
his  parents,  John  and  Emma  Sercomb,  both  being  natives  of  that  country,  the 
former  born  in  Exeter  and  the  latter  in  Yeovil.  Soon  after  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sercomb  crossed  the  ocean  to  America  and  settled  in  Milwaukee, 
where  they  were  among  that  city's  pioneers.  John  Sercomb  established  the 
first  foundry  and  machine  shops  in  Wisconsin,  and  was  an  active  and  enter- 
prising business  man.  He  was  an  ardent  Democrat  until  the  formation  of  the 
Republican  party,  when  he,  like  many  others  of  the  Democratic  party,  used 
all  IT'S  exertions  to  elect  John  S.  Eremont,  the  first  nominee  of  the  Republican 
party  for  President.  From  that  time  up  to  his  death  he  remained  a  staunch 
Republican.  Much  of  the  push  and  energy  of  this  most  worthy  man  has  de- 
scended to  his  son,  Albert  L.  The  latter  received  his  scholastic  training  in 
the  public  schools  of  Milwaukee  and  then,  while  still  comparatively  young,  en- 
tered upon  a  clerkship  in  the  commission  house  of  Thomas  Whitney,  then  the 
president  of  the  Board  of  Trade. 

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When  the  call  for  volunteers  came  in  the  early  sixties,  young  Sercomb  was 
filled  with  a  patriotic  desire  to  aid  his  country,  and  nothing  could  prevent  him 
from  enlisting.  He  was  really  too  young  to  be  eligible,  but  he  succeeded  in 
joining  the  ranks  of  the  3Oth  Wisconsin  Volunteers  and  served  most  faithfully  in 
the  ranks-  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Milwaukee  and  entered  upon  a  clerk- 
ship in  a  commission  house.  A  few  years  later  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the 
crockery  business,  which  was  known  as  Sanford  &  Sercomb,  and  met  with  more 
than  the  ordinary  share  of  success.  However,  he  sold  out  his  interests  and 
went  to  New  York  as  a  general  salesman  tor  the  large  dry-goods  house  of  S.  B. 
Chittenden  &  Co.  At  the  end  of  three  years  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  his 
position  on  account  of  ill  health  and  later  he  associated  himself  with  the  Meriden 
Britannia  Company,  which  is  the  largest  silver-plating  establishment  in  the 
world.  With  this  he  has  remained,  as  manger  of  the  Western  business,  for  the 
past  twenty-five  years. 

Among  fellow  jewelers  at  Chicago  he  is  well  known  and  well  liked.  He  has 
been  president  of  the  Chicago  Jewelers'  Association,  and  was  chairman  of  the 
Reception  Committee  appointed  for  the  last  banquet.  Socially,  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  having  joined  that  order  when  twenty-one  years  old, 
and  has  gone  up  the  ladder,  attaining  some  of  the  highest  degrees.  He  became 
a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  in  1866,  and  is  now  a  member  of 
Columbia  Post  No.  176,  Chicago.  Mr.  Sercomb  is  a  man  of  many  clubs.  He 
has  been  president  of  the  North  Shore  Club,  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League 
Club,  the  Citizens'  Commercial  Association  and  the  Marquette  Club.  He  is  an 
extensive  traveler,  having  been  all  over  the  United  States  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific,  and  has  also  traveled  abroad  through  the  British  Isles,  France, 
Germany,  Belgium  and  Holland.  He  selected  his  wife  in  the  person  of  Miss 
Georgia  Adams,  a  native  of  Westport,  Conn.,  and  their  marriage  was  celebrated 
in  New  York.  Mr.  and  Mrs-  Sercomb  are  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Albert 
Adams  and  Henry  Hiland  Sercomb,  the  former  taking  his  college  course  at  Wil- 
liams College,  Williamstown,  Mass.,  and  the  latter  his  preparatory  course  at 
St.  Paul's  School,  Concord,  New  Hampshire. 


ELIJAH  B.  SHERMAN. 

Elijah  B.  Sherman  of  Chicago,  is  well  known  in  the  city  and  throughout  the 
State,  his  conspicuous  services  in  the  Legislature,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
1876,  and  again  in  1878,  and  his  close  connection  with  the  Circuit  Court  of  the 
United  States  in  Chicago  during  the  past  twenty-one  years  as  Master  in  Chan- 
cery, have  brought  him  in  contact  with  most  of  the  prominent  men  of  Illinois  and 
adjoining  States.  During  his  service  in  the  first  Session  of  the  Legislature  to 
which  he  was  elected,  he  was  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  and  being 
familiar  with  the  over-loaded  condition  of  the  Supreme  Court  docket,  and  the 
importance  of  relieving  the  pressure  of  the  Judges  of  that  Court,  he  assisted 
largely  in  securing  the  passage  of  the  act  establishing  Appellate  Courfs  through- 
out the  State.  This  law  has  met  with  universal  approval,  and  brought  the  relief 
so  much  needed  to  the  Supreme  Court.  During  his  second  term,  Mr.  Sherman 
was  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Corporations,  and  was  also  a  memebr  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee.  The  re-organization  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard,  and 
the  establishment  of  an  improved  military  code,  was  largely  promoted  by  his 
efforts.  As  a  recognition  of  these  important  services  he  was  commissioned 
Judge  Advocate  of  the  first  Brigade,  with  the  rank  of  Lieuteant  Colonel,  and 
served  in  that  position  until  1884.  Mr.  Sherman  was  appointed  Chief  Super- 
visor of  Elections  for  the  Northern  District  of  Illinois,  by  Judge  Drummand  in 
1884.  The  elections  held  in  Chicago  in  1884,  1888,  1890,  and  1892,  were  super- 
vised by  him.  The  impartiality  and  fairness  with  which  he  performed  the  im- 
portant duties  of  this  position  gave  entire  satisfaction  to  the  managers  of  both 
great  political  parties,  and  drew  from  them  expressions  of  hearty  commend- 
ation. 

604 


Mr.  Sherman  was  born  June  18,  1832,  on  his  father's  farm  at  Fairfield,  Ver- 
mont. His  ancestors  were  among  the  earliest  English  settlers  in  America.  He 
is  a  descendant  of  Rev.  John  Sherman,  who  came  with  Capt.  John  Sherman,  his 
cousin,  the  one  was  also  the  ancestor  of  those  distinguished  men,  General  W.  T. 
Sherman  and  Senator  John  Sherman,  the  other  was  the  ancestor  of  Roger  Sher- 
man, a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Mr.  Sherman's  father  was 
Elias  H.  Sherman,  a  substantial  citizen  of  Vermont.  His  mother,  Clarissa 
(Willmarth)  Sherman,  was  a  grand-daughter  of  Rev.  Peter  Wordan,  a  patriot 
and  preacher  of  distinction,  whose  services  are  duly  recorded  in  the  early  his- 
tories of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont.  Until  he  reached  his  majority,  Mr.  Sher- 
man resided  with  his  parents  on  a  farm,  and  divided  his  time  between  cultiva- 
ting the  soil  and  obtaining  an  education.  His  ambitions  and  experiences  dur- 
ing this  period  may  be  said  to  be  the  same  as  other  intelligent  and  ambitious 
New  England  boys. 

After  reaching  the  age  of  manhood  he  was  employed  for  a  year  in  a  drug 
store  at  Brandon,  then  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  himself  for  college,  he  attended 
Brandon  Seminary  for  a  year,  and  Burr  Seminary,  at  Manchester.  In  1856  he 
entered  Biddlebury  College,  and  during  his  course  taught  school  part  of  the 
time  to  defray  his  expenses.  He  was  a  fine  student  and  stood  high  among  his 
fellows.  He  graduated  with  honors  in  1860,  he  then  taught  school  at  South 
Woodstock,  and  in  1861  he  was  appointed  Principal  of  Brandon  Seminary,  of 
which  five  years  previously  he  had  been  a  student.  As  an  evidence  of  the  es- 
timation in  which  Mr.  Sherman  has  been  held  by  his  Alma  Mater,  he  was  se- 
lected to  deliver  the  address  of  honor  for  Commencement  week,  and  in  1883  re- 
ceived from  the  College  a  rarely  bestowed  honor,  namely :  the  degree  of  LL.  D. 

In  May,  1862,  when  the  Civil  War  was  raging,  Mr.  Sherman  enlisted  in 
Company  "C,"  9th  Regiment,  Vermont  Infantry  Volunteers,  and  was  commis- 
sioned Lieutenant.  His  regiment  met  with  the  great  misfortune  of  being  cap- 
tured by  the  Confederate  Army,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  in  September,  1862. 
These  prisoners  of  war  were  shortly  afterwards  paroled  by  the  Confederate  Gen- 
eral, and  reaching  the  Union  lines  were  sent  to  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  to 
await  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  After  reaching  Chicago,  Mr.  Sherman  decided 
to  enter  the  legal  profession;  in  January,  1863,  he  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
army,  and  at  once  entered  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Chicago. 
Here  he  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  his  studies  and  graduated  in  1864,  was 
admitted  to  the  Bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State,  and  at  once  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  his  profession.  Mr.  Sherman  soon  acquired  a  good  practice,  and 
established  a  substantial  reputation  of  being  an  able  lawyer  in  the  preparation 
and  the  trial  of  his  cases,  and  an  eloquent  and  forceful  advocate  in  presenting 
them  to  both  courts  and  juries.  Mr.  Sherman  became  a  successful  corporation 
lawyer;  he  was  employed  by  the  Auditor  of  State  to  institute  proceedings  against 
a  number  of  irresponsible  insurance  companies  conducting  business  in  violation 
of  law.  These  prosecutions  were  carried  forward  with  so  much  vigor  and  suc- 
cess that  a  number  of  the  companies  abandoned  their  business.  Some  of  the 
cases,  however,  were  taken  to  the  Supreme  Courts  of  the  State  and  the  United 
States  where  decisions  were  rendered  sustaining  the  laws  providing  for  the 
exercise  of  State  control  over  corporations. 

Mr.  Sherman  was  a  resident  of  Chicago  at  the  time  of  the  great  fire  in  1871. 
He  immediately  grasped  the  immensity  of  the  catastrophe,  and  the  need  of 
prompt  relief;  while  the  fire  was  still  raging,  Mr.  Sherman  issued  a  call  to  the 
Odd  Fellows  of  the  United  States  for  assistance.  The  response  was  immediate 
and  generous.  A  Committee,  of  which  he  was  the  Secretary,  distributed  $125,- 
ooo  thus  raised,  to  the  victims  of  the  fire.  Mr.  Sherman  is  a  Republican  in 
politics,  thoroughly  versed  in  and  earnestly  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the 
party.  Mr.  Sherman  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Illinois  Bar  Association, 
in  1877,  was  its  President  in  1882,  and  delivered  the  annual  address.  He  is  also 
a  member  of  the  American  Bar  Association  and  for  several  years  has  been  one  of 
its  Vice  Presidents.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club,  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic,  Veteran  Club,  and  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  He 
is  a  32nd  degree  Mason,  a  member  of  William  B.  Warren  Lodge,  Chicago  Com- 
mandery and  Oriental  Consistory,  also  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Fraternity, 

606     «, 


Illinois  Association  of  the  Sons  of  Vermont,  of  which  he  has  been  President,  the 
Oakland  and  Saracen  Clubs,  and  has  been  President  of  the  National  Association 
of  the  Delta  Epsilon  Fraternity. 

Mr.  Sherman  is  a  man  of  fine  literary  culture  and  taste-  He  is  a  popular 
speaker,  and  his  addresses  are  always  interesting  and  instructive.  Mr.  Sherman 
was  married  to  Hattie  G.  Lovering,  daughter  of  S.  M.  Lovering  of  Iowa  Falls,  in 
1866.  Mrs.  Sherman  is  a  lady  of  intelligence  and  education;  in  social  life  she 
is  popular  and  exerts  a  beneficial  influence.  Mr.  and  Mrs-  Sherman  have  one 
son,  Bernis  W. ;  he  entered  Middlebury  College  in  1886,  graduated  in  1890, 
studied  law  in  the  Northwestern  University  College  of  Law,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  Bar  in  1892. 

WILLIAM  SOMERVILLE. 

Capt.  William  Somerville  \vas  born  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  August  15,  1837. 
His  father,  James  Somerville,  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  was  born  at  the  same 
place,  May  26,  1800.  His  mother,  Susan  Stover  Somerville,  was  born  near 
Frederick,  Md.,  in  1809.  She  was  of  Dutch  descent.  Capt.  Somerville  was 
raised  on  his  father's  farm,  and  was  engaged  in  the  business  of  farming  until  1861. 
He  received  an  excellent  English  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Illinois. 

When  the  civil  war  broke  out,  he  decided  to  do  his  part  in  the  suppression 
of  the  rebellion.  On  May  9,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  "D,"  i6th  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry,  and  was  mustered  into  the  service  as  a  Sergeant,  May  24.  The 
regiment  had  a  brief  service  in  North  Missouri  in  1861,  chasing  Guerillas-  In 
January,  1862,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Cairo,  111.,  where  it  formed  a  part  of 
General  Pope's  army.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  movement  against 
Island  No.  10,  New  Madrid,  and  Tiptonville,  and  later  in  the  siege  of  Corinth. 
The  regiment  garrisoned  at  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  until  Sept.,  1862,  when  it  was 
transferred  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  marched  to  Nashville,  forming 
a  part  of  the  garrison  of  that  place  until  July,  1863.  The  regiment  was  sta- 
tioned at  Bridegport  in  September.  The  regiment  re-enlisted  as  Veterans 
December  23,  1863,  and  upon  their  return  from  Veteran  Furlough  was  assigned 
to  the  ist  Brigade,  2nd  Division,  14th  Army  Corps,  then  at  Rossville,  Ga.,  and 
remained  in  this  organization  until  the  close  of  the  war.  ThFs  regiment  be- 
came a  part  of  the  great  army  of  Georgia,  which  under  the  leadership  of  General 
Sherman  fought  its  way  to,  and  captured  Atlanta,  pursued  General  Hood  when 
he  marched  Northward,  made  the  great  march  to  the  sea,  captured  Savannah, 
and  in  January,  1865,  entered  upon  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas,  which  brought 
about  the  final  surrender  of  General  Johnston's  army.  Capt.  Somerville  was 
promoted  to  2nd  Lieutenant  December  7,  1861,  ist  Lieutenant,  September  7, 
1862,  and  Captain,  December  31,  1864.  He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns  of 
his  regiment,  and  on  March  19,  1865,  at  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  North  Caro- 
lina, was  severely  wounded.  This  ended  his  military  career.  His  resignation 
was  accepted  May  9,  1865,  on  account  of  wounds  received  in  battle.  Just  four 
years  to  a  day  from  his  enlistment.  Capt.  Somerville  was  a  thoroughly  com- 
petent man  for  the  command  of  troops,  took  care  of  his  men,  maintained  dis- 
cipline, inspired  his  soldiers  with  coolness  and  courage,  and  was  ever  ready  to 
perform  the  most  arduous  service-  Entering  as  a  private,  he  was  four  times  pro- 
moted, leaving  the  service  with  a  Captain's  commission,  with  the  capacity  and 
experience  to  command  a  regiment. 

On  May  I,  1865,  before  Capt.  Somerville's  resignation  was  accepted,  he  was 
tendered  the  office  of  Deputy  Collector  of  Internal  Revenue,  by  Collector  Jackson 
Grimshaw.  The  Captain  accepted  this  position,  and  remained  in  the  service 
of  the  Ouincy  Collection  District  for  ten  years,  under  Collectors  Grimshaw, 
Cahill,  and  Tilson.  He  was  then  appointed  Chief  Clerk  in  the  office  of  the 
Supervisor  of  Internal  Revenue  at  Springfield ;  he  held  this  position  about  two 
months,  and  was  appointed  Revenue  Agent  by  Commissioner  Pratt.  In  May, 
1876,  he  resigned  the  office  of  Revenue  Agent  to  accept  the  office  of  Chief  Clerk 
in  the  Chicago  Internal  Revenue  Office,  under  Collector  J.  D.  Harvey.  On 
November  28,  1878,  Capt.  Somerville  was  appointed  Revenue  Agent  by  Commis- 

607 


sioner  Raum,  and  held  that  position  until  October,  1883,  when  he  was  appointed 
Chief  Clerk  of  the  Bureau  of  Internal  Revenue  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  which  he 
held  until  July  5,  1885.  He  was  re-appointed  by  Commissioner  Miller  as 
Revenue  Agent  and  performed  the  duties  of  that  office  until  January,  1893,  when 
he  retired  from  the  Internal  Revenue  service  to  engage  in  private  business. 
Capt.  Somerville  served  almost  twenty-eight  years  in  the  Internal  Revenue  Serv- 
ice, under  Commissioners  Lewis,  Orton,  Rollins,  Delano,  Pleasanton,  Douglas, 
Pratt,  Raum,  Evans,  Miller,  and  Mason,  and  by  all  of  these  Commissioners  he 
was  recognized  as  a  man  of  splendid  ability,  of  sound  judgment,  an  earnest 
worker,  and  of  undoubted  integrity.  He  is  now  Superintendent  of  the  Illinois 
Soldiers  and  Sailors  Home  at  Quincy ;  he  was  appointed  to  this  position  by  Gov- 
ernor Tanner  soon  after  his  inauguration.  It  is  needless  to  say  that  he  is  per- 
forming the  duties  Of  this  office  with  intelligence  and  fidelity,  and  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Governor  and  the  Board  of  Trustees. 

Capt.  William  Somerville  was  married  January  28,  1864,  at  Eaton,  O.,  to 
Helen  M-  Alexander.  Mrs.  Somerville  died  April  10,  1871,  leaving  two  children, 
James  A.  Somerville,  now  employed  with  the  C,  B.  &  Q.  R.  R.  at  St.  Louis,  and 
a  daughter,  Carrie  Somerville,  who  still  resides  at  her  father's  house.  Capt. 
Somerville  was  married  a  second  time  to  Mary  J.  Thompson,  his  present  wife. 
It  will  be  seen  that  Capt.  Somerville  has  been  a  very  busy  man  from  his  early 
manhood,  and  has  been  constantly  occupied  with  important  business  for  the  gov- 
ernment, but  he  has  not  neglected  his  other  duties  as  a  citizen.  In  politics  he 
has  always  been  a  Republican.  He  supported  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1860,  cast 
his  first  Presidential  vote  that  year,  and  has  been  an  earnest  and  influential  Re- 
publican to  the  present  time.  Capt.  Somerville  is  a  man  of  good  social  qualities ; 
he  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  bodies,  and  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  is  at  present  Commander  of  John  Wood  Post  No.  96,  at  Quincy,  111. 


ABNER  SMITH. 

This  distinguished  member  of  the  Chicago  bar  was  born  at  Orange,  in  the 
Old  Bay  State,  August  4,  1843,  an(l  was  reared  and  educated  at  Middlebury, 
Vermont,  whither  his  parents  had  removed  when  lie  was  a  lad.  He  supple- 
mented the  usual  town  education  with  a  full  collegiate  course  at  the  college  in 
Middlebury,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  distinction  in  1866.  He  taught 
school  for  a  year,  and  in  1867  came  to  Chicago,  which  city  was  then  full  of 
possibilities  for  young  and  enterprising  men.  Determined  upon  pursuing  the 
profession  of  law,  he  entered  the  office  of  J.  L.  Stark,  and  under  his  guidance 
took  a  full  course  of  study  and  was  duly  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  was  first 
associated  in  the  practice  with  his  instructor  under  the  firm  name  of  Stark  & 
Smith,  which  partnership  was  continued  to  the  advantage  of  both  until  the  death 
of  Mr.  Stark,  after  which  Mr.  Smith  continued  the  practice  alone,  winding  up  the 
affairs  of  the  firm  and  settling  his  deceased  partner's  estate.  He  continued 
alone  until  1877,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  J.  M.  H.  Burgett,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Smith  &  Burgett,  which  relation  was  sustained  until  1887.  By  this 
time  Mr.  Smith  had  become  one  of  the  foremost  lawyers  in  the  city,  indeed,  in 
the  West-  He  was  a  hard  student,  not  only  in  the  law,  but  in  all  fields  of  sci- 
ence, literature  and  art.  He  believed  that  law,  the  most  learned  of  all  the  pro- 
fessions, should  be  rounded  out  with  the  widest  learning  on  all  subjects ;  that  a 
lawyer  could  not  know  too  much,  and  that  every  item  of  knowledge  thus  ac- 
quired could  be  used  to  good  advantage  in  active  practice.  He  has  thus  from 
that  day  to  this  stored  his  mind  with  an  incredible  amount  of  useful  information 
on  countless  subjects,  and  has  thus  earned  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the 
most  erudite  of  the  great  jurists  of  Chicago.  He  has  gathered  around  him  a 
library  of  general  and  useful  knowledge  second  to  but  few  in  the  State  of  Illinois. 
The  result  of  all  this  earnest  study  and  investigation  Mas  been  to  place  him  on  the 
lists  of  the  most  cultured  scholars,  as  well  as  jurists,  in  the  central  part  of  the 
United  States. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  partnership  of  Smith  &  Burgett,  Mr.  Smith  con- 
tinued the  practice  alone  and  soon  had  a  large  clientage  which  yielded  him  a 

608  - 


609 


satisfactory  revenue.  Many  of  the  most  important  cases  of  that  day  were  placed 
under  his  direction.  He  became  one  of  the  central  figures  of  the  western  coun- 
try in  judicial  circles  and  one  of  the  most  prominent  factors  in  the  adjudication  of 
the  great  legal  problems  of  that  period.  So  well  known  became  his  purity  and 
ability  as  a  practitioner  that  in  1893  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  had  always 
been  an  active  and  earnest  member,  selected  him  for  a  circuit  judgeship,  a  fitting- 
recognition  of  his  sterling  reputation  and  professional  qualifications.  He  was 
elected  by  a  large  majority  after  an  exciting  and  enthusiastic  campaign  in  the  fall 
of  1893  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties  in  December  of  the  same 
year.  The  wisdom  of  his  selection  has  been  thoroughly  demonstrated.  He  is 
one  of  the  most  populuar  jurists  of  Chicago,  a  city  famous  for  the  integrity  and 
ability  of  its  judges.  This  popularity  is  due  to  his  uniform  fairness  and  impar- 
tiality to  opposing  counsel,  to  his  marvelous  capacity  of  reaching  correct  con- 
clusions and  to  his  fearlessness  in  rendering  judgments  strictly  upon  their  merits 
regardless  of  the  influence  of  wealth  and  position.  He  is  a  magnetic  and  a 
graceful  speaker,  possesses  warm  friendships  and  rare  conversational  powers. 
On  October  5,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ada  C.  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  Sereno  Smith,  of  Shoreham,  Vermont. 


FREDERICK  A.  SMITH. 

No  matter  what  wealth  one  may  possess  individually,  or  how  fortunate  he 
may  be  in  his  ancestral  connections,  progress  at  the  best  can  be  secured  only 
through  individual  merit-  The  legal  profession  demands  a  high  order  of  ability 
and  a  rare  combination  of  talent,  learning,  tact,  patience  and  industry.  The  suc- 
cessful lawyer  and  the  competent  judge  must  not  only  possess  a  comprehensive 
knowledge  of  the  science  of  jurisprudence  in  its  various  departments,  but  also 
must  have  a  fund  of  broad  general  information  that  will  enable  him  to  cope  with 
the  intricate  questions  involved  and  determined  with  accuracy  the  points  of  law, 
gleaned  from  voluminous  text  books.  Such  qualities  are  characteristic  of  the 
professional  record  of  Frederick  A.  Smith,  whose  splendid  intellectual  endow- 
ments have  gained  him  prestige  among  Chicago  lawyers,  and  today  he  is  num- 
bered among  the  distinctively  representative  citizens  of  northern  Illinois. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Norwood  Park,  Cook  County,  Illinois,  February  n, 
1844,  and  is  a  son  of  Israel  G.  and  Susan  P.  (Pennoyer)  Smith,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  the  year  1816,  the  former  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and  the  latter 
in  Connecticut.  The  father  came  to  Cook  County,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  entered 
from  the  government  a  tract  of  land  that  he  still  owns.  In  Cook  County  young 
Smith  grew  to  manhood,  attended  the  public  schools  of  Chicago,  and  in  1860 
entered  the  Chicago  University,  preparatory  department.  Two  years  later  he 
became  a  student  in  the  University,  remained  there  until  1863,  and  then,  throw- 
ing aside  his  books,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  I34th  regiment  Illinois  volun- 
teers, serving  in  Missouri  and  Kentucky  until  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of 
service  in  1864.  Entering  the  university  again  he  graduated  from  that  institu- 
tion of  learning  in  1866,  and  from  the  Union  College  of  Law,  now  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  Northwestern  University,  in  1867.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
Illinois  bar  August  20,  1867.  Entering  upon  his  professional  career  he  became 
a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Smith  &  Kohlsaat,  with  which  he  continued  until 
1873,  after  which  he  practiced  alone  until  1885.  At  that  date  the  firm  of  Mil- 
lard  &  Smith  was  organized,  the  senior  member  being  S.  M.  Millard.  That  part- 
nership continued  until  1889,  and  the  following  year  Mr.  Smith  became  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Smith,  Helmer  &  Moulton.  Since  that  time  but  one 
change  in  the  firm  has  occurred,  that  being  in  1895,  when  H-  W.  Price  became  a 
partner,  the  firm  name  then  becoming  Smith,  Helmer,  Moulton  &  Price.  Mr. 
Smith  engages  in  the  general  practice  of  law,  and  his  legal  lore  embraces  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  the  principles  of  jurisprudence  in  all  departments.  His 
practice  has  been  of  an  important  character,  and  he  has  won  the  laurel  in  many 
forensic  combats  over  old  and  tried  competitors. 

610" 


611 


His  high  standing  in  professional  circles  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  in  1887 
he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Law  Club,  of  Chicago,  and  in  1890  was  made 
president  of  the  Chicago  Bar  Association.  In  1891  he  was  made  president  of 
the  Hamilton  Club.  In  his  political  views,  Mr.  Smith  has  ever  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  Republican  party  and  has  been  unvarying  in  his  support  of  the 
principles  of  that  party.  In  June,  1898,  he  received  the  nomination  for  the  posi- 
tion of  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Superior  Court.  He  is  a  man  of  scholarly  at- 
tainments, versatile  genius  and  broad  knowledge,  and  is  deeply  interested  in  ed- 
ucational matters,  his  service  being  very  effective  as  a  member  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  the  new  Chicago  University,  which  position  he  has  occupied  since 
the  organization  of  the  institution.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trus- 
tees of  Rush  Medical  College,  and  in  addition  to  the  Hamilton  Club  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Marquette  Club  and  the  Union  League,  three  of  the  leading  polit- 
ical organizations  of  the  city.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Frances 
B.  Morey,  of  Chicago. 

WILLIAM   M.  SMITH. 

This  well  known  and  prominent  citizen,  who  resided  at  Lexington,  111.,  for 
so  many  years  and  there  left  the  imprint  of  his  spotless  reputation"  upon"  public 
and  private  affairs,  Was  born  near  Frankfort,  Ky.,  on  the  23d  of  May,  1827,  and 
there  thirteen  years  of  his  boyhood  were  passed-  During  this  time  he  secured  the 
rudiments  of  an  education  at  the  neighboring  schools.  About  this  time  his 
father  moved  to  St-  Louis  County,  Mo.,  where  William  M.  worked  on  a  farm 
until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  nineteen  years,  in  the  meantime  attending  school 
during  the  winter  months,  securing  a  considerable  addition  to  his  previous 
meager  education.  He  then  came  to  Selma  or  Pleasant  Hill,  McLean  County, 
111.,  and  made  his  home  with  his  uncle,  Milton  Smith,  in  whose  employment  he 
remained  for  a  period  of  three  years,  working  on  the  farm  for  from  $10  to  $12 
per  month.  In  1849,  having  saved  from  his  earnings  the  sum  of  $102.50,  he 
rented  forty  acres  of  land  from  the  government  at  $1.25  per  acre,  which  small 
tract  formed  the  nucleus  of  his  subsequent  large  holdings.  He  was  attentive  to 
business,  industrious,  honest,  and  soon  exerted  a  strong  influence  for  good 
throughout  the  entire  neighborhood.  By  good  business  management  he  con- 
tinued to  add  to  his  landed  possessions  until  he  finally  owned  about  800  acres. 
In  1857  he  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile  business  in  Lexington,  but  continued 
his  agricultural  pursuits,  engaging  extensively  in  the  rearing  of  Short  Horn 
cattle,  taking  great  pride  in  having  the  best  in  that  part  of  the  State.  He  be- 
came prominent  throughout  the  State  as  one  of  the  most  successful  cattle  breed- 
ers in  the  West,  and  became  a  member  of  the  State  Agricultural  Board  and 
finally  served  as  its  president  for  several  terms. 

In  1858  he  began  to  show  great  interest  in  politics.  It  was  a  time  when  all 
citizens  were  wide  awake  on  the  great  questions  which  were  dividing  the  two 
great  sections  of  the  country.  Upon  the  formation  of  the  Republican  party  Mr. 
Smith  had  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  the  anti-slavery  movement,  and  did  not 
hesitate  to  openly  declare  his  views.  In  1858,  during  the  ever  memorable  and 
historic  campaign,  he  attended  the  famous  Republican  convention  which  met  at 
Decatur  and  placed  Abraham  Lincoln  in  nomination.  He  brought  home  with 
him  from  that  convention  a  picture  of  Lincoln  and  a  rail  which  had  been  split  by 
him,  and  later  had  the  rail  made  into  a  picture  frame  in  which  the  picture  of  Mr. 
Lincoln  was  placed.  Today  that  old  frame  and  picture  hang  on  the  wall  of  the 
old  home,  and  is  prized  above  almost  anything  else  by  the  family.  During  the 
war  he  was  loyal  to  the  Federal  cause  and  did  much  to  prosecute  it  to  a  successful 
conclusion.  In  1866  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  the  legislature,  and  con- 
tinued to  serve  for  three  terms  with  honor  to  himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  con- 
stituents- His  prominence  in  the  legislature  is  shown  by  his  selection  for  Speak- 
er during  his  last  term.  Later  he  was  appointed  railroad  and  warehouse  com- 
missioner by  Governor  Cullom,  on  which  board  he  served  for  eight  consecutive 
years,  six  years  as  its  chairman.  He  was  an  ardent  Republican  from  principle, 
and  became  the  leader  of  his  party  in  his  community  and  one  of  its  strongest 


612 


' 


613 


supporters  in  the  State.      So  strong  was  his  influence  in  this  section  he  was  often 
referred  to  by  the  Chicago  newspapers  as  "The  Duke  of  Lexington." 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church,  and  was  a  liberal  contributor  to 
all  worthy  charitable  objects.  He  is  said  to  have  declared  on  more  than  one 
occasion  "I  wouldn't  give  much  for  a  fellow's  religion  or  sympathy  that  did  not 
touch  his  pocket-book."  While  a  young  man  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Nancy  Hopkins,  a  daughter  of  Patrick  Hopkins,  and  grand-daughter  of 
Gen.  Joseph  Bartholomew,  of  the  Tippecanoe  battle  fame.  One  child  was  born 
to  this  union — Emily,  now  Mrs.  Sheridan  VanDolah.  After  an  honorable  and 
useful  life,  Mr.  Smith  passed  away  March  25,  1886,  leaving  a  competency  and  a 
spotless  name. 


WILLLIAM   HENRY  STEAD. 

This  gentleman  resides  at  Ottawa,  Illinois,  and  is  an  attorney-at-law.  He 
was  born  in  LaSalle  County  on  a  farm,  July  12,  1858.  His  father's  name  was 
Henry  Stead,  and  his  mother's  Sarah  Elizabeth  Stead,  both  of  whom  are  living. 
They,  came  to  LaSalle  County  nearly  fifty  years  ago,  settling  on  a  farm  twelve 
miles  southeast  of  Ottawa.  The  grandfather  of  subject  was  Rev.  Henry  Stead, 
of  the  Methodist  denomination  and  of  considerable  prominence  in  New  York. 
Old  settlers  of  the  vicinity  of  Troy  and  Albany  speak  of  him  with  great  venera- 
tion and  respect.  He  was  a  presiding  elder  for  many  years. 

William  Henry  Stead  spent  his  youth  on  his  father's  farm,  attending  district 
school  until  after  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  entered  the  Seminary  at  Onarga, 
Illinois ;  after  which  he  taught  school  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  then  attended  the  Normal  College  at  Ladoga,  Jnd., 
and  subsequently  entered  Asbury  University,  at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  be- 
gan the  classic  course.  In  his  sophomore  year  he  was  obliged  to  leave  col- 
lege owing  to  some  serious  trouble  with  his  eyes,  and  for  two  years  thereafter 
was  unable  to  read  and  compelled  to  remain  in  the  house.  However,  during  this 
time,  by  exercising  great  care  he  managed  to  complete  his  college  studies  and 
was  greatly  assisted  by  his  mother,  who  read  to  him  regularly  every  day.  Pre- 
vious to  this  he  had  determined  to  become  a  lawyer  and  expended  all  his  energies 
with  that  object  in  view.  He  read  law  for  two  years  with  Washington  Bushnell, 
formerly  Attorney  General  of  Illinois,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  spring 
of  1883.  He  began  practicing  at  Ottawa  the  summer  of  that  year,  and  has  con- 
tinued there  since  with  the  exception  of  one  year.  At  first  the  number  of  his 
clients  was  small,  but  he  steadily  won  friends  and  patronage  until  his  clientage 
was  of  satisfactory  proportions.  At  the  present  time  his  income  from  his  prac- 
tice amounts  to  as  much  as  that  of  any  other  lawyer  in  the  State,  outside  of 
Chicago.  He  is  now  associated  with  Judge  B.  F.  Lincoln.  Mr.  Stead  is  the 
trial  lawyer  of  the  firm,  and  they  are  retained  in  all  the  important  cases  in  the 
county  and  have  a  large  practice  in  adjoining  counties.  Mr.  Stead  is  particu- 
larly skillful  in  preparing  his  cases ;  he  is  also  very  persuasive  and  extremely 
powerful  in  his  arguments  to  juries.  He  never  gets  tired,  and  never  gives  up. 
He  was  recently  employed  by  the  Canal  Commissioners  to  test  (he  right  of  the 
State  to  the  so-called  ninety-foot  strip  along  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal- 

He  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  General  Garfield. 
He  has  acquired  a  wide  reputation  as  an  able  and  skillful  campaign  orator.  He 
is  not  an  office  seeker.  He  has  been  City  Attorney  of  Ottawa ;  chairman  of  the 
Republican  Congressional  Committee  of  this  district,  and  in  1896  was  elected 
States  Attorney  for  LaSalle  County;  he  is  the  present  president  of  the  States 
Attorneys  Association  of  Illinois,  and  was  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the 
Omaha  Exposition  under  appointment  from  Governor  Tanner.  He  has  been  a 
Mason  and  Knight  Templar  for  fifteen  years.  On  September  i2th,  1883,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Ida  Martin,  her  family  being  one  well  known  and 
prominent  in  the  State  of  Indiana.  Her  brother,  Parks  M.  Martin,  is  one  of  the 
leading  Democratic  politicians  of  Indiana,  and  is  the  present  chairman  of  the 
Democratic  State  Committee. 

614- 


615 


JOSEPH  STOCKTON. 

General  Joseph  Stockton  of  Chicago,  111.,  was  born  at  Pittsburg,  Pa.,  August 
10,  1833.  He  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Chicago  before  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  was  first  employed  in  the  commission  house  of  George  A.  Gibbs  &  Co., 
South  Water  street.  He  remained  with  this  company  for  several  years,  then 
was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  the  office  of  the  American  Transportation  Company. 
He  afterward  accepted  a  position  in  the  freight  office  of  the  Pittsburg,  Fort 
Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroad,  where  he  remained  until  the  Civil  War  broke  out. 
He  enlisted  in  the  first  Board  of  Trade  regiment,  which  was  organized  July, 
1862,  as  the  ?2d  Illinois  Volunteers.  Mr.  Stockton  was  commissioned  First 
Lieutenant  of  Company  "A,"  and  was  shortly  afterward  promoted  to  the  position 
of  Captain.  A  few  mnnths  later  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  Major,  upon 
the  resignation  of  Major  Chester.  The  72d  Illinois  Volunteers  was  assigned 
to  the  I7th  Army  Corps  and  marched  and  fought  with  that  great  organization, 
which  was  a  part  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  under  the  command  of  Generals 
Grant  and  Sherman-  The  regiment  was  in  the  campaign  of  Vicksburg,  the 
campaign  of  Meridian,  and  also  under  General  George  H.  Thomas  in  the  cam- 
paign against  Hood,  including  the  battle  of  Nashville.  Colonel  Stockton  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Franklin,  November  30,  1864,  but  returned  to  his  com- 
mand within  a  month,  and  continued  until  the  close  of  hostilities. 

On  May  22,  1863,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Joseph  A.-  Wright  was  mortally 
wounded  on  the  assault  of  the  works  of  Vicksburg.  Major  Stockton  was  pro- 
moted to  this  place,  and  when  Colonel  F.  A.  Starring  was  detailed  on  detached 
service,  Lieutenant-Colonel  Stockton  assumed  command  of  the  regiment  and 
retained  it  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  brevetted  Colonel  and  subse- 
quently Brigadier-General  for  meritorious  service  in  the  field.  In  1866,  after 
General  Stockton's  return  to  Chicago,  he  became  agent  of  the  Empire  Trans- 
portation Company,  which  position  he  has  held  during  the  past  thirty-four  years, 
and  has  become  thoroughly  familiar  and  identified  with  the  transportation  busi- 
ness of  Chicago. 

General  Stockton  has  been  an  active  person  in  civil  life.  From  1869,  for 
twenty-four  years,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of  Lincoln 
Park,  and  devoted  much  time  and  study  to  the  development  and  improvement 
of  that  park.  He  was  identified  with  the  location  and  erection  of  the  Grant 
Monument  in  the  park,  which  was  dedicated  October  i,  1891,  and,  as  a  recogni- 
tion of  his  great  service  in  connection  with  this  work,  he  received  from  the 
trustees  of  the  Grant  Fund  a  handsome  testimonial.  General  Stockton  is  a 
lifelong  Republican,  and,  'although  he  steadily  refuses  to  become  a  candidate 
for  an  elective  office,  he  has'  always  taken  great  interest  in  the  success  of  the 
Republican  party.  General  Stockton  has  been  Chief  Marshal  of  every  Repub- 
lican procession  in  Chicago  since  the  Civil  War,  including  that  grand  demon- 
stration preceding  the  election  of  President  McKinley  in  1896.  General  Stock- 
ton was  Chief  of  Staff  to  General  Sheridan  on  the  occasion  of  the  reception  of 
General  Grant  from  his  tour  around  the  world.  He  was  also  Chief  of  Staff 
to  General  Forsyth  during  the  procession  on  the  occasion  of  President  Garfield's 
funeral.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  General  Miles  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Grant 
Monument,  and  also  during  the  civic  parade  at  the  opening  of  the  World's  Fair 
in  October,  1892,  and  he  was  also  Chief  Marshal  in  the  Peace  Jubilee  parade 
in  the  fall  of  1898. 

General  Stockton  is  a  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  of 
the  Loyal  Legion ;  also  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  and  other  similar 
organizations-  He  is  a  highly  respected  citizen,  a  man  of  great  integrity  and 
fine  social  qualities  and  a  general  favorite  with  the  people.  He  has  had  a  suc- 
cessful career  in  business,  as  attested  by  his  long  continuance  at  the  head  of  an 
important  transportation  company. 


616 


617 


JOHN   SANBORN   STEVENS. 

This  gentleman,  who  is  one  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Illinois,  is  well 
known  in  his  section  of  the  State,  where  he  has  attained  prominence  as  a  lawyer 
and  a  Republican.  He  was  born  in  Bath,  New  Hampshire,  September  16,  1838, 
and  is  at  the  present  time  a  resident  of  Peoria. 

Mr.  Stevens  received  the  usual  common  school  education,  supplemented 
by  several  terms  at  the  higher  schools  where  his  father  resided,  and  after  having 
prepared  himself  for  a  collegiate  career,  he  applied  for  admission  to  Dartmouth 
College,  passed  the  examinations  successfully  and  entered  upon  a  full  classical 
course.  He  encountered  many  discouragements  in  securing  his  education,  but 
being  blessed  with  a  strong  mind  and  a  retentive  memory  he  succeeded  in  stand- 
ing among  the  leaders  of  his  class,  and  in  1862  graduated  with  honors.  Suc- 
ceeding his  graduation  he  secured  a  certificate,  and  taught  school  for  two  years 
to  secure  money  to  fit  himself  for  a  professional  career.  Even  before  he  entered 
college  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  study  law;  accordingly  at  the  expiration 
of  his  two  years  of  teaching  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  in  June,  1865,  was 
admitted  to  practice  in  Chicago,  111.  Soon  thereafter  he  opened  an  office  in 
Peoria,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since,  practicing  his  profession  continuously. 
He  is  well  known  in  the  Central  and  Southern  portions  of  the  State,  particularly 
to  the  legal  fraternity,  among  whom  he  is  reckoned  one  of  its  ablest  and  broadest 
minded  members.  He  has  been  identified  with  some  of  the  most  important 
cases  ever  adjudicated  in  the  courts  of  Peoria- 

From  the  start  Mr.  Stevens  has  been  a  Republican,  and  in  many  campaigns 
has  done  much  to  further  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party.  In  recognition 
of  his  eminent  service  to  his  party  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Peoria  in 
1876,  and  occupied  that  position  with  credit  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  citizens 
until  1880.  In  June,  1868,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Bartlett. 
His  parents  were  Joshua  and  Abigail  (Walker)  Stevens. 


CHRISTOPHER  C.  STRAWN. 

Colonel  Christopher  C.  Strawn  of  Pontiac,  111.,  is  a  member  of  that  old, 
large  and  influential  family  of  Strawns,  who  for  nearly  seventy  years  have  been 
citizens  of  Illinois.  It  is  a  notable  family,  whose  physical  and  intellectual 
endowments  have  made  an  extraordinary  impression  for  good  in  the  State. 
The  Illinois  branch  of  the  family  sprang  from  four  brothers,  who  were  natives 
of  Pennsylvania,  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  early  '30*5  removed  to  Illinois. 
Joel  Strawn  settled  near  Ottawa;  General  John  Strawn  near  Lacon;  Jeremiah 
Strawn  near  Hennipen  and  Jacob  Strawn  near  Jacksonville.  Their  Scotch 
ancestors  settled  in  America  prior  to  the  Revolution,  and  were  descended  from 
William  Strahan,  statesman,  lawyer  and  scholar,  who  removed  to  England  and 
was  several  times  a  member  of  the  House  of  Commons.  He  translated  from 
the  French,  for  the  English  Bar,  "Domat's  Civil  Law."  The  brothers  bought 
land  in  Illinois,  cultivated  farms,  and  raised  stock-  Jacob  Strawn  attained 
wealth  and  national  distinction  as  a  cattle  producer.  The  descendants  of  the 
Strawn  family  are  found  in  all  the  avenues  of  life,  many  of  them  having  obtained 
distinction  as  advocates  and  jurists.  The  late  Ruben  S.  Strahan,  Chief  Justice 
of  Oregon,  was  a  member  of  this  family. 

Colonel  Strawn  was  born  August  22,  1844,  at  Ottawa,  111. ;  he  is  a  grandson 
of  Jeremiah  and  Hannah  Strawn,  and  a  son  of  Eli  and  Eleanor  Strawn,  late  of 
Ottawa,  111.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Lunsford  and  Nancy  Broad- 
dus ;  she  was  born  in  Caroline  County,  Va.  Her  father,  detesting  slavery,  left 
Virginia  in  the  early  '3o's,  and  settled  near  Lacon,  where  he  died  in  1865. 
The  Broaddus  family  is  widely  known  throughout  the  South.  The  famous 
pulpit  orator,  Andrew  Broaddus,  of  Virginia,  and  Andrew  Broaddus,  of  Texas, 
the  noted  lawyer,  are  of  this  family.  The  Broaddus  family  is  of  Welch  descent, 
and  has  been  in  this  country  since  Colonial  times.  Colonel  Strawn's  education 

618 


619 


was  begun  in  a  log  school  built  by  his  father  on  his  farm  and  presented  to  the 
district.  The  first  teacher  was  an  Irishman  named  Murphy,  who  maintained  his 
authority  with  the  rod.  He  wore  a  coon-skin  cap  during  school  hours  as  an 
evidence  of  his  Authority  and  dignity.  His  stern  and  severe  manner,  and  his 
readiness  to  inflict  punishment  for  a  violation  of  the  rules,  resulted  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  most  perfect  order  and  obedience  in  the  school.  Mr.  Murphy 
was  a  typical  old-style  schoolmaster.  He  taught  his  pupils  spelling,  reading, 
writing,  arithmetic,  grammar  and  history,  and  established  for  them  a  sure 
foundation  for  an  education.  He  next  attended  a  district  school  on  his  Grand- 
father Strawn's  farm  in  Putnam  County,  with  whom  he  lived  during  the  term. 
He  also  attended  the  high  school  in  Lacon,  and  lived  with  his  grandfather 
Broaddus.  He  then  attended  the  Ottawa  Seminary.  Here  young  Strawn  was 
prepared  for  admission  to  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  from  which 
he  graduated.  He  was  a  student  of  law  at  Albany,  N.  Y-,  and  afterward  studied 
law  with  Hon  T.  LyleJDjckey,  late  Colonel  of  the  4th  Illinois  Cavalry,  and  Judge 
oftlie  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois,  and  with  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  Judge  Dickey's 
son-in-law  and  law  partner,  who  afterward  became  a  general  in  the  Union  Army 
and  fell  at  Shiloh. 

Young  Strawn  enlisted,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  as  a  private  in  Company 
"I"  of  the  nth  Illinois  Infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  At 
the  expiration  of  his  term  his  health  was  broken,  but  he  offered  himself  for 
re-enlistment  for  a  term  of  three  years  or  during  the  war,  and  was  rejected  as 
physically  unfit  for  military  duty.  He  resumed  his  law  studies,  and  for  a  time 
was  in  the  law  office  of  the  firm  of  Arrington  &  Dent  of  Chicago.  In  June, 
1863,  he  was  licensed  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Illinois.  He  practiced  law  in 
Chicago  until  1865;  removed  to  Ottawa  and  remained  one  year,  visited  Omaha 
and  Columbus  with  a  view  of  settling  in  Nebraska,  and  remained  there  until  the 
summer  of  1867,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Pontiac. 

Colonel  Strawn  was  married  March  26,  1863,  to  Clara  Frances  Bouvrain. 
She  is  a  daughter  of  the  late  Major  John  B.  Bouvrain,  a  survivor  of  the  Old 
Guard  of  the  first  Napoleon.  He  came  to  this  country  from  France  with  Joseph 
Bonaparte,  after  Napoleon's  defeat  at  Waterloo  and  banishment  to  St-  Helena, 
and  for  many  years  managed  and  superintended  the  Bonaparte  estates  at  Water- 
town,  New  York,  Her  mother  was  also  a  native  of  France.  Major  Bouvrain 
went  with  the  Old  Guard  to  Moscow  and  was  engaged  in  all  of  Napoleon's 
battles,  including  Waterloo.  Mr.  and  .Mrs.  Strawn  have  had  four  children — 
Christopher  C.  II.,  and  Virginia  B.,  now  dead,  and  Major  Louis  Francis  and 
Roscoe  Belmont,  who  survive.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Spanish-American 
War  Colonel  Strawn  recruited  a  regiment  of  infantry  in  Livingston  and  sur- 
rounding counties,  and  tendered  the  same  to  Governor  Tanner  and  was  com- 
missioned Colonel,  but  as  there  was  no  call  for  troops  beyond  the  National 
Guard,  the  regiment  was  not  taken  into  the  service. 

Colonel  Strawn's  sympathies  in  politics  during  the  campaign  of  1860  were 
on  the  side  of  Senator-Douglas,  and  had  he  been  of  age,  no  doubt,  would  have 
cast  his  first  ballot  for  that  great  statesman,  but  the  issues  of  the  Civil  War 
were  such  that  he  could  not  identify  himself  with  the  Democratic  party  as  it 
was  then  organized.  He  became  a  Republican  and  has  been  a  stalwart  and 
earnest  supporter  of  Republican  principles  and  Republican  candidates  from  that 
day  to  the  present.  His  first  vote  for  President  was  for  General  Grant  in  1868; 
he  supported  him  again  in  1872,  and  favored  his  nomination  for  President  in 
1880.  He  is  a  ripe  scholar.  The  profession  of  the  law  is  his  mistress.  He  is 
a  safe  counsellor,  one  of  the  ablest  lawyers  at  the  Illinois  Bar.  He  has  been 
identified  with  many  important  cases,  and  is  a  very  successful  lawyer.  He  has 
been  twice  endorsed  by  his  home  county  for  the  Republican  nomination  for 
Congress,  in  1892  and  again  in  1896,  and  in  the  winter  of  1900  he  was  favorably 
mentioned  for  the  Republican  nomination  for  Governor,  but  would  not  permit 
his  name  to  be  used  in  that  connection.  He  is  thoroughly  versed  on  the  political 
issues  of  the  day ;  he  approved  the  declaration  of  war  again  Spain  and  endorsed 
the  action  of  the  Government  in  securing  Porto  Rico  and  the  Philippine  Islands 
as  the  logical  result  of  a  triumphant  war.  He  believes  that  every  interest  of 
the  people  of  those  islands  will  be  advanced  by  their  connection  with  the  United 

620 


621 


States ;  he  also  believes  that  to  turn  the  administration  of  this  country  over  to 
the  Anti-Expansionists  would  be  a  national  calamity.  Colonel  Strawn  is  a 
charter  member  of  the  T.  Lyle  Dickey  Post,  No.  105,  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Fraternity. 


LOUIS   FRANCIS  STRAWN. 

Major  Louis  Francis  Strawn  was  born  in  Omaha,  Douglas  County,  Ne- 
braska, and  now  resides  at  Pontiac,  Livingston  County,  111.  He  is  the  oldest 
son  of  Christopher  C.  and  Clara  F.  Strawn,  who  also  reside  at  Pontiac.  Major 
Strawn  is  of  the  fourth  generation  in  Illinois  of  that  notable  family  of  Strawns 
who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  During  the  seventy  years  of  their  residence 
in  this  State  they  have  been  deservedly  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  families 
of  the  State.  The  grandmother  of  Major  Strawn  was  Eleanor  Broaddus,  a 
daughter  of  Captain  Lunsford  Broaddus,  a  member  of  the  distinguished  Virginia 
family  of  that  name;  and  his  mother,  Clara  F.  Bouvrain,  was  a  daughter  of 
Major  John  B.  Bouvrain,  of  Napoleon's  Old  Guard,  and  marched  under  the 
Eagles  from  Moscow  to  Waterloo. 

Major  Strawn  is  of  a  composite  stock;  Scotch,  Welch  and  French,  and 
probably  amongst  the  early  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  family  a  strain  of 
German.  The  Illinois  family  of  Strawns  have  all  been  successful  men.  Jacob 
Strawn,  who  settled  in  Morgan  county,  became  a  great  land  holder  and  a  large 
stock  raiser,  and  was  well  known  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic  as  one  of  the 
most  successful  breeders  of  cattle  in  the  world.  He  was  a  staunch  supporter 
of  the  cause  of  the  Union  during  the  war,  and  at  one  time  gave  his  check  for 
$10,000  to  the  National  Sanitary  Commission.  Captain  William  Strawn,  a  resi- 
dent of  Odell,  was  a  prominent  free  state  man  in  the  days  of  "Bleeding  Kansas." 
He  organized  and  equipped  a  company  at  his  own  expense,  in  Livingston  County 
and  LaSalle  County,  and  went  with  them  to  Kansas,  to  defend  free  state  settlers 
against  the  aggression  of  the  "Border  Ruffians."  In  1862  he  joined  the  iO4th 
Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant  and  served  with 
the  regiment ;  was  engaged  in  many  of  the  great  battles  of  the  war  and  served 
until  the  surrender  of  Lee.  He  was  twice  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature,  and 
served  with  distinction.  He  is  a  son  of  the  late  Jacob  Strawn,  Sr.  Lieutenant 
Milton  Strawn,  a  young  and  promising  lawyer  residing  at  Ottawa,  also  enlisted 
in  the  iO4th  Illinois  Infantry,  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  and  was  killed  in 
the  battle  of  Hartsell,  Tenn.  While  the  older  members  of  the  Strawn  family 
engaged  largely  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  the  younger  members  have 
engaged  in  all  branches  of  business,  and  the  learned  professions  with  marked 
ability  and  success.  A  more  extended  account  of  the  ancestry  of  Major  Strawn 
will  be  found  in  this  book,  in  the  biographical  sketch  of  his  father,  Colonel 
Christopher  C.  Strawn. 

Major  Strawn  was  given  every  opportunity  for  acquiring  an  education. 
He  attended  the  city  schools  of  Pontiac,  studied  in  the  Wesleyan  University 
at  Bloomington,  and  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston,  and  completed 
his  studies  at  the  U.  S.  Military  Academy  at  West  Point.  He  studied  law  in 
his  father's  office  at  Pontiac,  and  was  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  December 
7,  1893.  He  opened  a  law  office  in  Pontiac  and  soon  had  a  paying  clientage. 
Later  he  was  admitted  to  the  firm  of  Strawn,  Funk  &  Strawn.  Major  Strawn 
has  risen  rapidly  to  the  front  rank  of  the  profession.  He  prepares  and  tries 
his  cases  well  before  judge  and  jury,  and  is  an  advocate  of  splendid  ability. 
He  has  been  connected  with  all  the  important  railroad  and  criminal  litigation 
in  his  county,  and  has  a  splendid  legal  career  open  before  him. 

In  politics  Major  Strawn  is  a  Republican.  He  first  identified  himself 
directly  with  the  party  by  voting  for  Benjamin  Harrison  for  President  in  1888. 
His  military  education  gave  him  a  taste  for  military  life,  and  he  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  National  Guard,  and  May  12,  1896,  he  was  commissioned 
Lieutenant  of  Company  "F,"  3d  Regiment.  Wrhen  the  Spanish  War  began  and 
the  3d  Regiment  was  called  upon  to  volunteer,  he  enlisted  with  his  company 
and  regiment  and  was  commissioned  First  Lieutenant,  3d  111.  U.  S-  Vol.  Inf., 

622 


623 


May  7,  1898;  saw  service  in  the  field  in  the  Porto  Rico  campaign  under  General 
Brooke,  and  distinguished  himself  for  true  soldierly  bearing  and  bravery  in 
action  at  Arroyo,  Guayama  and  Cayey.  Upon  the  return  of  the  regiment  and 
its  reorganization  in  the  spring  of  1899,  he  was  the  unanimous  choice  of  the 
reorganized  company  for  Captain,  and  received  his  commission  May  16,  1899. 
At  the  annual  encampment  at  Springfield  in  1899  he  was  elected  Major  of  the 
3d  Battalion,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  promotion  of  Major  RiclTings 
J.  Shand  to  the  position  of  Lieutenant  Colonel,  his  commission  dating  August 
15,  1899,  and  he  is  now  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  popular  field  officers  in  that 
veteran  regiment.  May  19,  1898,  after  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Chicka- 
mauga  Park,  Lieutenant  Strawn  was  appointed  acting  Commissary  of  General 
Compton's  Brigade,  which  position  he  filled  until  his  regiment  was  chosen  for 
duty  in  Porto  Rico,  when  he  was  relieved  and  returned  to  his  company  for 
service  on  the  firing  line  in  Porto  Rico.  In  the  invasion  of  Porto  Rico,  his 
regiment  acted  as  escort  of  honor  to  General  Brooke,  commanding  the  ist 
Division,  ist  Army  Corps.  He  is  now  Commander,  with  the  rank  of  Colonel, 
of  Fred  Bennit  Camp,  No.  20,  Spanish-American  War  Veterans,  at  Pontiac,  111. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Esther  Marie  Tracy  at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  July  26, 
1895.  To  this  union  has  been  added  a  son,  Christopher  C.  Strawn,  III.,  born 
July  14,  1896,  at  Pontiac,  111.  Miss  Tracy's  father  served  in  the  Union  Army 
throughout  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  with  credit  to  himself  and  value  to  his 
country.  Summing  up,  Major  Strawn  gives  promise  of  a  brilliant  career  at  the 
bar,  and  distinguished  services  to  the  State,  Nation  and  his  party.  He  is  an 
earnest,  convincing,  pleasing  and  popular  speaker  on  the  platform  and  stump — 
one  of  the  best  in  the  State. 


CLARENCE  E.  SNIVELY. 

Clarence  E.  Snively  of  Canton,  111.,  was  born  in  Ellisville,  Fulton  County, 
Illinois,  July  4,  1854.  At  ten  years  of  age  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Rushville 
Times  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  printer.  He  stuck  to  the  business  until  he  be- 
came a  master  of  the  trade.  Realizing  from  the  outset  that  a  printer  must  be  an 
educated  man,  he  devoted  much-of-his  time  to  acquiring  an  education.  In  1875 
he  bought  a  half-interest  in  the  Carlinville  Democrat,  a  Republican  newspaper- 
In  1878  he  purchased  the  Canton  Weekly  Register,  and  two  years  later  he  issued 
a  daily  paper  in  connection  with  this  journal.  Mr.  Snively  was  now  recognized 
as  one  of  the  leading  men  in  connection  with  the  country  press  of  Illinois.  The 
Canton  Register  was  made  one  of  the  best  papers  in  the  state.  Typographically 
it  was  a  clean,  attractive  sheet,  and  its  editorial  columns  were  ably  conducted. 

In  1885  Mr.  Snively  was  appointed  Postmaster  at  Canton,  by  President 
Arthur.  Mr.  Snively  has  been  identified  with  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal 
for  some  time.  Governor  Fifer  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Canal  Board, 
and  he  was  made  its  secretary ;  he  was  afterwards  made  President  of  the  Board 
of  Canal  Commissioners.  Mr.  Snively  has  been  identified  with  the  Republican 
party  of  Illinois  from  his  earliest  manhood,  and  has  been  a  strong  party  worker 
for  many  years.  He  was  alternate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  of 
1884,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Conventions  of  1888  and 
1896,  and  was  secretary,  on  both  occasions,  of  the  Illinois  Delegation.  During 
the  last  twenty  years  Mr.  Snively  has  been  secretary  of  the  Fulton  County  Re- 
publican Committee,  and  has  had  charge  of  the  organization  of  the  party  in  the 
county  for  the  greater  part  of  the  time.  The  perfect  organization  and  energetic 
work,  connected  with  the  influence  of  the  Canton  Register,  finally  changed  the 
political  status  of  Fulton  County  from  Democratic  to  Republican.  It  is  due  to 
Mr.  Snively  to  say  that  this  result  must  be  attributed  to  his  intelligent  and  ener- 
getic efforts.  For  nearly  twenty  years  Mr.  Snively  has  been  a  conspicuous 
figure  in  politics  in  the  state,  and  he  is  recognized  as  a  Republican,  true  and 
trustworthy. 

Mr.  Snively  is  a  member  of  the  I-  O.  O.  F. ;  is  a  Knight  of  Pythias,  and  be- 
longs to  the  Order  of  Red  Men.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snively  have  eight  children,  and 
have  a  pleasant  home  in  Canton,  Illinois. 

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625 


CHARLES  P.  SWIGERT. 

Hon.  Charles  P.  Swigert  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  November  27,  1843; 
his  parents  were  Philip  and  Caroline  Swigert.  In  1848  his  father  was  a  sympa- 
thizer with  the  Revolutionary  element,  many  of  his  people  were  active  partici- 
pants in  the  Volunteer  Revolutionary  Army,  and  after  the  close  of  that  stirring 
event  the  country  became  very  uncongenial  for  those  men  who  had  dared  to 
assert  their  rights  for  political  liberty.  In  the  general  exodus  that  followed, 
when  such  men  as  Hecker,  Seigel,  Brentano,  Schurz  and  many  others  left  their 
native  country,  the  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  also  emigrated  and 
sought  a  home  in  free  America.  They  came  to  Chicago,  where  a  brother  of 
Philip  had  located  in  1836.  Here  Charles  got  his  first  schooling  at  the  Scam- 
mon  School.  In  May,  1854,  the  family  moved  to  Kankakee  county,  Illinois, 
and  settled  on  a  farm. 

In  July,  1861,  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  he  enlisted  in  Company  "H,"  Forty- 
second  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war.  On  the 
night  of  April  4,  1862,  he  was  one  of  the  twenty  heroic  men  who  volunteered 
to  run  the  blockade  at  Island  No.  10  on  the  Gunooat  Carondelet,  landing  at 
New  Madrid,  Mo.,  forming  a  junction  with  General  Pope  and  the  Army  of  the 
Mississippi.  After  an  engagement  of  two  days  between  the  gunboat  and  the 
Confederate  land  batteries,  in  which  all  their  guns  were  either  spiked  or  de- 
stroyed by  landing  parties  from  the  boat,  the  entire  army  on  the  island,  numbering 
seven  thousand  men,  with  a  large  supply  of  stores,  arms  and  a  number  of  trans- 
ports, were  captured,  with  no  loss  on  the  Union  side.  On  the  9th  day  of  May, 
1862,  in  an  engagement  at  Farmington,  Miss.,  while  making  an  advance  on 
Corinth,  Mr.  Swigert  lost  his  right  arm,  having  it  torn  from  the  shoulder  joint 
by  a  six-pound  solid  shot.  In  going  to  the  rear  he  was  picked  up  in  an  exhausted 
condition  and  placed  in  an  ambulance  with  another  desperately  wounded  soldier, 
and  had  the  exciting  experience  of  being  run  away  with  over  a  corduroy  road 
that  the  army  had  hastily  and  roughly  constructed.  He  survived  the  wound 
and  the  ride,  but  his  military  career  was  ended.  Mr.  Swigert  was  discharged 
from  the  service  and  returned  to  Kankakee  county  in  January,  1863.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  he  entered  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College  in  Chicago, 
where  he  learned  to  write  with  his  left  hand,  and  took  a  full  commercial  course, 
graduating  in  June,  1864.  During  the  summer  of  1864  he  sold  a  history  of  the 
Rebellion  in  Kankakee  and  Will  counties,  meeting  with  great  success.  During 
that  winter  he  taught  a  district  school. 

In  the  spring  of  1865  he  secured  a  position  in  the  Chicago  Postorfice  and 
served  eighteen  months ;  resigning  that  position,  he  entered  the  County  Clerk's 
office  at  Kankakee  as  deputy  under  Captain  William  F.  Kanaga,  who  had  been 
elected  to  that  office  upon  his  return  from  Fort  Blakely,  Alabama,  minus  one 
leg.  In  September,  1867,  Mr.  Swigert,  entered  the  Illinois  Soldiers'  College  at 
Fulton,  Whiteside  county,  Illinois,  intending  to  take  a  four  years'  course,  but 
in  November,  1869,  the  Republicans  of  Kankakee  county  elected  him  as  County 
Treasurer,  which  position  he  held  until  November,  1880.  While  holding  the 
office  of  County  Treasurer  he  was  elected  to  the  City  Council  from  the  Second 
Ward  in  Kankakee,  where  there  was  a  close  contest.  He  served  two  years.  In 
May,  1880,  he  was  nominated  for  State  Auditor  by  the  Republican  party,  by  the 
most  remarkable  and  dramatic  convention  that  ever  assembled  in  this  or  any 
other  State.  It  lasted  three  entire  days,  with  two  all-night  sessions.  General 
Green  B.  Raum  was  the  chairman  and  demonstrated  remarkable  ability  as  a 
presiding  officer ;  it  required  patience  and  forbearance,  as  well  as  firmness  and 
knowledge  of  parliamentary  law  and  usage,  to  preside  over  that  body.  "Long 
John"  Wentworth  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  that  convention,  and  contributed 
much  to  Mr.  Swigert's  nomination.  The  Republican  State  ticket  was  elected 
by  over  42,000  plurality.  Mr.  Swigert  qualified  as  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts 
and  Superintendent  of  the  Insurance  Department,  January  10,  1881.  He  was 

626 


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thoroughly  competent  for  the  place,  and  the  honors  were  only  a  just  recognition 
of  his  services  to  his  adopted  country.  In  1884  Mr.  Swigert  was  renominated 
and  elected  to  the  same  office. 

During  Mr.  Swigert's  administration  of  eight  years  as  Auditor  and  ex- 
officio  Insurance  Superintendent,  much  important  legislation  was  enacted  relat- 
ing to  the  better  supervision  of  life  insurance  companies  and  societies,  and  for 
the  better  protection  of  the  interests  of  the  insured,  for  which  he  is  entitled  to 
no  small  share  of  credit.  No  man  ever  left  the  Auditor's  office  with  a  better  or 
cleaner  record  than  Mr.  Swigert.  After  retiring  from  office  he  spent  some  time 
on  Puget  Sound.  He  was  interested  in  a  town  site  at  Port  Townsend,  Wash- 
ington ;  the  building  of  an  electric  street  car  line ;  the  organization  of  a  State 
Bank,  and  various  other  enterprises.  Since  March,  I,  1900,  he  has  been  the 
Government  Agent  for  the  National  Home  for  Disabled  Volunteer  Soldiers, 
with  an  office  at  Chicago.  He  is  considered  "the  right  man  in  the  right  place," 
having  suffered  the  hardships  and  endured  the  privations  of  a  soldier's  life,  he 
can  thoroughly  sympathize  with  the  unfortunate  old  soldiers. 

In  politics  Mr.  Swigert  is  and  always  has  been  a  Republican.  He  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  in  1864.  He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a  member  and 
Past  Grand  of  Howard  Lodge  No.  218  at  Kankakee,  and  a  member  of  George 
H.  Thomas  Post  No.  5,  Department  of  Illinois,  G.  A.  R.,  having  been  quarter- 
master of  that  post  for  the  last  four  years.  He  is  and  always  has  been  a  Meth- 
odist. On  December  25,  1869,  he  married  Lavinia  L.  Bigelow,  a  native  of  Ver- 
mont ;  they  have  had  five  children,  all  boys,  of  whom  three  survive.  All  are 
married  and  reside  in  Chicago. 


JAMES  W.  TEMPLETON. 

Hon.  James  W.  Templeton  of  Princeton,  Bureau  County,  Illinois,  was  born 
at  St.  Clairsville,  Belmont  County,  Ohio.  His  father,  William  Templeton,  was 
born  in  Franklin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Sarah  Tidball  Wilson,  who 
was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania.  They  removed  to  Ohio.  Young 
Templeton  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  his  native  town. 
When  a  boy  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  obtained  employment  in  a  wholesale 
drug  store.  In  1863  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  permanently  at  Prince- 
ton, where  he  was  employed  for  a  time  as  a  druggist.  In  1865  he  was  appointed 
deputy  county  clerk.  He  was  elected  clerk  of  the  County  Court  and  served 
four  years  from  1869.  In  1875  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Princeton  and 
served  until  1887.  He  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  with  entire  satisfaction 
to  the  public,  and  became  an  exceedingly  popular  man  in  his  county. 

Mr.  Templeton  has  always  been  a  Republican,  and  identified  himself  with 
the  party  immediately  upon  reaching  Illinois,  and  has  been  a  constant  and  earnest 
advocate  of  the  principles  of  the  party  from  that  time  until  the  present.  In 
1894  he  was  nominated  as  a  candidate  for  the  State  Senate  by  the  Republicans 
of  the  3ist  Senatorial  District,  composed  of  Whiteside,  Bureau,  Stark  and  Put- 
nam counties,  and  was  elected.  He  was  re-elected  in  1898.  Mr.  Templeton  has 
taken  a  high  position  as  a  legislator,  and  has  exercised  a  great  deal  of  influence 
in  the  legislation  of  the  State.  As  a  result  of  this  he  has  a  first-class  standing 
in  his  district- 
James  W.  Templeton  was  married  December  2,  1870,  to  Miss  Mandana 
M.  Stevens,  whose  parents,  Justus  Stevens  and  Lurena  M.  Stevens,  were  early 
settlers  in  Bureau  County,  from  the  State  of  New  Hampshire.  They  have  two 
children,  a  son,  Justus  Stevens  Templeton,  who  is  a  student  at  Princeton  Uni- 
versity, New  Jersey,  and  a  daughter,  Gladys  Wilson  Templeton,  who  at  this 
writing  is  in  her  last  year  at  the  Princeton,  Illinois,  High  School. 


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629 


JOHN   THOMAS. 

Col.  John  Thomas  was  born  in  Wythe  County,  Virginia,  January  n,  1800, 
of  poor  parents.  His  father,  John  Thomas,  was  a  blacksmith  and  had  a  large 
family  and  a  very  small  farm,  surrounded  for  miles  by  large  planters  and  slave- 
holders, who  sent  their  children  to  eastern  academies  and  colleges  to  be  edu- 
cated; nor  were  there  any  common  or  local  schools  at  which  the  children  of 
the  poor  might  be  educated,  consequently  our  subject  was  deprived  by  slavery 
of  all  means  of  education  except  what  he  received  from  his  mother,  who  taught 
all  her  children  to  read  and  write.  In  order  to  escape  the  pernicious  influence  of 
slavery  his  father  resolved  to  move  into  a  free  State,  and  accordingly,  on  April 
28,  1818,  the  family  arrived  in  St.  Clair  County,  Illinois,  at  or  near  the  present 
village  of  Shiloh  and  set  up  a  blacksmith  shop. 

John  Thomas  worked  for  his  father  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
after  which  he  went  out  for  himself,  not  worth  a  dollar.  The  first  year  after 
attaining  his  majority  he  divided  his  time  between  working  and  going  to  school. 
In  June,  1822,  he  married  Isabella  Kinney,  a  daughter  of  Lieutenant  Governor 
William  Kinney,  and  commenced  farming  on  a  small  scale  on  rented  ground. 
By  thrift  and  industry  he  was  enabled  within  six  years  to  buy  and  stock  a  farm, 
and  from  that  time  forward  he  bought  land  as  fast  as  he  was  able  until  he  had 
accumulated  about  3,000  acres  of  the  finest  farming  land  in  the  county.  In  the 
early  part  of  his  life  he  was  much  devoted  to  military  pursuits.  In  1832  he 
was  elected  to  the  command  of  a  regiment  in  the  Black  Hawk  War  and  served 
in  that  campaign  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  John  J.  Hardin,  Edward  D.  Baker  and 
other  subsequently  noted  men  of  Illinois. 

He  became  interested  in  political  questions  at  an  early  day.  In  1824,  when 
the  Legislature  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  the  question  of  the  admission 
of  a  slavery  clause  into  the  Constitution,  he  took  a  most  active  part  in  opposition 
to  the  proposed  measure.  In  1854,  when  Congress  passed  the  Kansas-Nebraska 
bill,  he  took  a  very  active  and  zealous  part  in  forwarding  the  Republican  party 
in  opposition  to  that  measure ;  and  since  that  he  has  been  an  active  and  con- 
sistent Republican.  In  1838  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature,  and  served 
in  the  last  session  of  that  body  held  at  Vandalia,  and  the  first  at  Springfield.  He 
was  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1862,  1864,  1872  and  1874.  In  1878  he  was 
elected  to  the  Senate.  His  large  experience  and  general  intelligence  rendered 
him  a  most  efficient  and  useful  legislator.  He  served  with  distinction  upon 
several  of  the  most  important  committees  and  was  very  frequently  called  upon 
to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  the  House  in  committee  of  the  whole  and 
in  the  absence  of  the  Speaker. 

He  was  an  accomplished  parliamentarian  and  a  gentleman  of  large  and 
varied  information,  whether  political  or  social,  and  exercised  a  very  considerable 
influence  in  his  county.  He  was  the  friend  of  the  free  and  unsectarian  schools, 
and  believed  that  in  the  education  of  the  masses  lie  the  hope  of  the  Republic- 
In  1856  he  was  virtually  drafted  as  a  candidate  for  Congress  and  ran  against 
Col.  J.  L.  D.  Morrison,  the  Democratic  nominee,  and  beat  him  over  seven  hun- 
dred votes  in  the  county  where  both  resided,  and  which  had  for  years  previously 
given  about  one  thousand  Democratic  majority.  He  also  ran  ahead  of  his  oppo- 
nent about  seven  hundred  votes  in  the  adjoining  County  of  Madison,  but  the 
other  seven  counties  of  the  district — in  some  of  which  a  "black  Republican" 
scarcely  dare  speak  in  public — elected  Col.  Morrison. 

His  first  wife  died  in  the  '6o's,  and  he  afterward  married  Magdelena  Hold- 
ner,  a  widow,  daughter  of  Jacob  Von  Euw,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  moved 
to  Belleville,  111.,  where  he  died  December  15,  1894.  His  son,  John  E.  Thomas, 
born  November  7,  1862,  was  elected  to  the  Legislature  from  this  County  by  the 
largest  vote  ever  cast  in  the  district  for  that  office.  He  was  appointed  post- 
master for  the  city  of  Belleville,  111.,  August,  1898.  Mrs.  Carrie  Thomas- 
Alexander,  daughter  of  Colonel  Thomas,"  was  nominated  for  Trustee  of  the  Illi- 
nois University  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1900. 

630 


631 


THOMAS  FOSTER  T1PTON. 

The  parents  of  subject  were  Hiram  and  Deborah  (Ogden)  Tipton,  who 
became  the  parents  of  five  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  three 
of  whom  are  still  living,  to-wit,  Thomas  F.,  John  and  Mrs.  Jane  Tuttle,  the 
latter  two  living  at  Saybrook.  The  parents  were  regarded  as  educated  people, 
both  being  great  readers,  and  taking  much  interest  in  the  education  of  their 
children.  In  religion  the  father  was  a  Universalist,  and  led  a  life  of  singular 
purity.  He  was  a  strong  Whig,  and  denounced  slavery  as  a  wrong  and  a  crime. 

Thomas  Foster  Tipton  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Ohio,  August  29,  1833, 
and  is  a  descendant  of  ancestors  who  settled  in  Frederick  County,  Md.,  previous 
to  the  Revolutionary  War.  Sylvester  Tipton,  grandfather  of  subject,  was  the 
son  of  Thomas  Tipton,  and  removed  from  Maryland  about  1790  to  the  North- 
west Territory,  settling  temporarily  at  Chillicothe,  O.,  and  later  removed  to 
Franklin  county;  he  there  followed  school  teaching  until  nearly  eighty  years 
of  age.  Joshua  Tipton,  his  brother,  moved  to  Eastern  Tennessee,  where  in 
1793  he  was  murdered  by  the  Indians.  The  support  of  his  family  was  thus 
thrown  upon  his  son  John,  then  but  seven  years  of  age.  In  1807  the  family 
removed  to  Harrison  County,  Indiana,  where  they  bought  a  farm  of  fifty-five 
acres,  paying  for  the  same  by  splitting  rails-  In  1809  he  joined  the  "Yellow 
Jackets"  commanded  by  Captain  Spencer,  became  ensign,  and  served  through 
the  campaign,  which  terminated  in  the  battle  of  Tipp.ecanoe,  November,  1811. 
During  this  conflict  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  company  by  the  death 
of  the  captain,  and  later  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier-General  of 
Militia.  In  later  life  he  occupied  many  positions  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
serving  with  distinction  and  high  credit  to  himself.  The  city  of  Columbus,  Ind., 
was  located  upon  his  land,  and  for  a  time  was  called  Tiptonia  in  his  honor. 
Sylvester  Tipton  reared  a  family  of  eight  children,  four  sons  and  four  daughters. 
His  wife  was  formally  Mary  Stark,  niece  of  General  Stark  of  Revolutionary 
fame.  His  sons  were  Captain  Thomas,  Jonathan,  John  and  Hiram.  Jonathan 
removed  to  Knox  County,  111.,  but  early  in  the  fifties  removed  to  Washington 
County,  la.,  where  his  descendants  still  live,  "and  where  his  son  Basil  has  repre- 
sented his  county  in  the  Legislature.  Thomas,  brother  of  Jonathan,  passed  his 
life  at  his  home  vicinity,  dying  in  September,  1864.  John,  the  third  brother, 
moved  to  Fulton  County,  111.,  where  he  was  accidentally  killed  by  a  tree  falling 
on  him.  Hiram,  the  youngest  son,  and  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  Franklin  County,  O.,  in  1802,  and  devoted  his  life  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  In  1827  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Deborah  Ogden,  and  in  1837 
moved  to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  seven  years  later  to  McLean  County, 
111.,  settling  in  what  is  known  as  Moneycreek  Township,  where  the  father  died 
March  2Oth  of  the  following  year- 

Thomas  F.  Tipton  passed  his  early  life  at  hard  work,  and  with  but  few 
advantages,  beginning  work  on  his  own  responsibility  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
His  tastes  led  him  from  the  farm  to  an  inclulgment  in  books,  and  accordingly 
he  took  up  the  study  of  medicine,  but  became  dissatisfied  with  that  and  dropped 
it ;  began  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  1854,  being  then  in 
his  twenty-first  year.  He"  opened  an  office  in  Lexington,  where  he  practiced  for 
seven  years,  winning  distinction  by  his  ability  and  determined  efforts.  In  1862 
he  removed  to  Bloomington,  and  became  associated  with  Judge  R.  M.  Benjamin, 
and  in  1868,  with  Hon.  Lawrejice  Weldpn,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  the 
judges  of  the.  United  States  Court  of  Claims.  In  1866  Mr.  Tipton  was  appointed 
State's  Attorney  of  the  Eighth  Judicial  District,  and  in  1870  was  elected  Judge 
of  the  Circuit  Court,  which  position  he  held  until  1877.  In  1876  he  was  elected 
to  the  Forty-Fifth  Congress,  where  his  services  were  characterized  by  that 
sterling  wisdom  shown  so  eminently  in  his  professional  career.  Upon  his  return 
from  Congress  he  resumed  the  active  practice  of  law,  and  in  1891  was  again 

632 


633 


elected  Circuit  Judge,  for  which  office  his  high  talents  so  emiently  qualified  him. 
At  present  the  name  of  the  firm  is  Tipton  &  Tipton,  the  junior  partner  being 
Thomas  Wv  son  of  Thomas  F. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Tipton  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Harry  V.  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years-  Belle  E.  is 
the  wife  of  E.  E.  Van  Schoick  of  Hastings,  Neb. ;  Helen  F.  is  the  wife  of  William 
R.  Bair  of  Bloomington ;  Thomas  W.,  who  married  Alice  Searles,  and  now 
resides  at  Normal,  111.,  and  Laura  B.,  at  home.  Judge  Tipton  has  an  extensive 
practice  in  Central  Illinois,  and  either  as  Circuit  Judge  or  Counsel  has  tried 
forty-seven  murder  cases  and  many  other  important  contests. 


HENRY  L.  TURNER. 

Col.  Henry  L.  Turner  of  Chicago  was  born  August  26,  1845,  m  Oberlin, 
Ohio.  He  has  had  an  eventful  and  interesting  career-  When  the  Civil  War 
closed  in  1865  he  was  not  twenty  years  of  age,  and  yet  he  had  graduated  at 
Oberlin  College  with  honor,  and  had  served  in  two  regiments  during  the  war, 
as  first  Lieutenant  in  the  I5oth  Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteers,  and  afterwards  as 
first  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  of  the  1st  Regiment  United  States  Colored  troops ; 
he  had  participated  in  the  engagements  of  Fort  Stevens,  siege  of  Richmond,  sec- 
ond battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  Gen.  Butler's  attack  on  Fort  Fisher,  the  capture  of 
Fort  Fisher  by  Gen.  Terry,  the  capture  of  Wilmington,  and  the  surrender  of 
Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston's  Army.  He  was  a  veteran  soldier  of  many  battles 
before  he  was  old  enough  to  vote.  Upon  leaving  the  army  he  settled  in  Chi- 
cago. His  first  business  was  in  connection  with  the  "Advance"  newspaper. 
He  then  went  to  Philadelphia  in  connection  with  the  great  banking  house  of 
Jay  Cook  &  Co.;  he  remained  with  the  firm  until  their  failure  in  1873.  He 
returned  to  Chicago  and  was  again  identified  with  the  "Advocate."  He  pur- 
chased this  paper,  managed  it  for  two  years,  and  sold  it. 

In  1874  Col.  Turner  turned  his  attention  to  Chicago  real  estate ;  he  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law  under  the  name  and  style  of  Turner  & 
Marsh-  Mr.  Marsh  soon  retired  from  the  firm  to  accept  an  important  mission 
to  Europe.  Col.  Turner  then  associated  himself  with  William  A.  Bond,  and 
from  May,  1875,  for  sixteen  years,  the  firm  of  Turner  &  Bond  conducted  a 
large  and  successful  real  estate  business  at  102  Washington  street.  In  1892 
this  firm  negotiated  the  sale  of  the  premises  occupied  by  them  to  the  Cook 
County  Title  and  Trust  Company.  They  then  changed  their  location  to  175 
Dearborn  street.  Col.  Turner  retired  from  the  firm  and  established  a  banking 
investment  business  at  92  Dearborn  street ;  this  he  conducted  with  success.  In 
1899  ne  removed  his  office  to  100  Washington  street,  to  the  building  of  the 
Chicago  Title  and  Trust  Company,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  business.  Col. 
Turner  was  elected  President  of  the  Real  Estate  Board  in  1888.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  Some  years  ago  he  was 
elected  Trustee  of  Oberlin  College. 

Col.  Turner  was  long  identified  with  the  Illinois  National  Guard,  and  was 
Colonel  of  the  ist  Regiment.  When  war  was  declared  against  Spain,  and  a  call 
was  made  upon  Illinois  for  troops,  Col.  Turner  decided  to  enter  the  United 
States  service-  His  regiment,  the  ist  Illinois  National  Guards,  was  reorganized 
and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service,  Col.  Turner  commanding.  The 
regiment  was  ordered  to  Santiago,  Cuba,  where  tfiey  participated  in  the  bloody 
and  spectacular  assault  and  siege  of  that  place,  which  finally  surrendered  to  our 
forces.  Col.  Turner  is  a  man  of  fine  business  qualifications  and  is  a  highly 
respected  citizen  of  Chicago.  His  splendid  military  career  in  two  wars  attests 
his  patriotism  and  valor  and  gives  him  an  enduring  hold  upon  the  affection  and 
gratitude  of  the  people. 


634 


^^^t^^\ 


635 


JOSEPH  W.  VANCE. 

General  Joseph  W.  Vance  was  born  at  Paris,  Edggr^Courity,  111.,  May  21, 
1841.  His  great-grandfather,  Lieutenant  William  Blackburn,  of  Campbell's 
Regiment  of  Virginians,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  King's  Mountain,  N-  C., 
during  the  Revolutionary  War.  His  grandfather,  Samuel  Vance,  was  a  pioneer 
settler  in  Illinois,  locating  in  Edgar  County;  he  owned  the  land  upon  which 
Paris,  the  county  seat,  was  located.  He  donated  this  land  to  the  county,  which 
includes  the  public  square  upon  which  the  Court  House  was  erected.  Samuel 
Vance  was  a  man  of  enterprise,  energy  and  great  public  spirit;  he  was  highly 
respected  by  all  who  knew  him.  The  father  of  General  Vance  was  William 
Blackburn  Vance,  who  was  also  an  early  settler  in  Edgar  County.  He  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  Seminole  War,  before  coming  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  soldier 
in  the  Black  Hawk  War  in  1832. 

General  Vance  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  Edgar  Academy  and 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  West  Point.  Upon  the  breaking  out 
of  the  Civil  War  he  was  commissioned  May  8,  1861,  as  First  Lieutenant,  Com- 
pany "F,"  7th  Congressional  District  Regiment  of  Illinois,  and  by  general  orders 
of  the  Adjutant  General's  office  of  Illinois,  he  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  Tactical 
Instructor  of  said  regiment,  upon  the  suggestion  of  Captain  U.  S.  Grant,  mus- 
tering officer.  On  June  28,  1861,  he  was  appointed  First  Lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany "F,"  2ist  Illinois  Volunteers,  with  rank  from  May  8,  1861.  In  July,  1861, 
upon  the  recommendation  of  Colonel  U.  S.  Grant,  he  was  detailed  by  Brigadier 
General  John  Pope  to  organize  and  instruct  two  Missouri  regiments  at  St. 
Charles,  Mo.  He  commanded  Company  "F,"  2ist  Illinois  Volunteers,  October 
21,  1861,  at  the  battle  of  Fredericktown,  Mo.  He  was  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant 
General  to  General  Rosecrans  in  the  Tullahoma  campaign  in  1862,  and  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Farmington,  Miss-  He  commanded  the  post  at  Bards- 
town,  Ky.,  from  October,  1862,  to  January,  1863,  and  successfully  defended  the 
place  against  an  attack  of  General  John  Morgan's  Cavalry.  He  was  Assistant 
Inspector  General,  2d  Brigade,  2d  Division,  2Oth  Army  Corps,  from  March  till 
October,  1863,  participating  in  the  battles  of  Liberty  Gap,  Tenn.,  and  Chicka- 
mauga,  Ga.,  receiving  special  mention  in  the  report  of  Brigadier  General  Carlin 
for  services  in  said  engagement.  He  was  Aid-de-Camp  on  the  staff  of  Brigadier 
General  Carlin  from  October,  1863,  to  July,  1864,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Look- 
out Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  in  November,  1863.  He  was  in  the  cam- 
paign of  Georgia,  in  1864,  from  Chattanooga  to  Resaca  and  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

General  Vance's  military  education  and  his. extensive  experience  in  the  army 
during  the  Civil  War,  pointed  him  out  to  the  Governor  of  Illinois  as  a  suitable 
person  to  aid  in  the  organization  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard  service.  He 
was  commissioned  Captain  of  Company  "D,"  Qth  Infantry,  Illinois  National 
Guard,  in  1876,  and  Captain  of  Company  "C,"  I7th  Infantry,  September  9,  1878. 
He  held  this  position  until  February  3,  1881,  when  he  was  commissioned  Major 
and  Inspector  General;  on  May  15,  1884,  he  was  promoted  to  the  office  of 
Brigadier  General  and  Adjutant  General  of  Illinois.  Among  the  important 
services  rendered  during  the  seven  years  he  occupied  this  position,  was  com- 
piling and  publishing  eight  volumes  of  Illinois  War  Reports,  from  1861  to  1868, 
embracing  the  record  of  268,000  soldiers.  Also  recommending  and  causing  to 
be  incorporated  into  the  Military  Code  of  Illinois,  in  January,  1885,  the  present 
three  battalion  formation  for  infantry.  Also  the  establishment  of  a  permanent 
camp  at  Springfield,  known  as  Camp  Lincoln,  rifle  ranges,  and  schools  of  instruc- 
tion for  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers.  This  system  proved  to  be 
highly  beneficial,  resulted  in  bringing  the  service  up  to  a  high  state  of  efficiency 
and  discipline,  as  was  demonstrated  by  the  active  service  of  the  Illinois  National 
Guard  during  the  serious  labor  troubles,  at  Joliet  and  Lemont,  in  1885 ;  East 
St.  Louis,  and  Union  Stock  Yards,  Chicago,  in  1886,  and'  Braidwood  and  Spring 
Valley  in  1889.  These  services  received  the  commendation  of  Governors 

636 


637 


Oglesby  and  Fifer  in  congratulatory  orders  issued  by  them.     General  Vance 
resigned  the  office  of  Adjutant  General  July  I,  1891. 

After  returning  from  the  Civil  War  General  Vance  engaged  in  the  business 
of  manufacturing  woolen  goods  for  a  period  of  nearly  ten  years.  He  subse- 
quently engaged  in  the  business  of  insurance ;  for  a  number  of  years  he  has  been 
interested  in  mining  and  manufacturing  industries.  General  Vance  has  long 
•been  actively  engaged  as  a  member  of  the  Republican  party ;  he  has  never  sought 
an  elective  office,  but  has  gladly  assisted  his  friends  who  have  aspired  to  impor- 
tant positions-  He  has  attended  all  the  Republican  State  Conventions  in  Illinois 
since  1868,  as  a  delegate  or  an  interested  spectator.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Republican  Executive  Committee  of  Sangamon  County  during  the  campaigns 
of  1894  and  1896,  which  placed  that  county  in  the  Republican  column.  General 
Vance  became  a  citizen  of  Springfield  in  1891. 


FREDERICK  WILLIAM   UPHAM. 

The  first  of  the  Uphams  in  America  was  John  Upham,  who  came  over  in 
the  Hull  Colony,  in  1630,  and  settled  at  Maiden,  Massachusetts.  His  son, 
Lieutenant  Phineas  Upham,  was  an  officer  of  Massachusetts  troops  in  King 
Philip's  War,  and  was  killed  in  the  Great  Swamp  Fight.  *In  a  later  generation 
Jonathan  Upham,  of  the  same  line,  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  was 
present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  Later  still  came  Calvin  H.  Upham,  who 
was  born  at  Westminster,  Mass. ;  was  engaged  in  general  merchandising  in  Wis- 
consin before  and  after  the  Civil  War,  and  in  the  latter  was  a  Captain  and  Com- 
missary of  United  States  Volunteers,  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Amanda  E.  Gibbs,  and  to  them  was  born  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Frederick  William  Upham  was  born  at  Racine,  Wisconsin,  on  January  29, 
1861.  He  received  a  good  primary  and  secondary  education,  and  was  sent 
to  Ripon  College,  Ripon,  Wisconsin,  where  he  pursued  an  advanced  course  of 
study,  but  did  not  complete  it  nor  graduate-  Leaving  college  in  1880  he  entered 
at  once  upon  a  business  career  in  the  employ  of  the  Upham  Manufacturing  Com- 
pany at  Marshfield,  Wisconsin.  This  was  an  important  lumber  concern,  and  of 
it  Mr.  Upham's  uncle,  Major  William  H.  Upham,  Governor  of  Wisconsin  from 
1895  to  1897,  was  president.  Mr.  Upham  remained  with  it  for  fourteen  years, 
filling  various  places,  from  that  of  Inspector  of  Lumber  to  that  of  General 
Manager  of  the  company.  In  the  meantime  he,  of  course,  acquired  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  the  lumber  business  in  all  its  departments.  In  1894  Mr.  Upham 
decided  to  establish  himself  in  business  on  his  own  account.  Accordingly  he 
removed  to  Chicago,  and  there  organized  the  Fred.  W.  Upham  Lumber  Com- 
pany, with  himself  as  its  president.  It  rapidly  rose  to  its  present  prominence 
as  one  of  the  leading  concerns  of  the  kind  in  that  city.  Mr.  Upham  is  also  vice- 
president  of  the  Creelman  Lumber  Company,  of  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  of  the 
Wisconsin  Hardwood  Export  Company,  of  Wausau,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  Upham  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the' 
public  affairs  of  that  party-  In  1892  he  was  a  delegate  from  the  Eighth  Wis- 
consin District  to  the  National  Republican  Convention,  at  Minneapolis.  In 
April,  1898,  he  became  Alderman  of  the  Twenty-second  Ward  of  Chicago,  but 
resigned  the  place  on  January  i,  1899,  on  account  of  his  election  as  president 
of  the  Cook  County  Board  of  Review.  He  was  elected  Alderman  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  the  business  men's  and  citizens'  interests  against  the  professional 
politicians,  and  especially  in  opposition  to  the  granting  of  too  long  franchises  to 
street  railroad  corporations. 

Mr.  Upham  is  a  member  and  director  of  the  Union  League  Club,  and  a 
member  of  the  Hamilton,  Chicago  Athletic,  Germania,  Marquette  Clubs  and 
also  of  the  Glen  View  Golf  and  Polo  Clubs,  of  Chicago.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Colonial  Wars,  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  of  the 
Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion.  He  was  married  in  1885  at  Ripon,  Wis- 
consin, to  Miss  Alice  C.  Judd,  of  that  place.  They  have  no  children. 

638 


639 


HORATIO  LOOMIS  WAIT. 

As  lawyer,  jurist  and  citizen  the  personal  life  history  of  Horatio  Loomis 
Wait  is  interwoven  as  a  part  of  the  warp  and  woof  of  Chicago  history,  and  his 
career  has  been  a  phenomenally  successful  one.  In  public  and  private  life,  in 
war  and  in  peace,  he  has  never  been  unmindful  of  his  whole  duty.  Patriotism 
is  one  of  the  inherent  elements  of  his  make-up,  as  he  sprang  from  good  old 
Revolutionary  stock.  In  tracing  back  the  genealogy  of  the  Wait  family  in 
America  we  find  that  the  first  member  to  settle  here  was  John  Wait,  son  of 
Richard  Wait,  who  came  to  the  Massachusetts  Bay  Colony  early  in  the  seven- 
teenth century.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  sons,  all  of  whom  were  in  the 
French  and  Indian  and  Revolutionary  wars.  Five  of  the  sons  became  commis- 
sioned officers  and  two  fell  in  battle.  Joseph  Wait,  second  in  order  of  birth  of 
the  seven  sons,  and  great-grandfather  of  Horatio  L.  Wait,  was  captain  in  the 
corps  of  Rangers  commanded  by  Major  Robert  Rogers  during  the  French  and 
Indian  war,  and  as  captain  of  a  company  assisted  in  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga. 
He  was  commissioned  by  John  Hancock,  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  a  regiment  he 
recruited  in  the  Revolution,  and  served  as  advance  guard  of  General  Arnold 
near  Lake  Champlain.  His  son,  Marmaduke  Wait,  was  commissioned  First 
Lieutenant  in  the  i6th  United  States  Infantry  in  1799,  and  Israel  C.  Wait,  son 
of  Marmaduke,  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  Mexican  war.  Upon  his  maternal  side 
several  of  Mr.  Wait's  ancestors  were  officers  in'  the  colonial  wars,  the  Revolu- 
tion and  the  Seminole  war. 

Horatio  Loomis  Wait  was  born  in  New  York  City  August  8,  1836;  son  of 
Joseph  and  Harriet  (Heileman)  Whitney  Wait,  both  natives  of  the  Green  Moun- 
tain State.  He  attended  Trinity  School,  New  York,  and  when  fourteen  years 
old  entered  Columbia  College  Grammar  School,  preparatory  to  going  to  col- 
lege. He  came  to  Chicago  in  1856  and  entered  the  law  office  of  J-  Young 
Scammon.  When  the  war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company  D,  6oth  Illinois 
Infantry,  but  becoming  impatient  with  the  delay  and  tardiness  in  recruiting  in 
the  regiment,  he  volunteered  in  the  naval  service.  He  was  commissioned  as- 
sistant paymaster,  with  rank  of  Master  in  the  Navy,  by  President  Lincoln,  and 
ordered  to  duty  on  the  "Pembina."  When  the  "Pembina"  was  sent  north  for 
repairs,  young  Wait  was  transferred  to  the  steamer  "Mary  Sanford,"  which 
conveyed  ammunition  to  the  "Monitor"  fleet  at  Charleston.  A  few  months  later 
he  was  ordered  to  report  for  duty  on  the  flagship  "Philadelphia."  After  the 
war  he  was  transferred  to  the  "Ino"  and  visited  many  European  ports.  Off 
Lisbon,  he  was  promoted  to  a  paymastership,  with  rank  of  lieutenant-com- 
mander. Returning  to  the  United  States  in  1867,  he  was  ordered  to  the  United 
States  ship  "New  Hampshire,"  but  in  the  following  year  he  was  made  inspector 
at  Pensacola  Navy  Yard  and  transferred  accordingly. 

Resigning  his  naval  commission  in  1870,  Mr.  Wait  returned  to  Chicago 
and  resumed  the  study  of  law  in  the  office  of  Barker  &  Tuley.  August  22,  1870, 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Illinois,  and  became  junior  member  of  the  firm 
of  Barker  &  Wait,  and  so  continued  till  after  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Masters  in  Chancery  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Cook  County,  June,  1876.  He  is 
undoubtedly  one  of  the  oldest  Masters  in  Chancery  in  the  State.  He  brought 
to  the  office  dignity  and  a  profound  knowledge  of  the  law,  untarnished  and 
incorruptible  integrity,  and  held  the  important  office  for  more  than  twenty  years. 
No  judge  on  the  bench,  perhaps,  is  regarded  with  higher  veneration  and  esteem. 
He  is  a  great  traveler,  has  been  a  great  reader  and  deep  thinker  and  is  a  man 
of  scholarly  attainments.  Mr.  Wait  is  not  a  politician,  but  as  a  staunch  Repub- 
lican takes  a  great  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
the  Hyde  Park  Lyceum,  which  was  later  merged  into  the  Chicago  Public 
Library,  and  he  became  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Literary  Club,  becoming  its 
president  in  1893.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  was 

640  - 


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vestryman  and  later  senior  warden  of  St.  Paul's  parish.     Mr.  Wait  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Illinois  State  Bar  Association  and  the  Church  Club. 

While  General  Sheridan  was  at  the  head  of  the  Illinois  Commandery,  Mr. 
Wait  was  elected  companion  of  the  military  order  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and  has 
since  held  several  important  offices  in  that  order.  He  was  elected  a  life  member 
of  the  Farragut  Boat  Club,  was  also  a  member  and  an  officer  of  the  Farragut 
Naval  Association  of  officers  and  ex-officers  of  the  navy  who  served  during  the 
Rebellion.  On  the  7th  of  May,  1860,  Mr.  Wait  married  Miss  Chara  Conant 
Long,  daughter  of  James  Long,  an  early  and  prominent  citizen  of  Chicago.; 
Two  sons  were  born  to  this  marriage,  James  Joseph  WTait  and  Henry  Heileman 
Wait,  both  of  whom  are  enterprising  business  men  of  Chicago. 


GEORGE  E.  WAITE. 

Hon.  George  E.  Waite  of  Geneseo,  111.,  was  born  in  Stratton,  Windham 
County,  Vt. ;  his  paternal  ancestry  is  English.  The  name  was  originally  spelled 
Wayte,  later  Waite  or  Wait.  The  American  ancestor  is  Thomas  Wayte,  who 
emigrated  to  Massachusetts  upon  the  restoration  of  Charles  II.  in  1660. 
Thomas  Wayte  was  a  member  of  the  Long  Parliament,  and  was  identified  with 
Hampden,  Pym,  Sir  Harry  Vane,  Sir  Thomas  Fairfax,  Cromwell,  Ireton  and 
others  in  the  great  struggle  for  freedom  of  conscience  and  constitutional  gov- 
ernment. He  did  not  waver  in  his  opposition  to  the  tyranny  of  the  King.  He 
no  doubt  saw  Cromwell  at  the  head  of  the  Ironsides,  and  may.  have  been 
present  at  Marston  Moor  and  Naseby-  He  sat  at  the  trial  of  Charles  I.,  wit- 
nessed the  matchless  prosecution  by  John  Bradshaw,  and  signed  the  death  war- 
rant of  the  King.  John  Wayte,  the  grandfather  of  the  Judge,  was  a  soldier  of 
the  Revolution  and  fought  at  the  battles  of  Concord,  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill; 
he  was  a  direct  descendant  of  Thomas  Wayte.  After  the  war  John, Wayte  re- 
mpved  to  Stratton,  Vermont,  where  he  resided  until  his  death.  ife  had  five 
sons,  namely,  Amasa,  Luther,  Daniel,  Tyler  and  Alpheus.  Judge  Waite  is  a  son 
of  Tyler  Waite  and  Lucia  Tyler  Waite ;  his  mother  was  the  daughter  of  Ebenezer 
Taylor  of  Wardsboro,  Vermont,  and  was  of  Scotch  origin.  Tyler  Waite  was  a 
prosperous  farmer  of  education  and  influence;  he  and  his  wife 'reared  and 
educated  seven  children,  namely,  Laura,' George  E.,  Lucia,  Henry  A..,  Chastina, 
Ruth  and  Dexter  Waite.  Judge  Waite  attended  the  common  schools  of  Ver- 
mont, prepared  for  college,  and  took  a  .four  years',  classical  course  in  the  Wes- 
leyan  University  at  Middletown,  Conn,  j'lie^was  especially  noted  for  his  ability 
as  a  writer  and  speaker ;  he  graduated  with"  honor.  He  removed  to  Geneseo, 
Illinois,  in  1856;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1858,' and  at  once  entered  upon  a 
successful  practice  of  law. 

Judge  Waite  is  a  Republican  in  politics;  he  participated  in  the  organization 
of  the  party  in  1856,  and  has  without  deviation  advocated  the  principles  of  the 
arty  and  supported  its  candidates;  he  became  widely  known  throughout  the 
State  and  was  recognized  as  an  able,  safe  and  cmrfageous  leader.  He  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  every  political  campaign,  and  is  a  man  for  an  emergency,  rising 
in  power  and  influence  with  the  importance  of  the  occasion.  A  splendid  speci- 
men of  physical  manhood,  he  challenges  attention  in  any  gathering.  As  a 
speaker  by  voice,  word  and  action,  he  appeals  with  convincing  power  to  an 
audience.  Judge  Waite  has  never  pushed  himself  forward  as  a  seeker  after 
office,  but  has  by  the  free  choice  of  the  people  held  important  judicial,  legislative 
and  other  positions,  performing  the  duties  of  all  of  them  with  entire  satisfaction 
to  the  public.  He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  which  framed  the  present 
Constitution  of  Illinois,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Retrenchment 
and  Reform.  His  report  to  the  convention,  among  other  things,  contained  a 
recommendation  for  an  article  prohibiting  special  legislation.  He  recognized 
the  great  abuse  and  proposed  the  only  method  to  put  an  end  to  it :  his  recom- 
mendation was  adopted  and  incorporated  into  the  Constitution  of  the  State,  and 

642 


643 


is  one  of  its  wisest  and  best  provisions.  Judge  Waite  has  been  a  careful  student 
of  history,  and  is  an  intelligent  observer  of  the  passing  events  of  the  world.  He 
has  well-settled  opinions  upon  great  public  questions,  and  is  a  national  leader  of 
public  opinion.  He  gave  strong  support  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and  has 
done  much  for  both  measures  and  men  of  his  party. 

In  1859  Judge  Waite  married  Hattie  N.  Wells,  who  is  also  a  descendant 
of  Puritan  stock.  They  have  a  family  consisting  of  three  daughters,  namely, 
Laura  M.,  Hattie  M.  and  Ruth  M.  Waite.  Hattie  M.  is  the  wife  of  Thomas 
Everett;  they  have  a  son,  George  W.  Everett.  Ruth  M.  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
M.  Dedrick.  Judge  Waite  and  his  family,  have  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances 
and  friends,  and  have  the  respect  and  confidence  of  all  who  know  the'm. 


FRANK  S.  WHITMAN. 

Dr.  Frank  S.  Whitman,  the  superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Northern  Hos- 
pital for  the  Insane,  was  born  in  Belvidere,  Illinois,  September  27,  1849.  His 
father  was  from  Vermont  and  his  mother  from  New  York.  He  was  reared  in 
Belvidere,  where  he  attended  the  common  schools  preparatory  to  entering  the 
University  of  Chicago,  in  which  he  pursued  his  studies  for  three  years.  The 
field  of  medicine  attracted  his  attention,  and  in  it  he  sought  to  use  his  talents, 
which  fitted  him  particularly  for  his  chosen  profession.  He  commenced  his 
professional  career  by  a  course  of  reading  with  Dr.  J.  K.  Soule,  a  leading 
homeopathic  physician  of  Belvidere.  Later  Dr.  Whitman  attended  lectures 
at  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
February,  1872.  He  also  received  an  honorary  degree  from  the  Chicago 
Homeopathic  College.  While  believing  firmly  in  the  law  of  cure  enunciated 
by  Hahnemann,  he  did  not  believe  it  to  be  the  only  law  of  cure.  He  is  a  broad 
and  liberal  man,  well  read  in  his  profession,  and  freely  makes  use  of  everything 
in  the  medical  line  that  has  been  proven  to  be  of  service. 

After  his  graduation  in  the  medical  schools  he  began  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Belvidere,  where  he  attained  a  high  reputation  as  a  skillful  physi- 
cian. His  standing  was  so  high  in  the  profession  that  in  January,  1899,  he  was 
chosen  to  succeed  the  late  Dr.  John  B.  Hamilton  as  superintendent  of  the 
Illinois  Northern  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  which  is  one  of  the  largest  hospitals 
in  the  country,  accommodating  over  1,200  patients.  To  be  called  to  the  man- 
agement of  such  an  institution  is  certainly  a  very  high  honor.  It  is  not  only 
in  his  profession  that  he  has  been  honored,  but  also  as  a  citizen  of  personal 
worth.  He  has  been  elected  twice  to  the  mayoralty  of  Belvidere,  and  has  served 
six  years  as  President  of  the  School  Board.  He  is  now  vice-president  of  the 
People's  Bank  of  Belvidere,  which  is  an  indication  of  his  financial  reputation. 

Dr.  Whitman's  professional  duties  have  always  had  his  first  and  careful 
attention.  He  has  never  allowed  anything  to  stand  in  the  way  of  their  proper 
performance.  He  has,  however,  been  prominent  in  politics  for  many  years.  He 
has  been  for  eighteen  years  the  member  from  Boone  County  of  the  Congres- 
sional Committee  of  his  district.  He  has  repeatedly  been  a  delegate  to  State 
Conventions,  and  has  also  been  an  alternate  delegate  to  the  National  Republican 
Convention.  During  the  late  war  with  Spain  he  was  appointed  Surgeon  of  the 
I2th  Illinois  Infantry,  with  the  rank  of  Major.  This  regiment,  however,  was 
never  called  upon  for  active  service. 

Dr.  Whitman  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  American  Institute  of 
Homeopathy,  of  the  Illinois  State  Homeopathic  Society  and  of  the  American 
Medico-Psychological  Society.  He  was  married  on  January  21,  1877,  to  Miss 
Frances  Pier  of  Belvidere,  who  has  proven  herself  a  worthy  helpmeet  in  every 
sense  of  the  word,  and  is  entitled  to  a  large  share  of  credit  for  the  success  which 
has  attended  his  efforts. 


r).    /rUsCsCMj^ 


645 


WILLIAM  P.  WILLIAMS. 

One  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  younger  Republicans  of  Chicago  is  Wil- 
liam P.  Williams,  present  Assistant  Treasurer  of  the  United  States.  In  a 
comparatively  short  time  he  has  acquired  a  high  reputation  as  a  ready,  fluent 
and  convincing  orator.  He  was  born  July  2,  1855,  a^  Pompey,  Onondaga 
County,  N.  Y.,  his  parents  being  Porter  B.  and  Mary  H.  Williams,  the  former 
of  whom  is  dead.  The  mother  is  yet  living  in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  When  the  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  about  two  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Buffalo.  X.  Y.,  and 
there  continued  to  reside  until  1869,  when,  on  account  of  the  father's  failing 
health,  the  family  moved  to  Aiken,  S.  C. 

William  P.  Williams  was  prepared  for  college  at  Charleston,  S.  C.,  where 
he  early  showed  great  capacity  and  unusual  taste  for  literature  and  public 
speaking.  In  1877,  having  thoroughly  prepared  himself  for  a  collegiate  career, 
he  entered  Union  College  at  Schenectady,  N-  Y.,  and  took  a  full  classical  course, 
graduating  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  in  the  class  of  1881.  During 
his  college  career  he  was  one  of  the  foremost  orators  of  the  institution,  taking 
one  of  the  oratorical  prizes  and  graduating  with  Phi  Beta  Kappa  honor,  a  dis- 
tinction given  to  only  six  leading  members  of  his  class.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Alpha  Delta  Phi  Fraternity.  While  at  college  his  tastes  led  him  to  deter- 
mine upon  the  profession  of  law,  and  accordingly,  immediately  after  graduation, 
he  took  up  that  study,  but  was  forced  for  want  of  means  to  relinquish  it  for  a 
time  and  turn  to  business.  In.  1883  he  came  to  Chicago  as  agent  for  a  large 
eastern  car-spring  concern;  and  continued  until  1889  in  the  railway  supply  busi- 
ness. Soon  afterward  he  became  connected  with  the  marble  and  tile  business, 
being  president  and  treasurer  of  the  Art  Marble  Company  of  Chicago.  He  is 
still  connected  with  this  business.  He  served  for  two  years,  from  1896  to  1897, 
inclusive,  as  secretary  of  the  Union  League  Club,  having  joined  fhat  organiza- 
tion in  1887.  Mr.  Williams  indulges  his  tastes  in  literary  subjects  and  has 
become  a  wide  reader  and  student  on  a  great  variety  of  topics.  As  a  result  his 
mind  is  stored  with  interesting  and  useful  information,  which  has  become  very 
useful  to  him  in  his  capacity  as  an  after-dinner  speaker. 

He  has  always  been  a  Republican,  as  was  his  father  before  him.  As  early 
as  1895  he  took  up  the  McKinley  cause  with  Charles  G.  Dawes.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  he  made  the  first  public  speech  in  Chicago,  in  December,  1895,  which 
favored  Mr.  McKinley  for  the  presidency.  This  speech  was  delivered  before 
the  Marquette  Club,  and  was  published  by  Robert  Porter  of  Cleveland,  and  ex- 
tensively circulated  as  campaign  literature.  At  the  banquet  of  the  Hamilton 
Club  in  the  winter  of  1895-6  Senator  Foraker  was  billed  to  respond  to  a  toast, 
"The  Republican  Party,"  but  at  the  last  moment,  being  unable  to  attend,  he  sent 
his  regrets,  and  the  chairman,  Samuel  W.  Allerton,  called  upon  Mr.  Williams  to 
fill  the  vacancy.  Accordingly  the  latter  delivered  a  strong  speech,  taking  the 
opportunity  to  boom  Mr.  McKinley  for  the  presidency.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  chairman  of  the  finance  committee  of  the  William  McKinley 
Business  Men's  Club,  which  did  such  effective  service  during  the  McKinley 
campaign.  At  the  Springfield  Convention  he  was  selected  to  second  the  speech 
of  William  J.  Calhoun  favoring  the  endorsement  of  McKinley's  nomination,  but 
in  the  excitement  following  certain  parliamentary  tactics  all  arguments  were 
passed  over,  the  question  put  to  a  vote,  and  the  speech  was  never  delivered. 
He  campaigned  for  the  national  committees  in  Indiana,  Nebraska  and  Illinois, 
and  was  invited  by  Mr.  McKinley  to  make  a  series  of  speeches  in  Ohio,  but  was 
unable  to  accept.  He  helped  organize  the  McKinley  and  Hobart  National 
Wheelmen,  and  was  made  vice-president  of  the  organization.  About  80,000 
wheelmen,  a  large  percentage  being  first  voters,  were  enrolled.  They  made  the 

646 


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pilgrimage  to  Canton,  where  on  behalf  of  the  organization  Mr.  Williams  deliv- 
ered the  oration,  which  was  published  by  the  National  committee  as  campaign 
literature.  He  was  appointed  to  his  present  position  on  December  20,  1897. 

Mr.  Williams  was  married  in  1892  to  Miss  Grace  Greenwood  Jackson  of 
Glenwood,  la.  They  have  no  children.  He  is  an  Episcopalian  and  resides  in 
the  32d  ward,  Chicago.  He  has  a  beautiful  summer  home  at  Lake  Beulah,  Wis. 
Mr.  William's  wide  scholarship,  brilliant  talents  and  fluent  eloquence  have  won 
fpr  him  prominent  reputation  as  an  after-dinner  speaker.  He  has  performed 
important  services  in  a  great  variety  of  public  enterprises,  and  is  prominently 
identified  with  the  public  spirit  of  Chicago- 


HERMAN  B.  WICKERSHAM. 

Herman  B.  Wickersham  was  born  at  LaPorte,  Indiana,  July  3,  1859,  and 
until  seventeen  years  of  age  spent  his  life  on  the  farm,  when  he  gave  up  country 
life  and  entered  the  schools  of  LaPorte,  where  he  took  a  classical  course  and 
graduated  in  June,  1879.  When  twelve  years  old  he  entered  a  court  room  for 
the  first  time,  with  his  father,  where  he  was  infatuated  with  a  lawyer  in  the  midst 
of  an  argument.  At  that  time  he  settled  in  his  own  mind  that  when  he  grew 
up  he  would  become  a  lawyer.  Later  in  his  life  his  mother  attempted  to  per- 
suade him  to  give  up  the  idea  of  pursuing  the  .profession  of  law,  and  under  her 
persuasion  he  commenced  the  study  of  anatomy  with  a  view  of  practicing  medi- 
cine as  a  profession ;  but  in  a  short  time  he  gave  up  all  idea  of  a  medical  profes- 
sion and  still  clung  to  his  desire  to  practice  law. 

After  his  graduation  Mr.  Wickersham  entered  the  law  offices  of  Messrs. 
Weir  &  Biddle  of  LaPorte,  one  of  the  leading  law  firms  of  the  State.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1879,  he  came  to  Chicago  for  the  purpose  of  finishing  his  studies  and 
entered  the  Union  College  of  Law,  at  the  same  time  connecting  himself  with 
Judge  Lyman  Trumbull,  with  whom  he  remained  for  about  ten  years-  He 
graduated  from  the  law  school  in  June,  1881,  and  commenced  practicing  in  1882. 
Immediately  after  the  commencement  of  practice,  his  law  business  developed 
into  a  litigated  business,  which  he  has  retained  ever  since,  and  become  known 
at  the  bar  as  a  conscientious,  hard  fighter. 

Soon  after  he  entered  upon  his  profession  he  became  politically  inclined 
and  commenced  his  political  life  in  the  old  3d  ward  of  Chicago  and  took  an 
active  interest  in  local  politics,  and  often  went  to  conventions  as  a  delegate.  In 
1886  he  moved  to  the  North  Side  and  was  soon  engrossed  in  the  politics  of  that 
part  of  the  city.  In  1887  he  became  a  member  of  the  Marquette  Club,  and  from 
that  time  until  the  present  he  has  been  a  prominent  factor  in  that  organization, 
holding  the  office  of  Director,  Chairman  of  Political  Action  Committee,  First 
Vice-President,  and  in  March,  1899,  was  elected  President  of  the  Club.  He  had 
the  distinction  of  being  the  first  president  of  that  organization  who  had  a  con- 
testant for  the  office.  He  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  Up  to  Novem- 
ber, 1899,  he  had  never  held  a  political  office,  either  elective  or  appointive,  when 
at  this  time  Governor  John  R.  Tanner  appointed  him  a  member  of  the  Lincoln 
Park  Board.  On  the  i6th  of  November,  1899,  he  was  elected  by  the  Commis- 
sioners of  Lincoln  Park  to  the  Presidency  of  the  Board,  which  position  he  now 
occupies. 

In  June,  1899,  ne  was  married  to  Mrs.  Fanny  L.  Sneider,  and  now  resides 
in  the  24th  ward. 


648 


649 


THOMAS  S.  WILLIAMS. 

This  gentleman,  now  a  resident  of  Louisville,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Blair 
Township,  Clay  County,  Illinois,  February  14,  1872.  His  father  was  William 
Williams,  and  his  mother  formerly  Miss  Nancy  Freeman.  His  grandfather, 
William  Williams,  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clay  County.  He  came  from 
North  Carolina,  and  taught  the  first  school  in  Clay  County.  The  father  of 
subject  served  four  years  as  a  member  of  Company  B,  Forty-eighth  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  served  with  his  regiment  from  Fort  Donelson  to  the  close  of  the 
War  of  the  Rebellion.  When  the  war  ended  he  settled  on  a  farm  in  Blair 
Township,  where  he  amassed  a  competence  and  became  a  useful  citizen-  An- 
derson Freeman,  maternal  grandfather  of  subject,  served  in  the  Confederate 
Army  during  the  Civil  War. 

Thomas  S.  attended  country  schools  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when 
he  entered  the  public  schools  of  Louisville,  paying  his  way  by  serving  as  janitor. 
Later  he  took  a  three  years'  course  in  Austin  College,  Effingharn,  pursuing  the 
classical  course,  but  did  not  gradviate.  Succeeding  this  he  taught  school  at 
Effingham,  Edgewood  and  elsewhere.  He  read  law  with  Hon.  B.  D.  Monroe, 
now  Assistant  Attorney  General  of  Illinois,  in  Louisville,  and  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  1896,  and  immediately  formed  a  partnership  with  his  preceptor  under 
the  firm  name  of  Monroe  &  Williams,  which  association  is  still  in  existence,  with 
a  large  practice.  The  firm  is  one  of  the  strongest  in  the  central  part  of  the 
State,  having  a  large  practice  in  several  counties.  Mr.  Williams  has  shown 
a  special  fitness  for  the  successful  management  of  jury  cases. 

From  boyhood  Mr.  Williams  has  taken  the  deepest  interest  in  politics,  and 
became  noted  even  as  a  child  for  the  intensity  of  his  Republicanism.  In  local 
debating  societies  he  became  conspicuous  for  the  vigor  and  ability  with  which 
he  defended  his  political  principles.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  campaign  of 
1894,  and  spoke  for  the  Republican  ticket  in  various  places.  In  1895,  when 
Coin's  Financial  School  was  being  extensively  circulated,  he  took  part  in  several 
joint  debates,  coming  squarely  out  for  the  gold  standard,  when  Republicans  and 
Democrats  alike  seemed  in  favor  of  the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver. 
His  argument  for  the  gold  standard  was  forcible  and  convincing.  During  the 
campaign  of  1896  he  made  over  thirty  speeches  in  fifteen  counties  of  Southern 
Illinois,  and  was  conceded,  even  by  the  Democrats,  to  be  an  extremely  effective 
campaigner.  From  1896  to  1898  he  served  as  city  attorney  of  Louisville  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all.  In  November,  1898,  after  a  spirited  campaign,  in  which  he 
again  showed  his  remarkable  fitness  for  politics  and  the  stump,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Legislature  from  the  Forty-second  district,  comprising  the  counties  of  »* 
Marion,  Clinton,  Washington  and  Clay.  His  ability  generally,  particularly  on 
finance,  was  recognized  by  his  appointment  to  the  position  of  chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Finance  and  on  other  important  committees.  Although  one  of 
the  youngest  members  of  the  House,  he  became  one  of  its  leading  members, 
winning  the  reputation  of  being  an  industrious  worker  in  the  committee  room 
and  a  strong  speaker  on  the  floor.  By  sheer  force  of  intellectual  ability  and 
forensic  skill  and  eloquence  he  has  become  one  of  the  foremost  Republicans  of 
the  State,  with  a  bright  future  awaiting  him. 

Mr.  Williams  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.     He  was  united  in  marriage  June  9,  1897,  at  Charleston,  111.,  to  Mis? 
Mabel  Simpson,  a  classmate  at  Austin  College,  and  has  one  child,  Harold  Simp-** 
son  Williams. 


650 


651 


MOSES  O.  WILLIAMSON. 

Moses  O.  Williamson  can  boast  of  a  birth-place  broader  than  the  vast 
prairies  of  Illinois.  He  was  first  "rocked  in  the  cradle  of  the  mighty  deep." 
He  was  born  on  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  July  14,  1850.  His  parents,  William  and 
Margaret  Williamson,  were  natives  of  Sweden,  and  it  was  during  the  ocean 
voyage,  while  coming  to  America,  that  Moses  was  born.  They  came  directly 
to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Sparta  Township,  Knox  County.  His  father  purchased 
a  small  farm  on  Section  22,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  in  1854.  His  mother 
died  in  1886.  They  had  a  family  of  six  children,  who  lived  to  manhood  and 
womanhood.  Moses  remained  at  the  paternal  homestead  until  he  was  twelve 
years  of  age,  assisting  in  the  farm  labors  and  farm  duties,  according  to  his 
ability.  At  this  time  he  went  from  home  to  work  on  the  farm  of  a  neighbor, 
where  he  remained  two  years.  He  then  went  to  the  village  of  Wataga  and 
engaged  himself  to  Olson  and  Gray,  to  learn  the  harness  trade,  where  he  served 
for  three  years,  afterward  working  one  year  as  journeyman.  He  then  bought 
out  Mr.  Gray,  one  of  the  partners,  and  from  1867  to  1879  was  in  partnership  with 
Mr.  Olson.  His  next  venture  was  the  purchase  of  Mr.  Olson's  interest  in  the 
harness  business,  which  he  carried  on,  single-handed  and  alone,  until  1890,  when 
he  came  to  Galesburg. 

Mr-  Williamson  has  the  ability  to  please.  His  rigid  life  of  honesty  and 
integrity  has  won  for  him  implicit  confidence  and  universal  respect.  Places  of 
honor  have  been  given  him  without  stint,  and  no  word  of  criticism  or  censure 
has  ever  been  spoken  justly  against  him.  Before  coming  to  Galesburg  he  held 
the  office  of  Councilman,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Village  Clerk  and  Town  Clerk, 
and  was  ever  regarded  as  a  careful  and  reliable  public  man.  In  political  faith 
he  is  an  earnest  and  conscientious  Republican.  He  believes  in  his  party  creed, 
and  has  done  much  for  the  success  of  his  party  candidates  and  party  principles. 
In  1884  he  was  made  Secretary  of  the  Republican  County  Central  Committee, 
and  has  been  its  Secretary  or  its  Chairman  ever  since,  being  its  Chairman  at 
the  present  time.  He  was  elected  County  Treasurer  in  1886,  County  Clerk  in 
1890-1894-1898,  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Swedish  American  Republican 
League  of  Illinois,  was  its  President  in  1897,  and  was  one  of  a  committee  of  five, 
associated  with  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  in  1896,  that  had  charge 
of  the  Swedish  part  of  the  campaign  in  that  year  in  Illinois.  In  1900  he  was 
elected  State  Treasurer. 

Mr.  Williamson  is  not  a  bigot.  He  believes  in  the  freedom  of  religious 
convictions.  He  is  an  attendant  at  the  Congregational  service,  though  not  a 
member  of  that  church.  Both  his  private  and  public  character  are  above 
reproach.  His  early  educational  advantages  were  very  limited,  and  yet  by  his 
assiduity  and  love  of  learning  he  became  thoroughly  fitted  for  fields  of  great 
usefulness.  In  his  sympathies  he  is  patriotic  and  charitable,  loving  country, 
home  and  friends,  and  has  always  discharged  his  public  and  private  duties  ably 
and  honestly,  winning  for  himself  the  commendations  of  his  fellow  citizens.  He 
was  married  October  18,  1871,  to  Mary  Driggs,  a  native  of  Oneida  County,  New 
York,  and  the  daughter  of  William  M.  and  Millicent  (Housted)  Driggs.  Three 
children  have  been  born  to  them,  two  of  whom  are  now  living,  Addie  and  Xellie- 


652 


653 


FREDERICK  C.  WINSLOW. 

Dr.  Frederick  C.  Winslow  of  Jacksonville,  111.,  was  born  October  6,  1850, 
at  Cuyler,  Courtland  County,  N.  Y.  His  father  was  Frederick  C.  Winslow  of 
Massachusetts ;  his  mother,  Mary  Anna  Forbes  of  Vermont.  These  good  people 
descended  from  old  New  England  families,  who  were  prominently  identified  with 
the  history  of  Massachusetts  and  Vermont.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Winslow,  soon  after 
their  marriage,  came  west  and  settled  in  Stephenson  County,  III,  in  1836.  Mr. 
Winslow  died  in  1895. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Freeport,  111.  He  graduated  at  the  Northwestern  University  in  the 
class  of  1870,  and  in  the  medical  department  of  the  same  university  in  1874. 
After  completing  his  course  in  medicine  in  the  university,  Dr.  Winslow  passed 
a  competitive  examination  and  received  the  appointment  of  the  first  position  as 
interne  at  the  Cook  County  Hospital,  and  served  a  full  term  of  eighteen  months 
in  that  capacity.  At  the  conclusion  of  this  term  of  service,  Dr.  Winslow  was 
appointed  to  the  lowest  medical  position  in  the  Insane  Hospital  at  Jacksonville, 
111.,  in  1875,  and  has  been  identified  with  the  study  and  treatment  of  mental  dis- 
eases from  the  date  of  that  appointment  to  the  present  time.  His  progress  in 
these  studies  brought  him  rapidly  to  the  front  as  an  expert  in  this  branch  of 
medical  science.  Upon  the  inauguration  of  John  P.  Altgeld  as  governor  in 
1893,  Dr.  Winslow  resigned  his  position  in  the  hospital,  but  four  years  later, 
upon  the  election  and  inauguration  of  Governor  Tanner,  the  doctor  was  ap- 
pointed Physician  and  Superintendent  of  the  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at 
Jacksonville,  which  position  he  now  holds.  In  1878  Dr.  Winslow  spent  some 
months  in  Europe  studying  the  methods  of  the  care  and  the  treatment  of  the 
insane  as  compared  to  similar  classes  in  this  country. 

Dr.  Winslow's  identification  with  the  Republican  party  began  with  the  cam- 
paign of  1860,  when  Abraham  Lincoln  was  the  Republican  candidate  for  Presi- 
dent. The  doctor  was  then  only  ten  years  old.  He  and  a  number  of  other 
enthusiastic  boys  formed  a  club,  called  the  "Young  Rail-Splitters."  Their 
oriflamme  was  a  rail,  and  these  youthful  politicians  participated  with  energy  in 
the  campaign,  and  they,  no  doubt,  claimed  much  of  the  credit  of  electing  Abra- 
ham Lincoln  president-  The  doctor  has  been  a  consistent  and  influential  Repub- 
lican from  that  time  until  the  present  hour,  taking  an  active  interest  and  part  in 
the  work  of  the  party.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  1881 
and  has.  held  the  office  of  presiding  officer  in  subordinate  bodies  of  the  lodge, 
chapter,  council  and  commandery,  and  in  the  Grand  council  and  Grand  chapter 
of  the  State  of  Illinois.  He  at  present  holds  the  third  office  in  rank  in  the 
Grand  commandery,  Knights  Templar  of  Illinois,  and  second  ranking  officer  in 
the  Grand  Conclave  Knights  of  the  Red  Cross  of  Constantine. 

Dr.  Winslow  was  married  on  February  7,  1881,  to  Frances  Wilkinson  Rock- 
well of  Jacksonville,  111.,  whose  family  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  Morgan 
County,  Illinois,  her  grandfather  having  been  the  first  postmaster  of  Jackson- 
ville, and  being  elected  county  clerk  upon  the  organization  of  the  county.  His 
wife's  death  occurred  in  1898;  she  left  two  sons.  Dr.  Winslow  has  a  wide  circle 
of  friends  among  the  medical  men  of  the  State,  and  he  is  recognized  as  standing 
at  the  head  of  the  profession.  He  is  still  comparatively  a  young  man,  and  has 
a  wide  field  of  usefulness  before  him. 


654 


655 


CLARENCE  SENSENIG  WITWER. 

The  Sensenig  and  the  Witwer  families  in  America  are  the  direct  descendants 
of  members  of  that  sturdy  race  which  inhabited  the  two  provinces  on  the  banks 
of  the  upper  Rhine  in  Germany  over  two  hundred  years  ago,  and  which  were 
forced  by  persecution  to  leave  the  land  of  their  birth,  the  Fatherland,  and  seek 
new  homes  in  Pennsylvania.  Members  of  these  families  and  their  connections 
were  among  the  first  settlers  in  Earl  Township,  Lancaster  County,  Penn.,  locat- 
ing there  in  1730,  the  township  and  the  county  having  been  organized  only  the 
year  before.  Among  the  papers  of  George  Witwer,  father  of  subject,  was 
recently  found  a  deed  from  William  Penn  to  William  Sensenig,  bearing  date 
1734,  in  which  the  name  of  Michael  Witwer,  the  ancestor  of  subject,  appears. 
George  Witwer,  the  father,  was  born  in  Earl  Township,  the  above  county, 
August  25,  1824.  Possessing  strong  religious  tendencies,  he  united  with  the 
German  Baptist  Brethren  at  the  age  of  twenty  years,  and  in  1852  was  called  to 
the  ministry  of  that  denomination.  In  July,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Studebaker,  sister  of  Studebaker  Bros.,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  May  18,  1829,  and  was  then  living  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio- 
He  did  not  confine  himself  to  the  ministry,  but  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness, and  in  1863  removed  with  his  family  to  LaPorte,  Indiana,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  In  1868  he  was  ordained  an  elder  of  his  church.  In  1867  he  moved 
to  Hamilton,  Missouri,  where  he  remained  until  1881,  operating  a  general  store 
and  attending  to  his  ministerial  duties.  In  1881  he  removed  to  South  Bend, 
Indiana,  and  there  remained  living  a  retired  life  until  his  death  in  October,  1886. 
His  widow  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kopcsay,  in  South  Bend.  Of 
their  twelve  children  nine  are  living,  as  follows :  John  S.,  Dallas,  Texas ;  Mrs. 
Joseph  Kopcsay,  South  Bend ;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Mohler,  Joliet,  111. ;  T.  W.  Witwer, 
Chicago ;  George  M.  ,  South  Bend ;  Ed.  C,  South  Bend ;  J.  F-,  Columbus,  Ohio ; 
H.  E.  Kersey,  Colo.,  and  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

C.  S.  WTitwer,  who  is  now  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  Joliet 
Manufacturing  Company,  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  in  1862.  At 
Hamilton,  Mo.,  where  the  family  removed  in  1867,  he  received  his  early  educa- 
tion, and  worked  for  his  father  in  the  general  store,  handling  agricultural  imple- 
ments and  vehicles,  being  one  of  the  first  agents  of  Studebaker  Bros,  in  the  West. 
As  the  father  was  frequently  called  from  home  to  preach,  the  care  of  the  business 
fell  largely  on  his  sons.  Subject  assisted  in  the  store  and  herded  cattle  for 
Dwight  &  Booth  of  Hamilton,  and  when  fifteen  years  old  was  given  $500  in 
cash  by  his  employers  and  sent  twenty  miles  on  horseback  to  buy  cattle,  which 
he  did,  driving  them  five  miles,  weighing  and  shipping  them  to  market.  From 
1879  to  September,  1881,  he  was  employed  as  assistant  by  Studebaker  Bros,  at 
South  Bend,  and  in  1881  and  1882  took  a  preparatory  course  at  Depauw  Uni- 
versity, Greencastle,  Ind.  He  then  took  a  position  in  the  lumber  department 
of  Studebaker  Bros-,  remaining  until  the  fall  of  1883,  when  he  became  head  sales- 
man for  his  brother,  John  S.,  at  Dallas,  Texas.  In  1886  he  took  the  road  for 
Studebaker  Bros.,  but  the  following  year  removed  to  Joliet,  111.,  and  took  an 
interest  in  the  Joliet  Manufacturing  Company,  and  from  that  date  until  1897  was 
general  superintendent.  In  1897  he  became  its  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager, which  position  he  now  holds. 

In  the  early  '8o's  Mr.  Witwer  was  a  member  of  the  South  Bend  Light 
Guards.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Stone  City  Union  Club  of  Joliet,  and  of  the 
Hamliton  Club  of  Chicago.  In  the  fall  of  1887  he  married  Miss  Mary  E. 
Shrefrler,  only  daughter  of  Andrew  H.  Shrefrler,  late  president  of  the  Joliet 
Manufacturing  Company,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1897  the  oldest  manu- 
facturer in  Will  County.  Their  children  are,  Irene,  born  July  17,  1890,  and 
died  September  30,  1891,  and  Andrew  Hafer  Shrefrler  Witwer,  born  February  21, 

656 


657 


1894-  Mr.  Witwer  is  not  a  member  of  any  church,  but  is  a  regular  attendant  of 
divine  service,  being  a  trustee  of  the  Ottawa  Street  M.  E.  Church,  Joliet,  and 
being  a  liberal  'supporter  of  church  and  benevolent  institutions.  He  has  been 
a  staunch  Republican  all  his  life,  but  has  refused  to  accept  political  honors. 


THOMAS  WORTHINGTON. 

Thomas  Worthington  of  Jacksonville,  111.,  is  a  son  of  Dr.  Thomas  Worth- 
ington  and  Amelia  J.  Worthington  of  Pittsfield,  111.  Dr.  Worthington,  now 
deceased,  was  a  native  of  Tennessee,  but  a  descendant  of  the  Worthington  and 
Calvert  families  of  the  State  of  Maryland.  Mrs.  Wrorthington  was  born  in 
Maryland  and  was  the  youngest  daughter  of  Col.  Kennedy  Long  of  Baltimore, 
who  commanded  the  2/th  Regiment  in  the  defense  of  that  city  during  the  war 
of  1812.  Although  born  in  a  slave  State  and  by  inheritance  the  owner  of  slaves, 
Dr.  Worthington  was  not  in  favor  of  slavery,  and  believed  the  system  of  slavery 
to  be  inherently  wrong.  It  was  chiefly  because  of  his  opposition  to  slavery  that 
he  removed  from  Tennessee  and  settled  in  Illinois.  Dr.  Worthington  was  a 
man  of  splendid  and  varied,  ability ;  he  stood  at  the  head  of  his  profession  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon;  he  identified  himself  with  the  Whig  party,  and  was  twice 
elected  to  the  State  Senate ;  he  took  an  active  interest  in  politics,  and  as  a  public 
speaker  was  able  and  eloquent ;  he  was  a  "Free  Soil  Whig,"  and  took  a  firm 
stand  against  the  extension  of  slavery  into  the  territories ;  he  was  a  leading  spirit 
in  the  organization  of  the  Republican  party  in  Illinois ;  was  a  delegate  to  the  first 
Republican  Convention  of  the  State,  held  in  Bloomington  in  1856;  he  was  a 
personal  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  supported  him  for  President ;  was 
earnestly  devoted  to  the  Union  cause,  and  to  the  continued  success  of  the  Repub- 
lican party-  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Worthington  were  early  settlers  in  Pittsfield,  Pike' 
County,  Illinois. 

Thomas  Worthington  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Spencer,  June 
8,  1850,  while  his  parents  were  visiting  relatives  in  that  State;  he  was  brought 
home  to  Pittsfield,  where  he  grew  up,  and  where  he  received  his  early  education; 
he  graduated  from  the  High  School  of  his  own  town  in  1869,  then  entered 
Cornell  University,  and  in  1873  graduated  from  that  great  institution  of  learn- 
ing, receiving  the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  Mr.  Worthington  chose  the  profession  of 
law  for  his  life  work,  and  entering  the  Union  College  of  Law  at  Chicago  was 
graduated  from  that  schopl  in  1877.  He  took  up  the  practice  of  law  at  his  old 
home  of  Pittsfield,  where  he  established  a  good  business,  which  was  extended 
into  other  parts  of  the  country.  Mr.  Worthington's  first  case  in  a  court  of 
record  was  one  instituted  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  to  recover  the  interests  of  his 
family  in  his  grandfather's  estate  situated  in  that  city,  and  which  had  been  sold 
nearly  fifty  years  previously  under  proceedings  in  the  Orphan's  Court.  This 
case  involved  property  in  the  city  of  Baltimore,  much  of  which  had  been  im- 
proved with  modern  buildings.  A  number  of  persons  were  interested  in  the 
result  of  the  litigation ;  a  long  array  of  counsel  were  employed  by  the  defendants 
and  the  case  was  three  times  taken  to  the  Court  of  Appeals.  This  case,  entitled 
Long  vs.  Long,  reported  in  62,  Maryland  Reports,  pages  33-88,  became  a  cele- 
brated case  in  that  State.  Mr.  Worthington  stood  by  his  guns  and  was  success- 
ful in  the  litigation,  after  many  years,  as  to  a  considerable  part  of  the  property. 

In  1892  two  important  events  occurred  in  Mr.  Worthington's  life.  On 
November  i6th  of  that  year  he  married  Mirriam  M.  Morrison  of  Jacksonville, 
111-  Miss  Morrison  was  a  daughter  of  Hon.  Isaac  L.  Morrison,  one  of  the 
leading  lawyers  of  the  State,  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Republican  party  and 
lately  a  distinguished  member  of  the  Legislature  of  Illinois.  Her  mother  is 
Mrs.  Anna  Tucker  Morrison,  who  is  connected  with  the  Tucker,  Weeks,  Napier, 
Underbill  and  other  leading  families  of  Long  Island.  Mr.  Worthington  became 

658 


659 


a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Morrison  &  Worthington,  and  removed  his  resi- 
dence to  Jacksonville,  where  he  now  resides.  This  firm  (now  Morrison,  Worth- 
ington  &  Reeve)  has  a  large  law  practice.  Mr.  Worthington  has  been  closely 
connected  with  many  important  cases,  and  has  appeared  before  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Illinois,  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals,  and  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States.  For  twelve  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
counsel  for  the  600  defendants  in  the  "Sny  Levee  Bond  Suit,"  involving  about 
two  million  dollars  and  one  hundred  thousand  acres  of  land  and  now  pending 
in  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  Ex-President  Harrison  is  one  of  the 
associate  counsel  for  the  defendant  land  owners.  It  will  be  readily  understood 
that  Mr.  Worthington  now  Stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  profession  of  law  in 
Illinois. 

In  politics  Mr.  Worthington  has  always  been  an  active  Republican ;  he 
began  making  speeches  for  the  party  in  the  campaign  of  1880,  and  has  taken  a 
leading  part  in  every  political  campaign  since  that  date.  In  1882  Mr.  Worth- 
ington was  elected  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  from  the  district  composed  of  the 
counties  of  Pike,  Brown  and  Camoun.  He  was  Presidential  Elector  on  the 
Republican  ticket  of  1888  for  the  i2th  Congressional  District-  He  was  Super- 
visor of  the  Census  for  the  loth  District  of  Illinois  in  1900.  Early  in  life  Mr. 
Worthington  became  interested  in  Masonry ;  he  was  several  years  Master  of 
the  Pittsfield  Lodge  of  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  and  was  also  E.  C.  of  Ascalon  Command- 
ery  of  Knights  Templars  of  that  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Worthington  have  one 
son,  Isaac  L.  Morrison  Worthington. 


JAMES  A.  WILLOUGHBY. 

James  A.  Willoughby  of  Belleville,  111.,  was  born  on  a  farm  in  St.  Clair 
County,  May  2,  1855.  Passing  through  the  common  schools  of  the  county,  he 
completed  his  education  at  McKendree  College  and  graduated  in  law  at  Ann 
Arbor  in  1876.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Michigan  Bar  in  1876,  before  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  but  instead  of  practicing  law,  Mr.  Willoughby  conducted 
a  drug  business  at  Lebanon  for  four  years. 

He  became  a  candidate  in  1880  for  the  office  of  Recorder  of  St.  Clair  County, 
and  was  one  of  the  three  Republicans  who  were  elected  to  office  in  that  county 
that  year.  In  June,  1885,  Mr.  Willoughby  bought  the  "Belleville  Advocate," 
and  has  conducted  that  journal  ever  since,  making  it  one  of  the  best  newspapers 
in  southern  Illinois.  Mr.  Willoughby  has  been  an  earnest  Republican  from  his 
early  manhood,  and  for  more  than  twenty  years  has  served  almost  constantly 
as  chairman  of  the  Republican  County  Committee  of  St.  Clair  County.  He  was 
chairman  of  the  Congressional  Committee  during  the  contest  between  Jehu 
Baker  and  Colonel  William  R.  Morrison  for  Congressman,  when  Mr.  Baker  was 
elected. 

Mr.  Willoughby  is  a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  exerts  a  powerful 
influence  in  the  community  where  he  lives,  has  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
throughout  the  State,  and  is  one  of  the  best-known  men  in  Southern 
Illinois.  In  1894  Mr.  Willoughby  received  the  nomination  for  the  State  Senate 
in  the  49th  Senatorial  district,  and  was  elected  by  a  majority  of  1211.  He  at 
once  took  a  prominent  position  in  the  business  of  legislation  and  was  appointed 
as  a  member  of  the  committee  to  arrange  the  Senate  committees. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willoughby  make  their  home  in  the  city  of  Belleville,  where 
they  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  are  highly  respected. 


660 


661 


FRANCIS  M.  WRIGHT. 

Judge  Francis  M.  Wright,  of  Urbana,  Champaign  County,  Illinois,  was 
born  at  Briar  Ridge,  Liberty  Township,  Adams  County,  Ohio.  August  5,  1844, 
his  parents  being  James  and  Elizabeth  (Copple)  Wright-  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  from  Scotch-Irish  ancestors,  and  his  mother  was  Ger- 
man. His  father  was  a  mechanic,  and  also  a  farmer  in  Ohio,  and  there  upon 
the  farm  the  family  were  born  and  brought  up,  Francis  M.  Wright  being  the 
fifth  of  six  children.  Francis  M.  Wright  received  a  common  school  and  aca- 
demic education,  and  in  June,  1861,  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  I,  39th 
Ohio  Infantry,  for  three  years,  just  before  he  had  reached  his  I7th  birthday,  and 
on  expiration  of  his  time,  re-enlisted  in  the  same  company  and  regiment  for  the 
remainder  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  as  Lieutenant  in  Company  C  of 
the  same  regiment  after  four  years  of  active  service  in  the  armies  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  the  Tennessee.  He  participated  in  the  campaigns  and  battles  of  these 
armies ;  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  July  22,  1864,  and  marched  with 
Sherman  to  the  sea,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war,  in  June,  1865,  was  mustered  out, 
not  having  attained  the  age  of  21  years,  after  more  than  four  years'  active 
service  in  the  field. 

Francis  M.  Wright  has  been  a  Republican  as  far  back  as  he  can  remember, 
as  when  a  boy  he  recollects  shouting  for  Fremont  and  Dayton,  and  singing  the 
campaign  songs  of  that  time.  He  has  uniformly  voted  the  Republican  ticket 
since  he  was  old  enough,  and  has  participated  in  the  advocacy  of  Republican 
principles  and  Republican  candidates  regularly  in  every  campaign  upon  the 
stump  since  the  close  of  the  war.  He  has  always  supported  the  Republican 
organization  in  town,  county,  district  and  state,  and  his  constituents  have  sent 
him  as  a  delegate  to  every  State  Republican  Convention  since  he  moved  to 
Illinois,  which  was  in  1869.  In  war  and  politics  he  has  never  been  a  quitter. 
He  has  held  no  office  except  that  of  Circuit  Judge,  to  which  he  was  elected  in 
1891  and  re-elected  in  1897,  both  times  as  the  nominee  of  Republican  conven- 
tions. 

In  1897  he  was  assigned  by  the  Supreme  Court  as  one  of  the  Appellate 
Justices  in  the  2d  District,  was  later  changed  to  the  3d  District,  and  was  re- 
assigned to  the  latter  district  in  1900,  and  now  occupies  that  bench  at  Spring- 
field, 111.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  studied  law,  was  graduated  at  Cincinnati 
Law  College,  with  the  degree  of  LL.  B.,  was  then  admitted  to  the  bar,  and 
practiced  for  a  short  time  in  Georgetown,  Brown  County,  Ohio ;  subsequently 
in  1869  removing  to  Urbana,  Champaign  County,  111.,  where  he  has  since  resided 
and  practiced  law  and  been  elected  to  the  bench-  In  addition  to  his  law  business 
he  is  interested  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Urbana  as  one  of  the  principal 
stockholders,  is  a  director  and  the  president  of  the  bank,  which  has  a  capital 
and  surplus  of  $130,000. 

In  1868  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  West  of  Brown  County,  Ohio, 
and  to  them  five  children  have  been  born,  three  of  whom  are  now  living — Royal, 
a  lawyer;  and  two  daughters,  Edith,  married  to  Roy  H.  Griffin,  and  Lora, 
attending  Smith  College.  Francis  M.  Wright  has  been  a  member  of  the  M.  E. 
Church  since  childhood,  belongs  to  the  Masonic  Fraternity,  G.  A.  R.  and  the 
Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Military  Order  of  the  Loyal  Legion. 


662 


663 


THEODORE  KEPNER  LONG. 

Theodore  Kepner  Long,  No.  4823  Kimbark  Avenue,  Chicago,  was  born 
near  Millerstown,  Perry  County,  Pa.,  on  the  26th  day  of  April,  1857.  Through 
his  father,  he  is  descended  from  the  sturdy  freeholder  Menonites  who  settled  in 
Lancaster  County  before  the  Revolution.  The  buildings  of  his  earliest  Ameri- 
can ancestor,  Isaac  Long,  are  still  standing  in  good  repair,  and  have  become 
historical  owing  to  a  great  meeting,  "Grosse  Versammlung,"  held  there  in  1767 
for  the  organization  of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The  dwelling  house  is  a 
large  old-fashioned  colonial  structure.  The  buildings  were  erected  by  Isaac 
Long  about  1754.  In  Berger's  History  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  the  au- 
thor, writing  of  these  buildings,  says :  "The  masonry  is  of  high  order.  The 
thatched  roof  of  early  times  has  given  way  long  since  to  a  better  covering.  They 
are  located  on  a  beautiful  farm  six  miles  northeast  of  the  city  of  Lancaster." 

Isaac  Long's  son,  David,  the  great  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  educated  for  the  ministry,  and  in  1811  migrated  from  Lancaster  County 
north  to  the  lands  along  the  Juniata  River.  Here  he  established  a  church  and  a 
farm  of  over  one  thousand  acres,  which  latter  was  afterwards  divided  among  his 
descendants,  the  mansion  portion  of  it  descending  to  his  oldest  son,  Abraham, 
and  later  to  Abraham's  son,  Abraham,  Jr.,  the  father  of  Theodore,  the  subject  of 
this  sketch. 

The  early  life  of  Theodore  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  and  at  "the  age  oi 
15  he  taught  the  district  school  and  began  to  lay  the  foundation  for  an  education 
by  attending  school  in  summer  time  and  teaching  in  winter  to  earn  money  to 
pay  the  expense  of  his  schooling.  This  plan  was  followed  for  upwards  of  four 
years,  when  he  began  the  study  of  law,  and  two  years  afterwards  entered  Yale 
College  as  a  student  in  the  Law  Department,  and,  in  addition  to  the  regular  law 
course,  took  a  special  course  in  political  economy,  modern  languages,  English 
literature  and  Rhetoric.  Mr.  Long  was  graduated  in  1878,  and  immediately  en- 
tered the  office  of  the  attorneys  for  the  Pennslyvania  Railroad  at  Harrisburg, 
where  he  remained  several  years  as  an  assistant.  In  1881  he  received  an  appoint- 
ment under  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  removed  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  he 
also  represented  several  newspapers  in  Pennsylvania  as  Washington  corres- 
pondent. 

He  removed  to  the  Northwest  in  1883,  and  located  at  Mandan,  Dakota  Ter- 
ritory, on  the  west  bank  of  the  Missouri  River ;  Bismarck  being  situated  on  the 
east  bank.  He  bought  an  interest  in  the  Mandan  Daily  Pioneer  and  became  its 
editor.  He  took  an  active  part  in  politics  and  journalism  and  wrote  and  pub- 
lished, under  the  authority  of  the  Territorial  Legislature,  a  parliamentary  guide 
entitled,  "Long's  Legislative  Hand  Book," 

In  the  fall  of  1884  Mr.  Long  was  elected  District  Attorney  for  the  family  of 
counties  west  of  the  Missouri  River  and  north  of  the  46th  parallel.  He  was  the 
first  prosecuting  attorney  elected  in  this  district,  which  at  that  time  had  a  popu- 
lation probably  more  cosmopolitan  than  any  similar  area  in  the  United  States. 
Within  thisMistrict  was  the  ranch  of  the  eccentric  French  nobleman,  the  Marquis 
de  Mores,  who  was  tried  for  murder  in  Dakota,  and  afterwards  lost  his  life  in  the 
Soudan;  and  here,  too,  was  the  ranch  of  Theodore  Roosevelt,  for  whom  Mr. 
Long  prosecuted  and  convicted  a  band  of  highwaymen  who  made  a  predatory  in- 
cursion into  the  former's  ranch. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  District  Attorney,  he  removed  to  Bis- 
marck where  he  became  the  attorney  for  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  and  other 
corporate  interests.  Realizing  that  the  extreme  west  was  destined  to  suffer  from 
a  long  period  of  depression,  he  returned  east  as  far  as  Minneapolis  where,  in  com- 
pany with  two  associates,  he  promoted  and  organized  the  Evening  Star,  the  name 
of  which  was  afterwards  changed  to  the  Evening  Tribune.  He  became  the 
paper's  managing  editor  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  he  sold  his  interest, 
and  moved  to  Chicago  after  the  Worldjs  Fair. 

664 


665 


During  his  residence  in  Chicago  Mr.  Long  has  devoted  himself  exclusively 
to  the  practice  of  the  law  of  life  insurance  and  corporations.  He  is  General 
Counsel  of  the  Ilinois  Life  Insurance  Company,  an  institution  with  which  he  lias 
been  closely  identified  ever  since  its  organization.  He  is  a  member  and  director 
of  the  Hamilton  Club,  and  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  and  the  Mid- 
lothian Country  Club.  He  is  a  blue  lodge  Mason,  a  Knight  Templar,  a  mem- 
ber of  Medinah  Temple  Shrine  of  Chicago,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Thirty- 
second  Ward  Republican  Club.  He  has  always  taken  great  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  occupies  the  chair  of  Medical  Jurisprudence  in  the  National 
Medical  University  and  Hospital. 

Mr.  Long  was  married  in  1885,  at  Eau  Claire,  Wisconsin,  to  Miss  Kate 
Carson  of  that  place,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church,  of  which  he  is  also  a  vestryman.  They  have  one  child,  a  son,  William 
Carson  Long,  fourteen  years  of  age. 


CHARLES  A.  ALLEN. 

Charles  A.  Allen  is  an  Illinoisian  and  was  born  at  Danville,  Vermillion 
County,  July  26,  1851.  He  is  the  son  of  William  J.  and  Emily  Newell  Allen. 
He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  after  getting  through  his  early 
education,  taught  school  for  several  years,  and  at  the  same  time  commenced 
the  study  of  law.  In  1872,  he  entered  the  law  school  of  the  University  of  Michi- 
gan at  Ann  Arbor,  graduating  in  1875,  after  which  he  located  at  Rossville,  Ver- 
million County,  111.,  where  he  practiced  his  profession  successfully  until  1881, 
when  he  removed  to  Hoopeston,  where  he  has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Allen  has  made  a  fine  reputation  as  a  lawyer,  and  in  his  chosen  pro- 
fession has  met  with  most  flattering  success.  But  it  is  as  a  politician  and  member 
of  the  State  Legislature  that  Mr.  Allen  has  become  well  known  throughout  the 
state.  From  his  entry  into  politics,  he  has  taken  rank  as  a  leader.  In  1884,  he 
was  elected  as  a  Republican  member  of  the  house  and  was  conspicuous  in  the 
political  contest  between  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  and  Colonel  William  Morrison, 
Republican  and  Democratic  candidates  for  the  United  States  senate.  In  the 
session  of  1885,  when  the  Illinois  General  Assembly  was  so  evenly  divided  be- 
tween the  two  great  parties  and  when  party  lines  were  rigidly  drawn  ,and  party 
fealty  put  to  the  test.  In  this  battle  Mr.  Allen  was  one  of  the  loyal  ''103,"  who 
persistently  voted  for  Gen.  Logan.  During  this  heated  session,  Mr.  Allen  de- 
veloped consummate  ability  and  displayed  qualities  of  leadership  that  established 
his  power  as  a  Legislator.  He  has  been  a  hard  worker  as  a  member  of  the 
House,  serving  on  several  important  committees,  including  the  committee  on 
Judiciary.  He  was  re-elected  to  the  House  in  1886,  1888  and  1890,  but  retired 
in  1892,  and  became  a  candidate  for  nomination  for  State  Auditor,  in  the  Re- 
publican State  Convention,  but  failed  to  secure  the  nomination. 

In  1896  he  was  again  elected  to  the  House.  In  1897,  he  was  temporary 
speaker  of  the  house,  Chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  and  of  the  Republi- 
can Steering  Committee.  He  was  again  elected  to  the  Legislature  in  1898  in 
spite  of  much  opposition  on  account  of  his  connection  with  what  was  known  as 
the  "Allen  Bill"  of  which  he  was  the  reputed  author,  having  as  Chairman  of  the 
Judiciary  Committee  reported  a  substitute  for  the  "Humphrey  Street  Railway 
Bill."  Mr.  Allen  is  now — 1900 — elected  to  the  Lower  House  of  the  General  As- 
sembly. As  a  parliamentarian,  he  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  West — a  ready 
debater  and  a  clear  and  forcible  speaker  on  all  subjects.  He  is  fearless  and  al- 
ways has  the  courage  of  his  convictions.  Withal,  he  has  great  personal  popular- 
ity and  is  highly  esteemed  for  his  many  social  qualities. 

Mr.  Allen  was  married  in  1878  to  Miss  Mary  Thompson  of  Rossville.  They 
have  two  sons  and  one  daughter.  On  March  30,  1899,  Mr.  Allen  lost  his  father 
by  death,  aged  76 — "an  old  faithful  friend ;  he  closed  his  career  as  gently  as  an 
autumn  sunset."  One  of  the  strongest  characteristics  and  virtues  of  Mr. 
Allen  is  his  intense  regard  for  home  ties. 

666 


667 


L.  E.  WHEELER. 

L.  E.  Wheeler,  the  present  Mayor  of  Springfield,  111.,  was  born  at  Havana, 
111.,  October  7,  1862.  He  removed  to  Springfield,  111.,  in  1879,  with  his  father, 
Jacob  Wheeler,  who  was  then  U.  S.  Marshal  for  the  southern  district  of  Illinois, 
and  who  had  been  a  distinguished  soldier  from  Illinois  during  the  Civil  War. 
After  passing  through  the  free  schools  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Wheeler  finished  his 
education  at  Williamsville,  Mass.,  during  the  years  of  1880,  1881  and  1882. 
Returning  to  his  home,  he  was  appointed  to  a  position  in  the  United  States' 
Internal  Revenue  service  at  Springfield,  and  continued  to  occupy  this  position 
for  three  years,  from  1883  to  1885.  Preferring  an  independent  business  of  his 
own,  Mr.  Wheeler  retired  from  public  service  and  in  1886  embarked  in  the  ice 
and  coal  business  in  Springfield.  He  developed  his  trade  until  it  became  large 
and  lucrative,  and  he  has  been  successful  in  all  his  business  undertakings. 

Like  his  father  before  him,  he  has  always  been  an  enthusiastic  supporter  of 
the  Republican  party.  His  popularity  as  a  man  is  attested  by  the  fact  that  he 
is  the  first  and  only  Republican  that  was  ever  twice  elected  Mayor  of  the  Capital 
City-  Mr.  Wheeler  first  tried  his  fortune  in  politics  by  being  a  candidate  for 
Alderman  upon  the  Republican  ticket  in  his  ward,  which  was  Democratic.  He 
was  twice  elected  Alderman  in  that  ward,  and  performed  the  duties  of  the  office 
in  such  a  manner  as  to  receive  the  approval  and  support  of  the  public  in  general. 
In  1897  Mr.  Wheeler  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  Mayor,  and  was  elected ; 
and  was  re-elected  to  the  same  position  in  1899.  He  has  performed  the  duties 
of  this  important  office  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  public. 

Mr.  Wheeler  is  a  man  of  great  force  of  character,  is  gifted  by  nature  with 
the  faculty  of  making  friends,  and  is  an  exceedingly  popular  man  in  the  city  of 
Springfield. 


V.  C.  PRICE. 

Dr.  Price  is  from  the  Empire  State.  He  was  born  at  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1832, 
where  he  grew  up  and  was  educated  at  the  public  schools  and  the  high  school. 
He  then  took  a  course  in  medicine  and  graduated  from  the  New  York  Medical 
College  in 'i 856,  after  which  he  practiced  medicine  for  several  years. 

As  early  as  1852  'Dr.  Price  began  experimenting  in  the  manufacture  of 
baking  powder,  and  was  the  pioneer  in  its  introduction  into  general  use.  In 
1861  he  came  to  Chicago  and  established  a  baking  powder  manufactory  at 
Waukegan,  111.  Then  later,  in  1863,  he  started  a  manufactory  on  West  Lake 
street,  Chicago,  and  later  on  East  Lake  street,  which  was  destroyed  in  the  great 
fire  of  1871.  After  the  fire  he  had  a  factory  on  Randolph  street.  In  1884  he 
organized  the  Price  Baking  Powder  Company,  with  a  factory  on  the  North  Side, 
corner  of  Dearborn  avenue  and  Michigan  streets,  which  was  operated  success- 
fully until  1890,  when  he  turned  his  attention  wholly  to  the  manufacture  of  flavor- 
ing extracts,  and  erected  the  large  building  on  the  corner  of  Cass  and  Illinois 
streets,  in  which  he  has  built  up  a  very  large  and  profitable  business,  under  the 
name  of  the  Price  Flavoring  Extract  Company,  of  which  he  is  president,  and 
his  son,  R.  C.  Price,  is  vice-president.  The  plant  of  tills  company  is  altogether 
modern,  commodious  and  splendidly  equipped  with  every  essential  to  the  busi- 
ness. There  are  no  flavoring  extracts  which  excel  or  have  a  higher  reputation 
than  those  made  by  The  Price  Flavoring  Extract  Company,  and  deservedly  so ; 
there  is  not  a  housewife  in  the  land  who  does  not  know  and  praise  these  extracts. 
Dr.  Price  is  also  the  president  of  the  Pan  Confection  Company,  of  Chicago,  of 
which  another  son,  V.  L.  Price,  is  secretary  and  treasurer.  This  company  occu- 
pies premises  adjoining  those  of  the  Price  Flavoring  Extract  Company.  That 
Dr.  Price  is  a  man  of  great  energy  and  business  capacity  is  evidenced  in  the 

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success  which  he  has  made  in  his  various  undertakings.  He  is  known  also  in 
financial  circles,  and  for  eleven  years  was  president  of  The  Lincoln  National 
Bank,  which  w£s  amalgamated  with  the  Bankers'  National  Bank  of  Chicago, 
June  i,  1900. 

While  he  has  been  absorbed  in  active  business  all  his  life,  he  has  found  time 
to  give  some  attention  to  civic  matters  and  political  affairs,  and  is  recognized  as 
a  public  spirited  citizen.  He  has  been  a  Republican  always,  but  has  never 
sought  or  held  public  office.  He  is  a  generous  contributor  to  campaign  funds, 
and  is  a  strong  supporter  of  his  party. 

Dr.  Price  was  married  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  in  1858,  to  Miss  Harriet  E.  White,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  White  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  They  have  had  six  children,  four  of 
whom  are  now  living. 


JOHN  A.  ROCHE. 

John  A.  Roche,  ex-mayor  of  Chicago,  was  born  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  August  12, 
1844.  He  was  a  younger  son  of  Sarah  and  of  William  Roche,  the  latter  a  man 
of  large  abilities  and  keen  wit,  whose  vocation  of  expert  mason  engaged  him 
in  the  building  of  big  factories  in  the  Eastern  states.  In  1848  the  family  moved 
to  Worcester  County,  Mass.,  and  there  the  boy  John  received  his  early  education, 
and,  in  his  high-school  course,  began  his  studies  in  mathematics  and  physics, 
which  were  later  to  influence  so  largely  his  career.  At  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
left  home  for  New  York  City,  where  he  served  for  four  years  apprenticeship  as 
a  pattern-maker  in  the  Allaire  Iron  Works,  "distinguishing  himself  as  a  good 
draughtsman  and  a  dexterous  workman.  Meanwhile  he  continued  his  studies 
at  the  evening  school  at  Cooper  Institute,  and,  becoming  a  member  of  the  De 
Witt  Association,  connected  with  The  Mechanics'  Institute  and  Apprentices' 
Library  of  New  York  City,  he  augmented  his  knowledge  by  books  drawn  from 
the  library,  and  made  his  debut  as  a  debater  at  the  Saturday  evening  meetings 
of  the  association. 

About  this  time  the  Civil  War  opened,  and  Roche  joined  a  military  company 
that  drilled  in  the  Bowery  with  the  intention  and  expectation  of  uniting  with 
MacLeod's  Engineer  Corps.  Since,  however,  there  was  a  scarcity  of  mechanics 
in  New  York  City,  where  vessels  for  naval  service  were  being  constructed,  this 
company,  which  was  mainly  composed  of  mechanics,  was  prevailed  upon  by  the* 
power  in  authority  not  to  enlist,  but  to  carry  on  their  present  work.  Prevented 
thus  from  joining  the  army,  Roche  decided  to  become  a  marine  engineer  in  the 
service  of  the  United  States,  but  no  sooner  was  his  preparation  for  this  position 
completed  than  the  hostilities  came  to  an  end.  Thereupon  Mr.  Roche  accepted1 
an  offer  which  called  him  to  New  England  to  construct  the  fly-shuttle~wire  loom, 
invented  by  the  well-known  inventor  E.  B.  Bigelow  of  Boston.  Shortly  he  was 
employed  by  the  eminent  engineer  J.  R.  Robinson  of  Boston  to  superintend 
and  design  steam  plants  in  the  various  factories  and  manufacturing  establish- 
ments of  Massachusetts,  Maine  and  New  Hampshire.  Again  he  returned  to 
New  York  to  engage  in  marine  engine  work,  and  to  devote  his  spare  time  to 
invention  and  to  the  pursuit  of  those  branches  of  learning  pertaining  to  his 
chosen  profession.  Subsequently  he  moved  to  Providence,  R.  I.,  where  for  some 
two  years  he  was  employed  by  the  Corliss  Steam  Engine  Company. 

In  1867  he  moved  thence  to  Chicago.  Upon  his  arrival,  possessing  but 
little  money,  he  took  up  residence  in  the  old  Metropolitan  Hotel,  on  the  corner 
of  Randolph  and  Wells  street.  Immediately  he  rented  desk  room  at  86  Lake 
street,  in  the  hardware  store  of  C.  B.  Brown  &  Co.,  and  engaged  in  selling  on 
commission  machinery  made  in  the  east.  Presently  he  accepted  a  situation  in 
the  machinery  store  of  Hawkins  &  James,  where  a  large  variety  of  machinery 
was  sold.  Arrangements  were  made  by  which  Roche  received  fifteen  dollars  a 
week  for  general  supervision  of  the  store,  and  an  added  salary  of  one-half  of 
whatever  profits  might  be  made  in  the  steam  engine  business,  which  was  a  branch 
of  trade  but  lately  introduced  in  the  concern.  Under  Mr.  Roche's  management 
this  new  department  developed  rapidly,  and  before  long,  upon  Mr.  Hawkins' 

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withdrawal,  Mr.  Roche  became  a  partner  in  the  firm  which  was  reorganized 
under  the  name  of  "James,  Roche  &  Spencer."  The  business  was  prosperous 
until  the  great  fiye  of  1871,  when  the  firm  suffered  a  loss  of  about  $60,000, 
through  inability  to  collect  their  insurance  on  account  of  the  failure  of  the  insur- 
ance companies.  The  house  resumed  business,  and  the  partnership  was  con- 
tinued for  a  number  of  years,  renewing  gradually  its  former  prosperity. 

It  was  in  June  of  this  same  memorable  year  of  '71  that  Mr.  Roche  married 
Emma  Howard  of  Chicago,  whom  he  had  formerly  known  in  the  East.  Her 
sympathy  and  helpfulness  aided  him  to  mend  their  fortunes  after  the  great 
reverses  brought  to  them  by  the  fire  of  the  following  October.  Within  a  few 
years  he  was  able  to  purchase  real  estate  on  Warren  avenue,  and  to  build  his 
first  house,  No.  427. 

Mr.  Roche  gained  his  first  experience  in  politics  in  the  aldermanic  contest 
of  '74,  when  he  joined  the  Reformers  of  the  i3th  ward  and  made  himself  con- 
spicuous in  this  organization,  to  which  he  continued  to  belong  until  1876,  when, 
in  the  campaign  for  state  representative,  he  became  a  candidate  at  the  primaries 
against  what  was  known  as  the  Postoffice  Faction.  He  was  elected,  as  he  had 
been  chosen,  with  the  understanding  that  he  was  independent  of  the  Machine, 
and  he  became  known  as  an  "anti-Logan  man."  At  Springfield  he  was  con- 
sidered a  Republican  without  question,  but  also  without  obligation  to  the  political 
machine.  When  the  contest  for  United  States  senatorship  ensued,  he  did  not 
think  it  necessary  to  declare  a  preference  for  any  candidate,  but  he  was  rated 
as  a  Washburn  man.  Washburn,  as  it  happened,  developed  very  little  strength. 
The  Republicans  did  not  have  a  majority  on  joint  ballot;  they  were  short  three 
votes,  and  could  not  elect  without  the  aid  of  three  independents,  who  had  for- 
merly been  Republicans.  The  night  before  the  balloting  for  senator  there  was 
held  a  conference  of  Republicans,  which  Mr.  Roche  attended.  Grave  doubts 
were  entertained  by  the  assembly  as  to  their  ability  to  nominate  even  General 
Logan,  who  had  the  support  of  the  majority  of  those  present.  Various  courses 
of  action  were  proposed,  among  others  the  following  two  expedients — that  a 
given  number  of  ballots  be  cast  for  Logan,  or  that  voting  for  Logan  continue  for 
six  or  for  ten  days.  The  General  was  himself  present  at  the  conference.  John 
A.  Roche  was  modestly  sitting  by  himself.  Being  known  as  one  who  would  act 
only  as  his  conscience  dictated  in  the  interest  of  the  Republican  party,  he  was 
called  upon  for  his  opinion.  He  made  his  statement,  which  was  not  misunder- 
stood ;  it  was  to  the  effect  that  he  wanted  a  Republican  elected,  but  would  make 
no  bargain  which  would  aid  the  enemy  by  declaring  for  a  given  number  of  days, 
or  for  a  given  number  of  votes.  He  stated,  however,  that  he  himself  would  go 
into  the  House  and  vote  for  General  Logan  until  he  was  satisfied  that  Logan 
could  not  be  elected,  and  he  urged  that  there  be  made  no  statement  which  would 
aid  the  enemy.  Thereupon  he  was  elected  by  the  caucus  as  a  member  of  the 
steering  committee,  for  he  was  trusted  by  all,  even  by  those  unfriendly  to  Logan. 
General  Logan  was  quite  won  by  his  fidelity  and  candor,  and  a  warm  friendship 
sprang  up  between  the  two  men.  It  transpired  that  David  Davis  was  elected 
senator  by  the  vote  of  the  Independents  and  the  Democrats,  but  the  uprightness 
of  General  Logan's  conduct  gained  the  respect  of  all,  even  of  his  enemies,  and  of 
those,  who  had  been  elected  as  anti-Logan  men. 

After  the  expiration  of  his  term  in  the  legislature,  Mr.  Roche  became  iden- 
tified with  the  firm  of  J.  A.  Fay  &  Co.,  and  started  a  new  business,  of  which 
he  was  the  only  representative  in  Chicago,  and  which  amounted  to  an  exclusive 
agency  in  the  Northwest.  The  year  previous  to  his  association  with  the  con- 
cern, something  less  than  $5,000  worth  of  goods  had  been  sold,  but  under  his 
charge  business  grew  rapidly,  and  for  several  years  previous  to  1886,  when  Mr. 
Roche  was  elected  Mayor  of  Chicago,  the  company  was  selling  from  $600,000 
to  $700,000  worth  per  annum.  During  the  interim  Mr.  Roche  was  out  of  poli- 
tics. When,  however,  in  the  campaign  of  1886,  George  R.  Davis  became  a  can- 
didate for  County  Treasurer,  he  again  gave  attention  to  public  affairs,  and  was 
made  treasurer  for  the  campaign  committee.  This  connection  awakened  in  hirrt 
a  desire  to  re-enter  public  life.  Carter  H.  Harrison,  Sr.,  was  then  Mayor,  and, 
although  there  was  considerable  dissatisfaction  abroad,  so  little  hope  existed 

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of  a  Republican  victory  in  the  next  campaign  for  the  mayoralty,  that  no  one 
seemed  to  have  the  courage  to  take  the  field  against  him.  Roche  sought  the 
nomination.  A  split  in  the  Democratic  ranks  occurred,  the  Labor  Wing  seced- 
ing from  the  old, organization,  and  several  candidates  against  Roche  sprang  up, 
notably  Nelson  Blake,  Graeme  Stewart  and  Sidney  Smith.  John  A.  Roche  was 
not  a  machine  man,  and  had  none  of  the  machinery  at  his  command.  Never- 
theless he  had  the  favor  of  his  own  ward,  the  Twelfth,  and  received  a  very  strong 
support  from  the  Chicago  Tribune,  conducted  by  Joseph  Medill.  For  some 
two  weeks  the  scramble  for  the  nomination  was  lively,  but  when  the  decisive 
day  arrived  Roche  was  practically  nominated  unanimously  on  the  first  ballot. 
In  1887  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Chicago  on  the  Republican  ticket  by  a  majority 
of  28,000. 

During  his  term  of  office  Mayor  Roche  improved  and  embellished  Chicago 
at  a  cost  of  several  millions  of  dollars,  furnished  by  corporations  without  expense 
to  the  city,  in  return  far  privileges  granted  by  the  city.  As  well,  he  constructed 
various  viaducts  and  bridges ;  at  his  election  all  the  bridges  in  Chicago,  except 
one,  were  operated  by  hand,  and  when  in  two  years  he  went  out  of  office  nearly 
all  the  bridges  moved  by  power,  and  many  new  ones  had  been  built.  The  water 
tunnel  he  extended  two  miles  into  the  lake,  and  he  made  contracts  for  a  pumping 
engine  with  a  capacity  of  delivering  more  than  100,000,000  gallons  of  water  in 
addition  to  the  capacity  of  the  old  ones. 

For  some  time  previous  to  Mr.  Roche's  election  the  Drainage  Canal  scheme 
had  been  under  consideration,  but  nothing  substantial  had  been  done.  With 
the  aid  of  eminent  counsel  and  the  co-operation  of  Chicago's  best  citizens,  Mayor 
Roche  had  a  bill  drawn  which  provided  for  the  construction  of  the  great  drainage 
canal.  This  he  took  to  Springfield  and  conducted  a  campaign  for  its  passage. 
At  the  State  Capitol  he  was  given  audience  in  joint  session  of  House  and  Senate 
and  was  granted  the  privileges  of  the  floor  for  the  purpose  of  presenting  the  bill 
and  of  championing  it  at  the  time  it  was  agreed  upon  and  passed  by  the  House. 
He  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  his  subject,  for  he  had  previously  done  an 
immense  amount  of  labor  in  arranging  the  surveys  and  perfecting  the  plans,  after 
having  taken  a  trip  down  the  Illinois  River  to  make  a  personal  examination  of 
conditions,  and  to  become  familiar  with  all  the  details.  Moreover,  he  was  instru- 
mental in  obtaining  from  the  legislature  the  right  to  make  a  special  tax  for 
extending  the  sewerage  system  in  Chicago,  so  as  to  anticipate  the  work  to  be 
performed  in  connection  with  the  drainage  schemes.  He  is  therefore  entitled  to 
be  regarded  as  the  author  of  the  successful  project.  Yet  other  improvements  were 
the  result  of  Mayor  Roche's  foresight.  With  his  assistance  the  Public  Library 
had  its  appropriations  increased.  Many  new  schools  were  erected,  and  more 
adequate  quarters  for  police  and  fire  departments  were  provided. 

The  first  attempt  at  annexation  of  Hyde  Park  and  other  outlying  districts 
was  made  during  his  administration.  The  extension  was  not  accomplished  until 
later,  however,  under  the  second  bill  passed  by  the  legislature,  the  first  having 
been  declared  unconstitutional.  The  mayor  himself  opposed  extensive  additions 
to  Chicago,  for  he  believed  that  too  great  increase  was  not  to  the  city's  best 
interest,  an  attitude  which  he  still  maintains.  Elected  during  the  anarchistic 
troubles,  he  was  instrumental  in  quelling  many  strikes  without  violence,  and 
was  successful  in  preserving  order  throughout  the  city  when  the  anarchists  were 
hung.  Also  he  instituted  many  reforms,  suppressed  gambling  and  vice,  and 
became  celebrated  as  "The  Reform  Mayor."  At  the  close  of  his  administration 
he  left  the  city  in  good  financial  condition,  with  funds  in  the  treasury  aggregating 
$4,000,000,  and  with  the  credit  of  the  city  in  better  condition  than  it  has  ever 
been  since. 

Upon  leaving  the  mayoralty  Mr.  Roche  was  made  general  manager  and 
vice-president  of  a  large  manufacturing  establishment,  with  an  assured  income 
of  $25,000  per  annum  for  such  services  as  he  had  time  to  render  aside  from  his 
duties  in  the  firm  of  J.  A.  Fay  &  Co.,  wherein  he  still  retained  an  interest. 
Subsequent  to  this  he  devoted  himself  to  real  estate  matters,  having  accumulated 
considerable  property.  Within  a  couple  of  years  he  was  elected  president  of 
the  Lake  Street  Elevated  Road  Company.  Hitherto  this  road  had  had  a  difficult 
existence.  There  was  some  iron  in  the  street,  but  very  little  railroad,  and  the 

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ordinances  were  decidedly  defective,  yet,  during  the  panic  of  '93  and  '94,  Mr. 
Roche  built  seven  miles  of  road.  In  1895  he  purchased  a  controlling  interest 
in  the  Standard  Elevator  and  Manufacturing  Company,  and  became  president. 
He  continued  in  "this  position  until  the  Standard  Elevator  and  Manufacturing 
Company  was  combined  with  several  other  companies  into  one  larger  concern, 
the  Otis  Elevator  Company,  of  which  he  is  a  director  and  the  managing  director 
in  the  West.  This  business  enterprise  is  large  and  prosperous,  and  demands 
nearly  all  of  Mr.  Roche's  time  and  attention. 

Mr.  Roche  has  been  a  director  in  various  public  institutions  and  business 
enterprises.  Although  himself  a  Unitarian,  his  work  in  charitable  organizations 
is  not  confined  to  any  denomination ;  educational  interests  have  always  engaged 
his  earnest  attention.  For  years  he  has  been  a  director  in  the  Chicago  Athae- 
neum.  Since  1890  he  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Lewis  estate,  and  has  been  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  Lewis  Institute,  its  beneficiary.  When  Mr.  Roche 
entered  upon  this  trusteeship  the  estate  had  a  large  fund,  the  accumulation  from 
the  $500,000  left  by  Allan  C.  Lewis  in  1876.  Shortly  the  co-trustees  died,  leaving 
him  the  only  surviving  member  of  the  board.  He  applied  to  the  court  and 
selected  a  new  board.  The  funds  of  the  estate  he  turned  over  to  the  new  corpo- 
ration, organized  for  the  purpose  of  providing  school  buildings  and  equipment, 
and  of  conducting  a  school  in  accordance  with  the  will  of  Allen  C.  Lewis.  The 
institute  that  was  erected,  well  equipped  as  it  is  for  instruction  in  class-rooms, 
shops  and  laboratories,  possessing  value  in  funds  and  realty  amounting  to  nearly 
$2,000,000,  has  proved  very  successful,  giving  instruction  at  the  present  time  to 
about  2,000  young  men  and  women. 

Mr.  Roche  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  orders,  of  the  New  England  Society 
in  Chicago,  of  the  Union  League  and  Kenwood  Clubs,  and  he  is  an  ex-member 
of  the  Chicago  and  Illinois  Clubs.  He  has  always  been  a  Republican;  he  cast 
his  first  vote  in  Illinois  for  General  Grant  for  President.  Since  '89  he  has  had 
no  active  interest  in  politics,  yet  he  keeps  in  touch  with  his  party,  and  in  1900 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  the  State  convention  by  the  32d  ward,  wherein  he  now 
dwells.  He  attends  closely  to  business,  is  devoted  to  his  home,  is  ever  a  friend 
to  good  government,  and  opposed  to  public  influences  which  threaten  the  welfare 
of  any  part  of  the  whole  social  body.  His  travels  have  made  him  familiar  with 
almost  every  section  of  his  native  land.  He  is  said  to  possess  considerable 
property  in  and  about  Chicago,  and  is  known  as  a  prosperous  man.  At  present 
his  home  in  winter  is  a  very  handsome  residence  in  the  most  attractive  part  of 
Drexel  boulevard ;  in  summer  a  country  place  on  the  bluffs  of  Lake  Michigan  at 
Highland  Park,  about  twenty  miles  north  of  Chicago. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Roche  is  tall,  well  proportioned  and  impres- 
sively fine  looking.  His  fair  brown  hair  and  blonde  mustache  are  becoming 
gray,  but  his  fine  color  and  his  keen  blue  eyes  carry  the  impression  of  youth  and 
power.  At  fifty-six  years  of  age  he  retains  his  early  vigor  of  mind  and  body ; 
his  great  executive  ability  and  power  of  endurance  enable  him  to  perform  a 
greater  amount  of  labor  than  is  possible  for  most  younger  men.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Roche  have  three  children  living,  their  eldest,  a  son,  William  Howard,  having 
died  at  the  age  of  ten.  Their  older  daughter,  for  whom  they  have  recently  built 
a  beautiful  home  in  one  of  the  most  desirable  residence  portions  of  Hyde  Park, 
is  married  to  Prof.  George  C.  Howland,  of  the  University  of  Chicago.  Their 
surviving  son,  John  A.  Roche,  Jr.,  is  a  member  of  the  sophomore  class  at 
Harvard,  and  their  younger  daughter  is  preparing  for  the  classical  college  course. 

(The  foregoing  sketch  was  written  by  Mrs.  George  C.  Howland,  nee  Cora  E. 
Roche.) 

BERNARD  EDWARD  SUNNY. 

Bernard  E.  Sunny  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  in  1856.  He  became 
a  telegraph  operator  at  an  early  age,  and  was  employed  by  the  Atlantic  and 
Pacific  Telegraph  Company.  In  1875  he  came  to  Chicago  to  accept  a  position 
with  the  same  company,  and  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  night  manager, 
and  afterwards  manager  of  that  company's  Chicago  office.  In  1879  he  took  the 

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position  of  superintendent  of  the  Chicago  Telephone  Company,  which  he  re- 
tained for  nine  years,  during  which  period  the  number  of  subscribers  grew  from 
a  few  hundred  to  over  five  thousand.  Mr.  Sunny  was  president  of  the  Chicago 
Arc  Light  and  Ppwer  Company  for  three  years  up  to  1891,  at  which  time  he 
became  Western  manager  of  the  General  Electric  Company  of  New  York,  which 
position  he  continues  to  fill. 

Mr.  Sunny  was  closely  identified  in  many  of  the  improvements  and  advances 
made  in  both  the  telephone  and  electric  lighting  field,  especially  in  connection 
with  the  solving  of  the  problem  of  furnishing  both  classes  of  service  through 
wares  laid  underground.  Mr.  Sunny  was  elected  a  director  in  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition,  to  represent  the  electric  industry,  and  served  for  one 
year.  He  declined  further  service  with  the  Exposition  company  to  become 
president  of  the  Intramural  railroad  at  the  World's  Fair,  which  was  the  first 
elevated  electric  railroad  ever  operated.  Its  success  led  to  the  electrical  equip- 
ment of  all  of  the  elevated  railroads  in  Chicago  and  the  Eastern  cities. 

Mr.  Sunny  has  always  been  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  was  a  delegate  to 
the  Philadelphia  convention  in  1900  from  the  Sixth  Congressional  District.  Mr. 
Sunny  was  married  in  1878  to  Ellen  Clifton  Rhue  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 


HENRY  D.  ESTABROOK. 

Henry  D.  Estabrook  was  born  in  Alden,  New  York,  October  23,  1854. 
Shortly  prior  to  this  event  his  father,  Experience  Estabrook,  had  been  appointed 
Attorney  General  of  the  Territory  of  Nebraska,  and  had  himself  gone  to  Omaha 
to  assume  the  duties  of  his  office.  His  wife  and  youthful  son  followed  him  early 
the  succeeding  spring. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  in  Nebraska  from  that  time  until  his  removal 
to  Chicago  in  1896.  Mr.  Estabrook's  education  was  received  in  the  high  school 
of  Omaha  and  the  Washington  University  in  St.  Louis,  from  which  he  graduated 
as  a  lawyer  in  1876.  In  1880  he  was  married  to  Clara  M.  Campbell,  of  Omaha. 
At  the  time  of  his  removal  from  Omaha  Mr.  Estabrook  was  in  partnership  in  the 
practice  of  law  with  ex-Judge  H.  J.  Davis,  who  accompanied  him  to  Chicago, 
where  in  1897,  the  firm  of  Estabrook  &  Davis  was  merged  into  the  present  firm 
of  Lowden,  Estabrook  &  Davis. 

Mr.  Estabrook  ranks  well  as  a  lawyer,  and  particularly  well  as  a  public 
speaker.  This  crowning  characteristic  comes  as  hereditary  from  a  line  of  ora- 
torical ancestry,  so  that  his  inheritance  has  a  good  foundation.  While  oratory  at 
the  bar  is  potential,  it  is  far  more  so  at  the  forum  of  the  people  where  the  speaker 
by  his  intelligence,  earnestness  and  fire,  can  sway  the  minds  of  his  listeners  ;  hence 
in  public  life,  that  is  to  say  in  political  life,  oratory  to  a  certain  degree  is  indispen- 
sable to  personal  popularity  and  success.  In  recognition  of  his  personal  worth 
and  high  standing  as  a  citizen  and  as  a  speaker,  Mr.  Estabrook  found  ready  in- 
gress to  the  prominent,  social  and  political  clubs  of  Chicago. 

Thus  far,  Mr.  Estabrook  has  not  entered  actively  the  field  of  politics  and  has 
never  sought  nor  held  political  office,  except  Regent  of  the  Nebraska  University, 
to  which  he  was  almost  unanimously  elected  and  which  office  he  resigned  with  his 
Nebraska  citizenship.  The  Republican  party  is  fortunate  in  having  in  its  mem- 
bership one  whose  personal  qualities  and  whose  capabilities  are  of  such  high 
order,  and  one  whose  influence  cannot  fail  to  be  felt  in  party  councils. 


CHARLES   BENT. 

Charles  Bent  was  born  December  8,  1844,  in  Chicago.  The  family  removed 
to  Morrison,  Illinois,  in  May,  1856,  and  in  June,  1858,  he  entered  the  office  of 
The  Whiteside  Sentinel  as  an  apprentice  to  the  printers'  trade,  where  he  served 
three  years.  After  finishing  his  apprenticeship  he  remained  there  as  a  journey- 
man until  April,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  B,  i4Oth  Illinois 
Volunteers,  and  was  appointed  Third  Sergeant.  At  the  expiration  of  his  term 

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of  service,  Mr.  Bent  returned  to  his  home  and  was  employed  on  The  Sentinel  as 
foreman,  but  on  February  2,  1865,  he  again  enlisted  in  Company  B,  I47th  Illinois 
Volunteers,  being  appointed  orderly  sergeant,  which  position  he  filled  until  he 
was  commissioned  as  a  lieutenant  in  July,  1865.  He  was  mustered  out  with  his 
regiment  at  Savalmah,  Georgia,  January  20,  1866,  and  a  week  later  the  regiment 
was  paid  off  and  disbanded  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois. 

Returning  home  he  at  once  resumed  his  position  as  foreman  in  The  Sentinel 
office,  which  he  retained  until  July,  1867,  when  he  purchased  a  half  interest  in  the 
office.  In  May,  1870,  Mr.  Bent  became  the  sole  owner,  and  conducted  the  paper 
until  February,  1877,  when  he  sold  the  plant.  In  1878  he  published  a  history  of 
Whiteside  County,  which  is  considered  a  standard  authority  upon  the  subject  of 
which  it  treats.  In  March,  1879,  he  re-purchased  The  Sentinel,  and  has  since 
been  sole  proprietor  and  editor.  It  is  Republican  in  politics,  and  has  a  wide 
circulation.  Mr.  Bent  was  Assistant  Assessor  of  Internal  Revenue  in  the  Third 
collection  district  from  1871  to  1873.  He  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from 
the  nth  district  in  1878,  representing  Carroll  and  Whiteside  Counties,  and  in 
1883  was  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Canal  Commissioners,  having  been 
appointed  for  two  years  by  Governor  Hamilton.  In  1889,  Governor  Fifer  ap- 
pointed him  a  commissioner  of  the  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet,  and  he 
held  this  position  for  four  years.  He  has  served  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Republican  Committee  from  his  Congressional  district  for  several  terms,  and  at 
this  writing  is  a  member-at-large  of  the  Committee.  Mr.  Bent  is  a  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  the  Illinois  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion, 
the  Society  of  the  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  is  also  a  Mason,  a 
Knight  Templar,  and  an  Odd  Fellow. 


JOHN  DICKINSON. 

John  Dickinson  of  No.  4736  Grand  Boulevard,  Chicago,  Illinois,  is  a  native 
of  Massachusetts.  He  is  one  of  the  many  prominent  and  successful  business  men 
of  this  great  and  growing  city  who  believes  that  the  principles  and  policies  of  the 
Republican  party  lie  at  the  basis  of  this  progress  and  prosperity  of  the  country, 
and  that  to  support  the  party  and  vote  its  ticket  is  a  public  duty.  Mr.  Dickinson 
is  too  busy  a  man  to  accept  an  office  himself,  but  he  sturdily  performs  his  duty  as 
a  citizen  and  supports  the  party  of  his  choice  by  his  vote. 

Mr.  Dickinson  acompanied  his  parents  to  Illinois  when  a  small  boy ;  they 
settled  on  a  farm,  and  he  was  taught  to  work  and  he  learned  the  business  of  farm- 
ing. At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  employed  at  two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per 
week,  nearly  all  his  earnings  he  turned  over  to  his  mother.  She  exerted  a  great 
influence  over  her  son,  instilling  into  his  mind  high  moral  principles,  and  inspir- 
ing him  to  industry  and  economy.  He  was  a  regular  attendant  at  Sunday 
School,  and  took  great  interest  in  the  study  of  the  Bible.  He  worked  for  a  firm 
of  lumber  dealers,  and  did  heavy  work  for  a  boy.  Anxious  to  engage  in  busi- 
ness on  his  own  account,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  became  a  partner  in  the  up- 
holstering business  in  Evanston ;  later  he  was  a  partner  in  a  shoe  store.  He 
visited  Chicago  often  and  became  interested  in  the  commission  business.  He 
met  the  late  Edward  Partridge  and  discussed  with  him  the  subject  of  trading  in 
stocks, — his  first  purchase  was  ten  shares  of  Michigan  Central  stock,  the  sale  of 
which  gave  him  a  profit.  He  sold  out  his  interests  in  Evanston  and  turned  his 
entire  attention  to  business  in  Chicago.  He  studied  the  question  of  the  rise  and 
fall  in  the  prices  of  stocks,  and  soon  made  investments  which  netted  him  a  profit 
of  $18,000.  His  success  caused  the  street  to  call  him  "Lucky  Dick."  In  due 
time  he  opened  an  office  as  a  broker,  and  during  the  past  thirteen  years  has  con- 
ducted a  large  and  profitable  business.  He  is  a  man  of  splendid  business  judg- 
ment, which  is  well  proven  by  his  uniform  success.  Mr.  Dickinson  is  a  large 
owner  of  improved  real  estate  in  Chicago,  and  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  sub- 
stantial business  men  of  this  city. 

John  Dickinson  married  Miss  Miss  Mary  Johnson  in  1876.  They  have  no 
children.  They  have  an  elegant  home  and  are  devoted  to  home  life,  have  a  wide 
circle  of  friends,  and  enjoy  the  social  side  of  life. 

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DILLWYN  V.  PURINGTON. 

Dillwyn  V.  Purington,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  at  Sidney,  Kennebec 
County,  Maine,  January  22,  1841 ;  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  in  Maine 
and  Massachusetts,  and  in  Oak  Grove  Seminary,  Vassalbrough,  Maine.  When 
the  Civil  War  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  of  which  he  is  proud,  and  he 
feels  that  the  experience  of  that  service  contributed  greatly  to  fitting  him  for 
the  large  business  operations  in  which  he  has  been  engaged  since  he  left  the 
service.  After  leaving  the  service  Mr.  Purington  looked  about  him  for  a  suitable 
place  to  settle  down  for  his  life  work ;  he  came  to  Chicago. 

He  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  in  1869,  and  remained  in  it  three  years ; 
in  1872  he  engaged  in  business  as  a  manufacturer  of  brick,  and  is  still  so  engaged. 
In  1883  he  organized  the  Purington-Kimbell  Brick  Company,  which  for  many 
years  was  the  largest  common  brick  manufacturing  concern  in  the  United  States  ; 
in  1890  he  organized  the  Purington  Paving  Brick  Company,  of  Galesburg,  for 
the  manufacture  of  brick  for  paving  streets ;  this  also  is  the  largest  and  most 
complete  factory  of  its  kind  in  the  world.  The  operations  of  the  brick  companies 
with  which  Mr.  Purington  is  connected  are  of  the  most  extensive  character,  and 
naturally  bring  him  into  close  touch  with  building  operations  and  public  improve- 
ments in  Chicago.  His  energy  and  enterprise  have  made  his  companies  what 
they  are,  and  he  has  established  for  himself  an  enviable  reputation  as  an  enter- 
prising, honorable  and  successful  business  man. 

Politically  Mr.  Purington  has  at  all  times  been  an  ardent  Republican. 
Before  he  was  of  age  he  responded  to  the  call  of  Abraham  Lincoln  for  troops 
to  preserve  the  Union,  and  when  the  war  was  over  he  adhered  to  the  party  that 
had  controlled  the  country  during  the  war.  He  was  elected  County  Commis- 
sioner of  Cook  County,  Illinois,  in  1879,  an(l  served  three  years  in  that  capacity, 
and  was  elected  in  1883  to  serve  an  unexpired  term  for  the  same  office.  It  is 
needless  to  say  that  Mr.  Purington  performed  the  duties  of  this  office  with  ability 
and  fidelity. 

Mr.  Purington  was  married  July  18,  1886,  to  Mrs.  Jennie  F.  Crandall,  and 
they  have  no  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purington  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends 
and  neighbors. 


HENRY  CLAY  BEITLER. 

Henry  Clay  Beitler  was  born  near  Hagerstown,  Washington  County,  Mary- 
land, July  1st,  1866,  and  now  resides  in  Chicago.  He  comes  of  good  political 
ancestry, — his  grand-father  and  father  having  been  Whigs  now  known  as  Re- 
publicans, so  that  Mr.  Beitler  has  always  been  a  Republican,  although  in  early 
life  a  Marylander.  His  father  was  a  farmer,  and  his  boyhood  years  were  spent 
on  the  farm.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  high  school  at 
Hagerstown  primarily,  and  graduated  from  the  law  department  of  The  Uni- 
versity of  Michigan  at  Ann  Arbor,  in  1888.  After  graduating,  he  returned  to 
Hagerstown  and  entered  into  the  practice  of  law.  In  1890,  he  located  perman- 
ently in  Chicago  and  associated  himself  with  James  Lane  Allen  of  the  Chicago 
Bar  and  Oscar  B.  McGlasson,  then  late  of  Scott  County,  Illinois.  A  year  later 
the  law  firm  of  McGlasson  &  Beitler  was  formed  which  continued  to  December, 
1899,  when  Mr.  McGlasson  retired  from  practice,  leaving  Mr.  Beitler  to  con- 
tinue the  business.  As  a  member  of  the  Chicago  bar,  his  standing  is  of  the 
highest,  and  a  most  favorable  reputation  is  firmly  established. 

Like  all  attorneys  who  are  progressive  citizens,  Mr.  Beitler  sought  connec- 
tion with  club  interests,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a  member  of  the  Mar- 

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quette  Club,  which  is  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  of  the  City.  In 
this  connection,  he  has  served  as  the  Secretary  of  the  Political  Action  Committee 
of  the  Club,  which  labored  assiduously  to  prevent  bad  legislation  by  the  Fortieth 
General  Assembly.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  and  for  several 
years  was  prominently  identified  with  the  Lincoln  Cycling  Club,  the  foremost 
social,  athletic  club  in  the  West,  as  director  and  president.  Mr.  Beitler's  course 
in  endeavoring  to  bring  about  purer  politics  led  to  his  nomination  as  a  Republi- 
can to  represent  the  Twenty-first  Senatorial  District  as  Representative  in  the 
Legislature  chosen  in  1898.  He  was  elected  and  was  made  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Parks  and  Boulevards.  This  was  a  very  important  Committee 
so  far  as  the  interests  of  Chicago  were  concerned,  as  the  whole  question  of  the 
City's  parks  and  boulevards  was  pressed  for  consideration.  On  this  Committee 
Mr.  Beitler  rendered  the  City  most  valuable  services.  In  addition  to  his  labors 
on  the  Parks  and  Boulevards  Committee,  he  served  on  the  judiciary,  elections, 
municipal  corporations,  judicial  department  and  practice,  and  other  important 
legislative  Committees,  not  only  showing  his  activity,  but  fitness  to  serve  on  the 
several  committees  named,  which  he  did  with  entire  satisfaction  as  a  Representa- 
tive of  the  people.  As  an  evidence  of  the  estimation  in  which  Mr.  Beitler  is  held 
by  those  who  know  him  best,  and  as  an  endorsement  of  his  legislative  record,  he 
was  renominated  and  re-elected  in  1900  to  his  former  seat  in  the  legislature. 

As  indicating  Mr.  Beitler's  social  side,  it  need  only  be  mentioned  that  he  is 
a  member  and  has  been  Chief  of  the  Fraternal  Tribunes ;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  North  American  Union — both  secret  societies  of  the  beneficiary  order.  Mr. 
Beitler  is  still  a  young  man,  and  the  public  may  expect  to  hear  more  of  him. 


HENRY  BEST. 

Henry  Best  is  a  Chicagoan  "to  the  Manor  born,"  which  at  the  time  of  his 
birth,  December  22,  1848,  was  known  as  Weldon  Station,  near  what  is  now  the 
corner  of  Indiana  Avenue  and  Fourteenth  Street.  His  father  came  from  Bavaria 
and  his  mother  from  Germany,  who  is  yet  living  and  is  the  oldest  German  speak- 
ing resident  of  Chicago.  Mr.  Best's  father — Matthias  Best,  established  the  first 
lager  beer  brewery  in  Chicago ;  he  was  known  as  a  Democrat  and  a  friend  and 
supporter  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  He  died  Oct.  24,  1874.  Henry  Best,  the 
third  son,  in  his  youthful  days  was  employed  in  his  father's  brewery  during  the 
early  morning  hours,  going  to  school  during  the  day,  and  returning  to  the  brew- 
ery after  school  to  work  until  late  at  night.  At  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  in  1861,  young  Henry  ran  away  from  home  and  enlisted  as  a  drummer 
boy  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry.  His  father  over- 
took the  Company  at  Cairo  and  brought  him  back  home.  Subsequently,  his 
father  disposed  of  his  brewery  and  Henry  then  engaged  as  a  shipping  clerk  with 
J.  L.  Hobart  in  his  tobacco  factory,  in  which  he  became  foreman  within  a  year. 

Henry  Best's  introduction  into  politics  was  in  1872,  when  he  was  nominated 
on  the  People's  ticket  for  the  office  of  Constable,  which  nomination  he  refused, 
but  nevertheless,  was  elected  in  spite  of  his  refusal,  by  a  large  majority.  He 
served  for  the  term  of  his  election  and  with  credit.  In  1876  he  was  re-elected  on 
the  Republican  ticket,  serving  two  years,  and  was  then  appointed  bailiff  under 
Sheriff  Hoffman,  serving  one  year,  and  was  then  made  clerk  of  the  Grand  Jury. 
In  1880  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  under  Sheriff  Mann,  serving  two  years. 
In  1882  he  was  appointed  Deputy  Sheriff  under  Sheriff  Hanchett,  serving  two 
years,  and  in  1884  was  the  Republican  nominee  for  Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  to 
which  office  he  was  elected  by  a  handsome  majority.  In  1888,  he  was  re-elected 
Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court.  In  1893,  he  was  elected  South  Town  Assessor  and 
re-elected  to  that  office  in  1894,  running  ahead  of  the  ticket  and  was  the  only 
Republican  elected.  For  the  past  five  years  Mr.  Best  has  not  been  before  the 
public  as  an  office-holder;  but  his  interest  in  political  matters  has  not  abated,  as 

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his  voice  and  his  influence,  have  frequently  been  recognized  in  political  affairs ; 
particularly  those  in  which  the  welfare  of  the  city  have  been  mostly  concerned. 
He  is  known  as  a»  staunch  Republican  and  one  of  the  most  valuable  members  and" 
workers  in  the  party. 

It  is  largely  due  to  his  personal  popularity  and  reputation  as  a  citizen  of 
sound  judgment  and  unchallenged  integrity  that  his  political  success  has  been  so 
enviable.  He  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Cook  County  Republican  Club,  and 
has  served  frequently  on  important  political  committees.  He  is  identified  as  a 
charter  member  of  Court  Energy,  Independent  Order  of  Foresters ;  Garfield 
Lodge,  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workmen,  and  is  also  a  Free  Mason  and 
Knight  Templar.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton  Club,  Medinah  Temple  Mys- 
tic Shrine  and  of  the  Citizen's  Association  of  Chicago ;  he  is  also  a  member  of 
the  Turners. 

In  April,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Minnie  Myers,  born  in  New  York, 
but  reared  in  Chicago.  They  have  three  children,  two  sons  and  one  daughter. 

Mr.  Best  has  a  delightful  home  and  is  the  owner  of  several  apartment  build- 
ings. He  is  o'ne  of  Chicago's  most  esteemed  citizens. 


EDWIN   STAPLETON  CONWAY. 

Edwin  S.  Conway,  the  Secretary  and  Manager  of  the  great  W.  W.  Kimball 
Company  of  Chicago,  is  known  as  one  of  the  best  business  men  in  the  city.  Mr. 
Conway  is  proud  of  the  magnificent  success  which  the  house  that  he  has  so  long 
managed  has  achieved.  He  is  a  guiding  hand  in  one  of  the  largest  business 
enterprises  in  the  West,  its  splendid  instruments  being  favorably  known  almost 
throughout  the  civilized  world.  Mr.  Conway  is  one  of  the  most  pronounced  fac- 
tors in  Commercial  Chicago ;  he  is  a  brainy  man,  who  will  brilliantly  acquit  him- 
self in  any  position  that  he  may  assume.  He  is  tactful,  with  an  unusual  endow- 
ment of  good,  common,  practical  sense.  He  has  few  equals  and  hardly  a 
superior  as  an  organizer  of  business,  political  and  social  courses.  In  the  man- 
agement of  his  vast  business,  in  his  political  activity  and  as  the  head  of  social  and 
fraternal  organizations,  he  has  been  a  power  in  directing  toward  the  achievement 
of  desired  purposes.  He  is  a  man  whose  personality  makes  a  deep  impression 
and  wins  confidence. 

Mr.  Conway  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  active  in  the  campaigns  of 
his  party.  But  his  activity  in  politics  is  the  patriotism  of  a  business  man.  He 
could  have  office  if  he  desired  it,  but  his  political  purpose  is  not  of  a  selfish  char- 
acter. He  believes  that  every  citizen  and  business  man  should  consider  them- 
selves important  factors  in  popular  government,  and  should  perform  active  duty 
for  the  party  of  their  choice.  His  loyalty  to  the  Republic  is  evidenced  by  his 
loyalty  to  the  doctrines  of  the  Republican  party,  which  he  sincerely  believes  is 
the  party  that  will  perpetuate  our  beloved  institutions.  In  all  activities  outside 
of  his  business,  he  is  prompted  by  a  public  spirit,  a  sincere  desire  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  public.  In  accordance  with  this  spirit  he  was  for  six  years  presi- 
dent of  the  Cicero  Town  Board,  but  after  this  long  service  concluded  that  he  had 
done  his  duty  in  this  respect,  and  resigned  two  years  before  the  expiration  of  his 
term  in  order  to  give  more  attention  to  his  business. 

Mr.  Conway  is  devoted  to  the  principles  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  has  given  a  large  amount  of  time  and  energy  to  their  advancement. 
He  was  a  factor  in  the  establishment  of  the  Odd  Fellows'  Orphans'  Home  at 
Lincoln,  111.,  and  no  man  has  been  more  liberal  in  support  of  the  Institutions  con- 
trolled by  the  Order.  He  has  been  Grand  Master  of  the  State,  serving  during 
the  World's  Fair  year.  He  is  Grand  Representative  to  the  Sovereign  Grand 
Lodge  serving  from  1894  to  date.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club 
and  was  its  Vice  President ;  and  is  also  a  member  of  Chicago  Athletic  Club. 

Edwin  S.  Conway  was  married  December  25,  1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Rogers 
of  Mauston,  Wis.,  a  very  accomplished  lady.  They  have  three  children,  Earle 

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E.,  now  with  the  Kimball  Company;  and  Carle  C.,  who  graduated  from  Yale 
College  in  1899,  is  also  connected  with  the  Kimball  Company;  and  Sybil  Sara. 
Mr.  Conway  resides  in  Oak  Park,  111.,  and  has  been  intimately  connected  with  the 
progress  of  that  suburb  for  more  than  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  life  trustee  of 
the  Scoville  Institute  of  that  town.  Mr.  Conway  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Republican  State  Central  Committee  and  also  of  the  Cook  County  Republican 
Central  Committee.  He  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention 
held  in  St.  Louis,  in  1896,  and  in  1900  was  elected  a  presidential  elector  on  the 
Republican  ticket. 


EDWARD  C.  YOUNG. 

Edward  C.  Young  was  born  in  Savannah,  Mo.,  March  i,  1862.  His  parents 
were  William  H.  and  Lucinda  J.  Young.  His  father  was  born  in  Tennessee' 
and  emigrated  when  a  boy  with  his  parents  to  Missouri.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  who  also  removed  to  Missouri  with  her  parents  while  yet  a 
child.  William  H.  Young  removed  with  his  family  to  Montana  in  1873,  where 
he  died,  after  which  Mrs.  Young  returned  to  Savannah,  Mo.,  with  the  children. 
Here  Edward  C.  remained  until  he  .was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  of  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  until  ten  years  of  age,  and  afterward  in 
the  country  public  schools  near  Savannah  for  three  years.  He  then  entered 
the  High  School  at  Savannah,  and  graduated  in  1879. 

After  graduating  he  taught  school  for  four  years  in  the  country  districts, 
studying  law  in  the  meantime.  In  1883  he  gave  up  the  studv  of  law  and  entered 
West  Point  Military  Academy,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1887  with  a  standing 
of  5  in  a  class  of  sixty-four,  and  with  the  highest  cadet  military  rank.  After 
graduating  at  West  Point,  he  was  appointed  Second  Lieutenant  in  the  i8th 
Infantry,  U.  S.  A.,  but  resigned  three  months  later  to  enter  into  business. 

Mr.  Young's  first  business  connection  was  with  the  firm  of  Beldine  Brothers 
&  Co.,  silk  manufacturers,  in  their  offices  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.  Here  he  remained 
six  months,  and  was  then  transferred  to  their  Chicago  offices,  January  i,  1888. 
Since  that  time  he  has  remained  in  continual  service  with  the  same  firm,  also 
being  extensively  interested  in  other  lines  of  business.  In  1800  he  was  elected  a 
director  of  the  firm  of  Belding  Brothers  &  Co.,  and  shortly  afterward  a  director 
and  secretary  of  the  Belding-Hall  Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers  of 
refrigerators.  He  is  also  a  director  in  the  Belding  Land  and  Improvement 
Company,  an  organization  which  has  been  largely  instrumental  in  establishing 
the  town  of  Belding,  Mich.,  which  now  contains  nearly  5,000  inhabitants.  In 
1898  he  became  a  director  in  the  American  Union  Life  Insurance  Company  of 
New  York  City. 

Mr.  Young  has  always  been  a  Republican,  but  did  not  participate  actively 
in  politics  until  1894,  when  he  did  good  work  for  the  Republican  candidates  in 
his  precinct  and  ward.  In  1896  he  organized  a  brigade  of  about  2,000  uniformed 
horsemen,  which  took  part  in  the  great  sound  money  parade  of  that  year;  Mr. 
Young  served  as  chief  of  staff  for  the  parade.  In  1900  Mr.  Young  organized 
and  was  Colonel  of  the  Republican  Spanish-American  War  Veteran  Regiment ; 
was  vice-president  and  member  of  the  Managing  Committee  of  the  McKinley 
Club  No.  i,  and  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Business  Men's 
Sound  Money  Association.  Mr.  Young  also  assisted  in  the  organization  of  the 
Commercial,  Industrial  and  Sound  Money  Parade,  and  was  its  chief  marshal. 

In  1890,  when  the  National  Guards  Regiments  were  increased  from  eight 
to  twelve  companies,  Mr.  Young  organized  Company  H,  First  Infantry,  and 
was  commissioned  Captain  of  this  company,  retiring  at  the  end  of  his  term  in 
1893.  He  re-entered  the  National  Guard  service  in  1896,  as  Major  of  the  newly 
organized  State  Cavalry  Squadron,  composed  of  three  troops,  an  additional  troop 
being  added  in  1897.  When  the  Spanish  War  broke  out,  Mr.  Young  organized 
the  First  Cavalry,  Illinois  Volunteers,  at  Chicago ;  was  accepted  and  ordered 

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to  report  for  duty  at  Springfield,  April  26,  180,8;  was  mustered  into  the  United 
States  service  as  Colonel  of  this  regiment,  May  21  ;  ordered  to  Chattanooga 
with  his  regimenj,  and  remained  there  until  August  25,  when  the  war  having 
been  concluded  and  peace  declared  they  were  ordered  to  Fort  Sheridan,  111.,  and 
mustered  out  October  n,  1898.  In  1899  a  bill  was  passed  forming  a  regiment 
of  cavalry,  Illinois  National  Guard,  which  Mr.  Young  organized  and  was  com- 
missioned Colonel  by  Governor  Tanner ;  this  position  he  now  holds. 

Mr.  Young  has  been  a  conspicuous  figure  in  connection  with  many  of  the 
public  enterprises  of  Chicago  during  the  last  few  years.  He  was  Chief  of  Staff 
at  the  dedication  of  the  Logan  monument.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  the 
Peace  Jubilee  in  1898;  and  in  the  Fall  Festival  and  celebration  attending  the 
laying  of  the  corner-stone  of  the  Chicago  Postoffice  in  1899;  and  served  as  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee  for  the  entertainment  of  the  G.  A.  R.  in 
1900,  also  serving  as  Chief  of  Aids  for  the  parade  of  the  Grand  Army.  Mr. 
Young  was  a  director  in  the  Commercial  Association  for  a  number  of  years ; 
also  a  director  and  chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  of  the  Forward  Move- 
ment, a  charitable  organization ;  and  a  director  in  the  Army  and  Navy  League 
to  assist  returning  soldiers  from  the  Spanish-American  war.  Mr.  Young  is  a 
Mason,  a  member  of  the  Kenwood  Lodge,  Chicago  Chapter,  and  Apollo  Com- 
mandery. 

Edward  C.  Young  was  married  to  Mary  E.  Belding  of  Chicago,  April  5, 
1888.  Mrs.  Young  was  the  daughter  of  Hiram  H.  Belding,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  Chicago,  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  silk  manufacturing  firm  of 
Belding  Brothers  &  Co.  They  have  four  children — William  H.,  Alice  B.,  Ed- 
ward C.,  Jr.,  and  Hiram  B. 


EDWARD  G.  HALLE. 

Edward  G.  Halle  comes  from  an  old  family  in  Germany.  He  was  born  at 
Leipsic,  January  5,  1844.  His  parents  were  Henry  and  Henrietta  Halle.  As  a 
boy  he  entered  the  German  schools  in  his  native  country  and  was  put  through 
the  rigid  discipline  for  which  they  are  noted.  After  acquiring  the  essentials  of 
education  he  engaged  in  business.  In  1866,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  came 
to  America  and  located  in  the  Minnesota  and  Dakota  country.  Here  Mr.  Halle 
camped  and  hunted  with  the  Indians  and  learned  their  language  and  customs. 
Shortly  afterwards  he  established  a  drug  store  in  Minnesota  also  conducting 
an  insurance  business.  In  1874  he  removed  to  Milwaukee  where  he  became 
state  agent  for  the  Germania  Fire  Insurance  Company  in  Wisconsin,  Minnesota, 
Dakota  and  Montana.  He  remained  with  the  company  in  this  capacity  for  nine 
years  when  he  was  appointed  manager  of  the  Western  Department  with  head- 
quarters in  Chicago,  a  position  he  still  holds.  His  territory  includes  all  the 
western  states  and  Ohio,  Kentucky  and  West  Virginia. 

In  1891,  Mr.  Halle  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education  of 
Chicago  by  Mayor  Washburne  and  remained  on  the  Board  through  the  succeed- 
ing administrations,  until  1898,  when  he  resigned.  He  had  been  twice  Vice-Pres- 
ident  and  twice  President  of  the  Board.  He  had  also  been  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee on  Buildings  and  Grounds,  the  Committee  on  German  and  the  Committee 
on  Retrenchment  and  Reform — the  last  named  committee  being  of  his  own  crea- 
tion. During  the  eight  years  that  Mr.  Halle  was  a  member  of  the  Board  great 
advancement  was  made  in  the  Chicago  schools.  He  saw  the  necessity  of  econ- 
omy in  school  expenditures  and  urged  the  Board  to  put  the  schools  on  a  business 
basis.  The  necessity  for  good  teachers  in  the  schools  was  of  first  importance  to 
him  and  in  recognition  of  this  he  \vas  a  friend  and  supporter  of  the  Normal 
School.  In  the  two  years  that  he  was  President  of  the  Board,  forty  school  build- 
ings were  erected  and  equipped  at  a  cost  of  $4,000,000.00.  As  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  Mr.  Halle  gav.e  his  best  services  to  Chicago  in  a  public 
capacity.  His  elections  to  office  in  the  Board  were  unanimous  always,  and  when 

690 


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he  finally  resigned,  the  Board  passed  a  series  of  resolutions  touching  in  detail 
upon  the  notable  things  advocated  and  accomplished  by  him. 

German-Americanism  is  strongly  represented  in  Edward  G.  Halle.  He  is  a 
good  German,  but  a  better  American.  Germany  and  the  German  flag  are  dear 
to  him,  but  the  United  States  and  its  Stars  and  Stripes  are  dearer.  He  has 
never  been  a  politician,  yet  he  has  always  been  active  in  politics.  He  is  a  staunch 
Republican  and  always  gives  his  earnest  support  for  the  success  of  his  party.  He 
was  chosen  Presidential  elector  on  the  Republican  ticket  in  1900  from  the  6th 
Illinois  District.  At  the  time  of  the  Spanish  war  Mr.  Halle  was  one  of  a  com- 
mittee which  went  from  Chicago  to  call  on  President  McKinley  and  assure  him 
of  the  kindly  feelings  of  Germany  and  of  the  Germans  toward  the  United  States. 
In  proof  of  this,  the  German-Americans  of  Chicago  tendered  the  services  of  a 
German  Regiment.  This  action  of  Mr.  Halle  was  so  appreciated  by  the  German 
Emperor  that  he  conferred  on  him  the  badge  of  the  "Kronen  Order  II  Klasse," 
a  distinction  perhaps  never  before  conferred  upon  a  resident  of  the  United 
States. 

Mr.  Halle  is  a  supporter  of  President  McKinley's  administration  and  looks 
with  pride  on  the  position  which  the  United  States  has  taken  as  a  world  power 
since  the  opening  of  the  Spanish  war.  He  is  a  factor  in  social  life  in  Chicago, 
and  is  always  called  upon  on  the  occasion  of  German  fete  days.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Union  League,  Marquette  and  Germania  clubs.  He  was  the  founder 
and  has  been  President  of  the  latter;  The  Germania  club  dates  back  in  embryo 
to  the  assassination  of  President  Lincoln.  When  his  body  was  brought  to  Illi- 
nois for  burial,  the  Germans  of  Chicago  tended  the  services  of  a  mannerchor  to 
sing  at  the  funeral,  and  the  circumstances  kept  it  together.  When  Mr.  Halle 
came  to  Chicago  he  became  a  member  of  the  society,  and  through  his  efforts 
it  became  the  Germania  club  and  now  occupies  the  splendid  club  house  at  the 
corner  of  Germania  Place  and  North  Clark  street.  The  building  was  dedicated 
on  April  6,  1889,  and  represents  an  expenditure  of  more  than  $200,000. 

Edward  G.  Halle  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Gutenberg  in  Minnesota  in 
1869,  and  now  resides  at  No.  485  Dearborn  Avenue,  Chicago.  They  have  two 
children  living;  Frank  E.  and  Fanny  Florence. 


JOHN  B.  HAY. 

Hon.  John  B.  Hay  was  born  at  Belleville,  111.,  January  8,  1834.  He  received 
a  common  school  education.  He  was  taught  to  work  on  the  farm ;  in  his  six- 
teenth year  he  became  a  printer.  He  subsequently  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Wrilliam  C.  Kinney  of  Belleville,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Illinois  bar  by  the  Su- 
preme Court.  He  at  once  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law,  and  gained  a  large 
and  lucrative  practice.  Mr.  Hay  is  an  all-round  lawyer.  He  not  only  prepares 
his  cases  well,  but  tries  them  well.  As  an  advocate  before  Court  and  jury,  he  is 
a  man  of  power.  He  was  elected  State's  Attorney  for  the  24th  Judicial  Circuit, 
in  which  the  County  of  St.  Slair  was  situated,,  and  served  in  this  office  for  a 
period  of  eight  years,  performing  all  the  duties  with  ability  and  fidelity. 

Mr.  Hay  is  a  Republican  in  politics,  and  is  a  thorough  believer  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  party.  He  is  identified  with  the  political  organization  of  his  dis- 
trict and  gives  much  time  and  labor  for  its  success.  In  1868  he  was  nominated  by 
the  Republican  party  as  a  candidate  for  Congress  in  the  Twelfth  Congressional 
District.  This  district  (now  the  Twenty-first)  has  always  been  a  political  battle 
ground,  sometimes  carried  by  the  Republicans,  but  most  generally  carried  by  the 
Democrats.  Mr.  Hay  entered  upon  his  contest  with  great  spirit.  He  can- 
vassed the  district  thoroughly  and  was  elected  over  Hon.  Wm.  H.  Snyder,  his 
Democratic  opponent,  by  1,642  majority.  Mr.  Hay  entered  the  41  st  Congress. 
This  was  the  second  Congress  elected  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  and  many 

692 


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important  questions  were  pending.  He  took  an  active  part  in  all  the  business 
before  Congress,  and  established  a  fine  reputation  as  a  legislator.  He  served  on 
the.Committee»of  Invalid  Pensions  and  Post  offices  and  Post  roads.  In  1870  he 
was  renominated  and  elected ;  he  had  a  continuous  service  of  four  years,  and  rep- 
resented his  district  and  the  state  with  distinguished  ability.  When  the  Civil 
war  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  the  i3Oth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteers,  in  which  he 
served  as  adjutant.  Upon  returning  from  Congress,  Mr.  Hay  resumed  the  prac- 
tice of  law,  a  business  which  he  really  did  not  give  up  during  his  service  in  Con- 
gress. 

John  B.  Hay  was  the  son  of  Andrew  Hay.  His  parents  were  both  born  in 
the  State  of  Illinois.  John  B.  Hay  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Hinckley,  and  they  had 
a  family  of  two  children,  namely,  John  Hay  and  William  Sherman  Hay.  William 
Sherman  Hay  is  a  well  known  lawyer  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  John  Hay  is  one  of 
the  leading  lawyers  of  Minneapolis,  Minn.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hay  have  always  been 
residents  of  the  city  of  Belleville. 


FRED  H.  ROWE. 

Vermont,  the  "Green  Mountain"  State  of  New  England,  and  the  mother 
of  many  men  of  note — men  who  like  their  native  state  were  rugged  and  strong 
in  character,  and  who  were  conspicuous  for  stalwart  fidelity  to  their  convictions 
of  right  and  duty — has  established  its  reputation  for  producing  men  of  brain 
as  well  as  brawn.  The  Nation  has  been  benefited  and  its  history  enriched  by 
the  services  rendered  in  various  ways  by  the  "Sons  of  Vermont"  who  are  scat- 
tered throughout  the  country.  In  several  of  the  States  social  organizations 
bearing  the  title  "Sons  of  Vermont"  have  been  formed  to  keep  alive  the  fraternal 
and  patriotic  feeling  of  which  all  Vermonters  are  justly  proud.  The  barren  fields 
and  cloud-capped  hills  of  old  New  England  proved  too  limited  a  field  of  opera- 
tions for  many  of  the  sturdy  sons  of  this  grand  old  state,  which  if  not  rich  in 
soil  and  productiveness,  is  rich  in  the  historic  valor  of  her  people,  who  find  a 
welcome  wherever  they  go.  There  is  not  a  Western  city  or  state  in  the  Union 
that  does  not  boast  of  some  Vermonters  among  its  prominent  citizens,  and  in 
the  civic,  legislative,  judicial  and  military  records  of  the  country,  Vermont  has 
been  well  recommended,  the  latest  hero  hailing  from  that  state  being  Admiral 
George  Dewey. 

Among  New  Englanders  who  caught  the  Western  fever  was  Hon.  Fred  H. 
Rowe,  who  is  a  Vermonter.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Vermont  in  1857.  His 
early  education  was  acquired  at  Williams  College,  Williamstown,  Mass.,  and 
from  which  institution  he  was  graduated.  In  1882  Mr.  Rowe,  then  a  young 
attorney,  came  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  where  he  entered  into  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  and  where  he  has  since  resided.  The  social  and  educational  attrac- 
tions of  Jacksonville  were  recognized,  and  believing  that  in  the  field  of  the  law 
there  was  an  opening  for  another  attorney  (there  being  always  room  at  the  top), 
convinced  Mr.  Rowe  that  success  might  be  secured,  professionally  at  least,  in 
his  new  Western  home.  Fortified  by  a  strong  physique,  rich  mental  endow- 
ments and  thoroughly  equipped  as  a  scholar  and  a  lawyer,  he  found  progress 
easy,  and  soon  became  appreciated  for  his  many  accomplishments  and  sterling 
quality.  As  a  citizen  and  as  a  lawyer  he  has  established  a  high  reputation,  and 
is  deservedly  popular  in  social  circles.  Men  of  the  caliber  of  Mr.  Rowe  find 
themselves  popular  in  any  community,  for  there  are  just  such  men  as  are  needed 
to  give  verility  to  the  affairs  of  life,  and  it  is  to  such  characters  that  the  develop- 
ment of  the  West  along  all  the  lines  of  progress  is  to  be  credited.  The  infusion 
of  those  rugged  traits  in  social,  moral  and  religious  life  has  been  felt  in  whatever 
of  success  has  been  achieved  in  the  West.  New  England  leaven  has  leavened  the 
whole  political  bodv  of  the  North  and  West,  and  the  continuance  of  New  Eng- 
land blood  in  the  affairs  of  the  county  cannot  but  prove  of  much  benefit. 

At  the  bar  Mr.  Rowe  is  recognized  as  an  able  advocate  and  a  logical  rea- 
soner  learned  in  the  law,  and  not  only  at  the  bar  but  in  the  community  he  holds 

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a  high  place  for  integrity  and  is  esteemed  for  his  personal  worth  by  all  classes 
of  citizens.  In  the  political  arena  also  Mr.  Rovve  has  made  his  mark  as  a 
political  writer  of  sagacity  and  ability,  having  the  faculty  of  reading  men  and 
things  aright,  and  the  power  of  analyzing  political  questions,  discerning  true 
from  false  positions.  By  reason  of  his  ability  in  this  direction,  he  has  been  able 
to  render  the  Republican  party,  of  which  he  is  a  staunch  member,  good  service, 
and  though  not  regarded  as  a  regular  politician  seeking  political  preferment,  he 
was  made  chairman  of  the  Republican  State  Committee  during  the  recent  cam- 
paign, and  performed  the  duties  of  that  office  with  marked  ability,  making  many 
friends  and  no  enemies,  which  speaks  well  for  his  adroitness  as  a  diplomat. 

Being  a  fellow  townsman  of  the  Hon.  Richard  Yates,  Governor-elect,  and 
having  a  close  personal  acquaintance  with  him,  Mr.  Rowe  could  not  but  feel 
more  than  usually  interested  in  the  election  of  Judge  Yates  as  Governor.  To 
aid  in  this  result  he  put  forth  his  best  efforts,  and  as  Chairman  of  the  State 
Committee  was  able  to  do  much  for  the  Judge's  election,  and  to  Mr.  Rowe  and 
his  committee  a  fair  share  of  the  credit  for  the  gratifying  result  obtained  is  due. 
While  Mr.  Rowe  does  not  claim  to  be  an  adept  in  political  management,  he  has 
demonstrated  his  ability  as  an  organizer  of  forces,  and  as  a  leader  of  shrewdness 
and  energy,  highly  gratifying  to  the  younger  element  of  the  party,  which  assumed 
the  brunt  of  the  battle,  in  which  each  participant  won  laurels. 


W.  CLYDE  JONES. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  at  Pilot  Grove,  Lee  County,  la.,  December  27,  1870. 
His  father,  Jonathan  Jones,  of  Welsh  descent,  was  a  Quaker,  and  in  1833  emi- 
grated from  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  the  Southeastern  part  of 
Iowa,  where  he  pre-empted  government  land  and  later  laid  out  the  town  of 
Pilot  Grove.  His  mother,  of  English  ancestry,  was  from  the  Quaker  family  of 
Buffingtons  of  Pennsylvania.  When  W.  Clyde  Jones  was  three  years  old,  he 
removed  with  his  parents  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where,  when  old  enough,  he  at- 
tended the  public  schools.  Upon  leaving  the  high  school,  he  entered  the  Iowa 
State  College,  taking  the  course  in  electrical  engineering.  He  graduated  with 
high  honors  in  1891,  being  one  of  two  standing  in  scholarship  at  the  head  of  the 
list  of  graduates  from  the  Institution  up  to  that  time.  For  some  time  after 
graduation,  Mr.  Jones  was  engaged  in  the  design  of  machinery  and  the  installa- 
tion of  electrical  apparatus ;  having  assisted  in  installing  in  the  iron  mines  of 
Michigan,  the  first  electric  lamps  employed  in  mines. 

Coming  to  Chicago  and  following  the  bent  for  public  speaking  developed  at 
college,  Mr.  Jones  turned  toward  the  law  and  attended  the  evening  sessions  of 
the  Chicago  College  of  Law.  During  the  day  he  was  employed  as  an  elec- 
trical expert  and  served  as  an  expert  witness  in  litigation  involving  electrical 
matters,  and  in  this  capacity  he  was  associated  with  much  of  the  litigation  grow- 
ing out  of  the  telephone,  electric  lamp  and  street  railways.  In  1893  in  response 
to  a  prize  offer  by  the  Electrical  Engineering  Magazine,  Mr.  Jones  wrote  an 
essay  on  "Electricity  at  the  World's  Fair,"  which,  for  its  thorough  treatment 
of  the  subject,  received  one  of  the  prizes ;  from  this  time  on  he  was  a  frequent 
contributor  to  the  electrical  and  scientific  journals,  and  articles  from  his  pen  on 
such  subjects  have  appeared  in  most  of  these  journals.  An  article  on  the 
"'Evolution  of  the  Telephone,"  written  by  Mr.  Jones,  has  become  a  classic  and 
has  been  published  and  re-published  in  a  dozen  different  periodicals. 

Mr.  Jones  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  present  Chicago  Electrical  Asso- 
ciation, and  was  its  President  in  1896.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Franklin 
Institute  of  Philadelphia  and  of  the  Society  of  Mechanical  Engineers,  of  New 
York.  In  1894  Mr.  Jones  graduated  from  the  Chicago  College  of  Law,  and  the 
following  year  pursued  a  post-graduate  course,  receiving  a  degree  from  the  Lake 
Forest  University.  His  graduation  thesis,  entitled  "Trusts  and  Trade  Monopo- 
lies," was  published  in  a  number  of  law  journals  in  this  country  and  Canada.  In 
1896,  Mr.  Jones  read  an  exhaustive  paper  before  the  Northwestern  Electrical  As- 

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sociation  on  "The  Legal  Rights  of  Electrical  Companies."  In  1896  he  com- 
menced the  practice  of  law,  and  in  1899  formed  a  partnership  with  Keene  H. 
Addington,  under  the  name  of  Jones  &  Addmgton,  which  firm  continues  at  the 
present  time.  *  His  practice  has  been  mostly  along  the  line  of  Corporation  law, 
and  he  is  counsel  for  a  number  of  large  companies.  Because  of  Mr.  Jones'  elec- 
trical training  he  has  been  frequently  retained  in  causes  involving  electrical 
questions. 

In  1898  Mr.  Jones  was  retained  by  the  automobile  companies  to  contest  the 
ordinance  of  the  Board  of  South  Park  Commissioners  excluding  automobiles 
from  the  boulevards  and  parks,  because  they  frightened  horses  and  thereby  in- 
terfered with  the  use  of  the  parks  and  boulevards  for  pleasure  purposes.  After 
a  bitter  fight  in  the  courts,  Judge  Gibbons,  of  the  Circuit  Court,  held  the  ordin- 
ance void ;  this  was  the  first  decision  in  which  the  rights  of  the  automobiles  on 
the  streets  and  roadways  were  established. 

In  1899,  during  the  Fall  Festival  at  Chicago,  Mr.  Jones  acted  as  Chief  Aide 
to  President  McKinley,  having  charge  of  the  arrangements  for  the  President's 
reception  and  itinerary,  and  with  such  success  that  he  was  re-appointed  to  the 
same  position  during  the  Grand  Army  Encampment  of  1900.  Mr.  Jones  has 
taken  an  active  part  as  a  speaker  in  all  National,  State  and  Municipal  campaigns 
of  the  Republican  party  since  1896.  He  has  frequently  delivered  addresses  at 
College  and  High  School  commencements  and  on  like  occasions.  Mr.  Jones 
possesses  the  two  qualities  of  an  orator,  a  well  modulated  and  resonant  voice,  and 
a  poetic  imagination. 

W.  Clyde  Jones  was  married  in  1896  to  Miss  Emma  Boyd  of  Paullina,  la., 
and  now  resides  in  Hyde  Park,  Chicago.  Mr.  Jones  is  a  member  of  the  Hamilton, 
Union  League  and  Hyde  Park  Clubs  and  Midlothian  Country  Club,  and  is  the 
President  of  the  Chicago  Alumni  Association  of  the  Iowa  State  College. 


JAMES  McKINNEY. 

In  the  village  of  Oquawka,  111.,  situated  in  Henderson  County,  Illinois, 
James  McKinney  was  born  April  14,  1852,  in  which  place  his  boyhood  years 
were  spent.  In  youth  he  gave  promise  of  a  life  of  future  activity  and  usefulness. 
As  an  evidence  of  the  metal  of  which  he  was  made,  he  found  himself  prepared  to 
enter  college  at  an  earlier  age  than  was  common  in  his  day ;  he  entered  Mon- 
m on th  College,  at  Monmouth,  111.,  and  was  graduated  from  that  institution  in 
1874,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  Being  equipped  physically  and  mentally,  and 
now  educationally,  for  the  activities  of  life,  he  cast  about  for  a  congenial  voca- 
tion. The  intricacies  of  finance  seemed  to  be  the  most  attractive  and  the  most 
congenial.  In  the  same  year  of  his  graduation  he  located  at  Aledo,  the  county 
seat  of  Mercer,  an  adjoining  county,  and  there  became  connected  with  the  Bank 
of  Aledo,  with  which  he  has  still  remained.  In  1878  he  married  Miss  Mary  O. 
AicDonald  of  Aledo,  where  he  established  his  permanent  home,  and  where  social 
and  business  prominence  have  been  acquired.  With  natural  endowments  quali- 
fying him  for  an  active  and  useful  life,  and  with  that  mental  discipline  resulting 
from  a  collegiate  course  of  study,  Mr.  McKinney  was  not  long  in  making  himself 
felt  as  a  business  leader,  and  in  recognition  of  his  ability  and  fitness  he  was  ele- 
vated to  the  presidency  of  the  bank  with  which  he  first  became  identified. 

Like  most  prominent  citizens  in  an  active  community,  he  became  interested 
in  local  and  state  politics,  and  although  never  a  politician,  in  the  common  accepta- 
tion of  that  term,  he  never  failed,  as  all  good  citizens  will  not,  to  take  an  active 
part  in  political  matters,  and  to  identify  himself  with  whatever  influence  he  could 
bring  to  bear  with  whichever  side  he  thought  was  in  the  right.  It  would  be  strange 
if  one  occupying  Mr.  McKinney's  position  should  remain  in  the  background  po- 
litically. He  was  given,  and  assumed,  places  of  responsibility,  and  thus  became 
identified  actively  in  politics.  Having  always  affiliated  with  the  Republican 
party,  it  was  most  natural  that  he  -should  be  selected  to  represent  his  community 
in  a  political  capacity.  In  1894  he  was  made  a  member  of  the  Republican  State 

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Central  Committee,  which  position  he  now  holds;  then  in  1896  he  was  made  a 
member  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  is  at  this  time  its  Chairman.  This 
committee  did  most  excellent  service  during  the  National  campaign  of  1896,  and 
also  in  that  of  1900;  much  of  its  good  work  is  to  be  attributed  to  the  good  sense, 
zeal  and  political  integrity  of  Mr.  McKinney,  and  to  the  estimation  in  which  he 
is  held  by  his  associates  and  by  the  public  brought  in  contact  with  him.  Few 
men  occupying  a  similar  position,  with  equal  opportunities  for  political  prefer- 
ment would  have  refrained  from  entering  the  scramble  for  office  which  charac- 
terizes present  political  methods.  But,  aside  from  the  desire  to  do  his  full  duty 
as  a  citizen  and  to  lend  his  influence  for  the  right,  he  has  had  no  political  ambi- 
tion, and  therefore  has  not  been  an  office-seeker.  To  show  his  popularity  at 
home,  where  he  is  best  known,  Mercer  County,  in  which  he  now  resides,  urged 
him  for  Congressional  honors  in  1895,  and  although  not  nominated,  he  dis- 
played a  strength  most  pronounced  and  satisfactory.  He  is,  comparatively 
speaking,  a  young  man  yet,  and  political  lightning  will  very  probably  come  his 
way  before  long. 

It  is,  however,  as  a  citizen  and  as  the  head  of  a  banking  institution  that 
Mr.  McKinney  is  best  known  and  best  appreciated.  In  financial  circles  his 
merit  is  recognized,  having  been  made  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council  oT 
the  State  Bankers'  Association,  an  association  of  honor  and  financial  power. 
He  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that  capacity.  It  has  been  said  that  the 
lives  of  all  great  men  are  alike  in. many  particulars,  while  some  few  are  quite 
alike  physically.  Because  of  Mr.  McKinney's  resemblance  to  President  Mc- 
Kinley,  he  is  jokingly  called  "McKinley"  by  his  intimate  associates  and  friends, 
which  joke  is  appreciated  and  taken  good  naturedly.  Mr.  McKinney's  private 
and  home  life  is  irreproachable,  his  business  integrity  unchallenged,  and  his 
political  worth  widely  recognized. 


W.  S.  EDEN. 

Mr.  Eden  was  born  in  Liverpool,  Eng.,  February  14,  1844,  and  came  to  this 
country  when  six  years  old,  living  in  New  York  City  until  coming  to  Chicago 
with  his  father  in  1856.  It  is  here  that  his  life-work  has  been  done,  so  that  in  fact 
he  may  be  called  an  American,  and  such  he  considers  himself.  His  education 
was  acquired  at  the  common  schools.  His  first  work  was  as  bell-boy  at  the  Tre- 
mont  House,  Chicago,  being  then  twelve  years  of  age.  His  next  venture,  for 
about  a  year,  was  as  train-boy  on  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  Later,  and  when 
yet  in  his  "teens,"  he  went  to  Michigan,  and  engaged  in  the  rough  work  of  lum- 
bering. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  being  still  comparatively  a  boy,  Mr.  Eden  en- 
listed in  Chicago,  in  a  company  known  as  the  "Ellsworth  Zouaves,"  at  the  first 
call  of  President  Lincoln  for  75,000  volunteers,  but  was  mustered  out,  the  call 
having  been  filled.  Here  an  incident  occurred,  which,  but  for  its  fortunate  ter- 
mination, might  have  changed  Mr.  Eden's  career.  It  seems  that  he  had  ob- 
iained  permission  to  make  a  short  visit  home,  before  leaving  with  his  Regiment 
for  the  front,  and  during  his  absence,  the  Regiment  left  without  Him.  But,  by 
Captain  Brand's  influence,  however,  Mr.  Eden  was  placed  in  Company  B.  and  at 
Camp  Douglas  was  mustered  out.  Afterward,  he  was  one  of  the  many  that  were 
drafted,  but  being  then  engaged  in  business,  he  could  not  well  leave  and  paid 
$800.00  for  a  substitute  to  go  in  his  place. 

Very  early  in  life  Mr.  Eden  began  to  display  those  excellent  business  qual- 
ities which  in  later  years  have  made  him  so  successful.  He  was  never  afraid  to 
labor,  and  often  continued  his  work  far  into  the  night  rather  than  leave  any- 
thing undone.  By  his  industry  and  economy  he  succeeded  in  accumulating  quite 
a  little  money  before  he  was  twenty  years  old,  and  with  his  capital,  started  in 
the  real  business  of  life.  First  he  opened  a  meat  market  on  Canal  Street,  Chi- 
cago, for  supplying  the  vessel  trade/and  was  at  that  time  the  largest  dealer  in  his 
line.  This  business  he  prosecuted  from  1862  to  1865.  Afterward  he  became 

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proprietor  of  the  Palmer  House  Barber  shop,  and  conceived  the  idea  of  embed- 
ding silver  dollars  in  the  floor.  It  was  chiefly  this  act  that  gave  the  "Palmer 
House"  more  than  a  national  reputation.  Later,  he  was  proprietor  with  Willis 
Howe  of  the  Howeden  Hotel.  Subsequently,  he  became  interested  in  and  was 
one  of  four  men  that  furnished  and  opened  The  Midland  Hotel,  noted  for  its 
prominence,  at  Kansas  City,  Mo.  He  was  also  proprietor  of  the  Tremont  House, 
Chicago,  for  ten  years,  and  up  to  three  years  ago.  His  hotel  experience  was 
large  and  successful,  and  owing  to  his  hotel  record  he  inspired  the  promotion  of 
the  present  Great  Northern  Hotel  with  all  its  grandeur,  and  which  he  has  since 
conducted  with  success,  since  its  opening  nine  years  ago. 

Mr.  Eden  has  made  Chicago  his  home  since  1856,  and  has  always  been  rec- 
ognized as  a  thorough-going  Republican,  though  never  a  candidate  for  political 
office.  The  Republican  State  Committees  are  always  quartered  at  the  Great 
Northern  Hotel.  Mr.  Eden  is  a  colonel  on  the  staff  of  Governor  Tanner.  In 
1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Davis  of  Alabama.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren. 


JOHN   D.  YOUNG. 

Dr.  John  D.  Young  of  Pellonia,  Massac  County,  111.,  is  a  native  of  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  born  in  Henry  County,  October  18,  1844.  His  father,  Elija 
Young,  was  born  in  the  Blue  Grass  region  of  Kentucky,  in  1803;  he  was  a 
farmer  and  tobacco  manufacturer. 

John  D.  Young  attended  the  common  schools  of  Tennessee,  where  he 
acquired  a  solid  foundation  for  an  English  education.  The  Young  family  were 
loyal  people ;  they  strictly  adhered  to  the  Union,  and  when  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  came  on,  John  D.  Young  enlisted  in  the  i2Oth  Illinois  Infantry.  This 
regiment  went  out  from  southern  Illinois,  and  was  composed  of  men  of  splendid 
physical  ability  and  courage.  Mr.  Young  participated  in  the  battles  of  Green- 
ville, Vicksburg,  Milligan's  Bend,  Gun  Town  and  Ripley.  He  was  taken  pris- 
oner, June  12,  1864,  and  was  sent  to  Andersonville  Prison,  where  he  languished 
for  six  months,  when  he  was  paroled.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  June 
2,  1865.  Mr.  Young  entered  the  service  as  a  boy;  he  had  now  attained  man's 
estate,  and  proposed  to  himself  to  bear  a  manly  part  in  this  life's  struggle.  He 
bought  a  tract  of  land  in  Johnson  County,  111.,  and  entered  upon  the  business 
of  farming.  He  made  the  acquaintance  of  Drs.  Grisham  and  Morris,  and  he 
entered  upon  the  study  of  medicine  under  their  instruction.  Afterwards  he  en- 
tered the  Kentucky  Medical  College  of  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  was  graduated  in 
1874.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  settled  in  Massac  County,  and  at  once  entered 
upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  became  well  and  favorably  known  in 
Massac  and  adjoining  counties  as  a  skillful  physician  and  as  a  public  spirited  and 
intelligent  man. 

Dr.  Young  had  identified  himself  with  the  Republican  party  immediately  upon 
his  return  from  the  army  and  had  given  the  candidates  of  that  party  his  earnest 
and  cordial  support.  In  1880  he  was  nominated  by  the  Republican  party  as  a 
candidate  for  the  legislature  and  was  elected,  and  two  years  later  he  was  re- 
elected  to  the  same  position.  He  performed  the  duties  of  a  legislator  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents  and  this  added  greatly  to  his  prestige  and  popu- 
larity. He  has  kept  abreast  with  the  progressive  features  of  his  profession,  and 
is  recognized  on  all  hands  as  a  physician  of  great  skill  and  ability,  a  man  of 
sound  judgment,  great  energy  and  force  of  character. 

On  October  19,  1865,  he  married  Lucy  Calhoun,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev. 
Z.  Calhoun  of  Illinois.  Mrs.  Young  has  been  a  sturdy  support  of  the  Doctor 
in  all  his  struggles  for  advancement.  They  have  three  children :  Laura,  now 
the  wife  of  Dr.  A.  E.  Atkins ;  Frederick  R.  Young,  a  man  of  high  promise,  now 
practicing  the  profession  of  law  in  Metropolis,  111.,  and  a  daughter,  Alice,  de- 
ceased. Dr.  Young  is  a  member  of  a  number  of  social  orders ;  is  a  Mason,  an 
Odd  Fellow  and  a  Knight  of  Pythias.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Young  are  memBers  of  the 
Christian  Church  and  have  a  wide  circle  of  friends. 

702 


WILLIAM   HALE  THOMPSON. 

William  H.  Thompson  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  Massachusetts. 
He  was  born  May  14,  1869,  in  Boston.  His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  in 
New  England.  His  parents  were  born  there,  but  came  to  Chicago  during  his 
infancy.  His  father,  William  Hale  Thompson,  became  a  large  real  estate  owner 
in  Chicago  and  in  other  parts  of  the  west. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Chi- 
cago ;  attended  the  Supplementary  School  in  Fessenden  Preparatory  School,  and 
he  then  attended  the  Metropolitan  College.  At  the  age  of  fifteen,  with  the  entire 
approbation  of  his  parents,  he  went  west  in  the  employment  of  the  Standard 
Cattle  Company  of  Colorado,  Montano  and  Wyoming,  and  for  five  seasons  was 
actively  engaged  in  the  ranch  business  in  that  country,  returning  to  Chicago 
each  winter  for  the  purpose  of  continuing  his  studies.  Mr.  Thompson,  during 
these  five  years,  acquired  a  complete  knowledge  of  cattle  raising  and  of  con- 
ducting a  ranch.  After  this  experience  he  managed  a  large  cattle  ranch  in 
Nebraska,  which  was  owned  by  his  father  and  himself.  His  father,  dying,  left 
large  real  estate  interests,  the  management  of  which  fell  to  the  son,  who  now 
devotes  his  time  and  attention  to  that  business. 

Mr.  Thompson's  long  experience  with  ranch  life  inspired  him  with  a  great 
love  for  out-door  exercise  and  sports,  and  during  his  city  life  he  is  a  patron  of 
those  institutions  which  contribute  to  out-door  sports.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Chicago  Yacht  Club,  the  Washington  Park  Club  and  the  Chicago  Athletic  Club. 
He  has  participated  in  the  active  sports  of  this  last  named  institution,  as  well 
as  in  its  management.  He  has  been  "tackle"  of  the  football  team,  as  well  as 
vice-president  of.  the  club.  Mr.  Thompson  is  also  a  member  of  the  Marquette 
Club,  and  as  a  means  of  promoting  his  real  estate  interests  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Real  Estate  Board. 

In  politics  Mr.  Thompson  is  a  stalwart  Republican,  a  thorough  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  party  and  the  necessity  of  political  organization.  He  is  an 
active  worker  and  an  influential  man  in  Republican  circles.  In  April,  1900,  Mr. 
Thompson  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  Second  ward  of  Chicago. 


CHARLES  EDWIN   HYDE. 

Charles  Edwin  Hyde  was  born  in  New  York  City,  September  29,  1841.  His 
parents  were  Edwin  N.  and  Julia  Hyde,  old  residents  of  New  York  and  descend- 
ants from  the  pioneers  of  Massachusetts  and  New  Jersey.  Mr.  Hyde  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools,  and  at  the  age  of  thirteen  years,  being  ambitious 
to  learn  a  trade,  engaged  with  Field  &  Keep,  manufacturing  jewelers,  at  New- 
ark, N.  J.  His  pay  during  the  time  of  his  indenture  was  $2.25  per  week  for  board 
and  $25  per  annum  for  clothing,  payable  quarterly.  By  working  overtime  five 
nights  each  week  he  earned  sufficient  for  all  necessaries  and  was  contented.  By 
attending  strictly  to  business  and  adhering  to  the  rules  of  the  establishment, 
Mr.  Hyde  obtained  the  good  will  of  his  employers,  so  that  when  the  panic 
came  in  1857,  and  all  business  was  supended,  young  Hyde  was  retained  and 
given  general  charge  of  the  almost  idle  plant.  During  this  period  he  slept  in 
the  building  and  guarded  the  interests  entrusted  to  his  care  so  faithfully  and 
well  that  soon  after  the  reopening  of  the  factory  he  was  given  his  full  time  and 
made  assistant  superintendent  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  employes,  a  very  re- 
sponsible position  for  one  who  had  not  yet  reached  his  majority. 

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When  the  war  broke  out  in  1861  Mr.  Hyde  enlisted  at  the  first  call  of 
troops,  in  the  Second  New  Jersey  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  in  at 
Trenton,  and  Was  furnished  with  an  old  flint-lock  Revolutionary  musket,  the 
best  arms  having  been  sent  to  Southern  arsenals  by  Secretary  of  War  Floyd, 
This  New  Jersey  regiment  was  the  first  troops  to  pass  through  Baltimore  after 
the  attack  on  the  6th  Massachusetts  Infantry,  thus  opening  up  the  direct  route 
to  the  South  for  the  Northern  troops. 

Mr.  Hyde  participated  in  many  of  the  fierce  battles  which  occurred  during 
the  early  months  of  the  war.  He  was  at  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  and  sub- 
sequent battles  on  the  Peninsular,  before  Richmond,  Manasses,  West  Point, 
Cold  Harbor,  Games'  Mills,  Mechanicsville,  Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  Malvern 
Hills  and  others.  On  the  retreat  with  General  McClellan's  army  to  Harrison's 
Landing,  on  the  James  River,  Mr.  Hyde  marched  seven  consecutive  nights  and 
fought  seven  consecutive  days,  his  only  subsistence  being  fifteen  army  crackers ; 
these  were  exhausted  during  the  first  five  days  and  he  satisfied  his  appetite  as 
best  he  could  the  balance  of  the  time  on  remembrances  of  them.  At  the  close 
of  his  term  of  service  Mr.  Hyde  was  honorably  discharged.  In  1864,  while 
visiting  in  Indiana  he  again  re-enlisted  and  was  appointed  post  adjutant  at 
Camp  Carrington,  Indianapolis,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

In  1865,  Mr.  Hyde  came  to  Chicago  and  entered  the  employ  of  Scott, 
Keene  &  Co.,  clothing  manufacturers.  Here  he  was  soon  put  in  charge  of  the 
custom  department  and  remained  through  successive  changes  in  the  firm  until 
1868,  wlien  he  started  in  business  on  his  own  account  at  No.  115  Madison 
Street.  This  establishment  was  burned  in  the  big  fire  of  1871,  but  Mr.  Hyde 
opened  up  temporary  quarters  at  Halsted  and  Madison  streets,  while  the  fire 
was  stiU  burning.  He  remained  at  this  temporary  location  until  May  i,  1872, 
removing  then  to  No.  255  West  Madison  Street,  and  on  February  i,  1873,  lo- 
cated in  the  building  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Clark  and  Monroe  streets, 
where  he  has  remained  ever  since — a  period  of  twenty-eight  years. 

Mr.  Hyde  is  a  sturdy  Republican.  Although  he  has  never  sought  for  office, 
he  always  considers  it  his  duty  to  vote  at  primaries  and  sustain  his  share  of  the 
campaign  work.  He  is  a  resident  of  the  old  Twelfth  Ward,  a  change  in  the 
boundaries  now  making  it  the  Eleventh.  Mr.  Hyde  has  frequently  been  a  dele- 
gate to  county  and  State  conventions,  and  in  1900  was  a  delegate  to  the  con- 
vention that  nominated  Hon.  Richard  Yates  for  Governor  of  Illinois.  He  has 
never  missed  voting  at  his  precinct  during  the  past  twenty-eight  years. 

Mr.  Hyde  was  the  prime  mover  and  organizer  of  the  Chicago  Commercial 
Association,  and  has  been  an  officer  and  director  from  the  start ;  an  organiza- 
tion which  has  and  is  doing  very  effective  work  to  encourage,  foster  and  ad- 
vance the  best  interests,  commercially,  of  its  members  and  the  city  of  Chicago 
in  general.  Under  its  wing  the  Peace  Jubilee  in  1898  was  promulgated  and  the 
Fall  Festival  in  1899  carried  to  a  successful  conclusion.  Its  members  are  hard 
and  earnest  workers,  and  have  been  untiring  in  their  efforts  to  promote  the 
erection  of  the  proposed  grand  Exposition  Building  on  the  Lake  Front :  not- 
withstanding the  many  obstacles,  the  Association  expects  to  obtain  legislation 
favorable  to  their  plans  at  the  coming  session  of  the  Legislature.  The  Associa- 
tion has  just  taken  up  with  the  city  authorities  the  matter  of  immediate  im- 
provement of  river  navigation  by  the  removal  of  the  Washington  Street  Bridge 
and  the  pier  upon  which  it  rests ;  the  removal  of  this  obstruction  will  materially 
assist  five-sixths  of  the  vessels  to  pass  that  point  with  their  usual  cargoes.  Mr. 
Hyde  is  recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  merchant  tailors  of  the  country.  He 
has  been  president  for  two  terms  of  the  Chicago  Drapers  and  Tailors  Exchange, 
he  was  also  its  secretary  and  treasurer;  also  served  as  president  and  treasurer 
of  the  Merchant  Tailors'  National  Exchange,  and  is  an  indefatigable  worker 
for  the  advancement  of  the  organization.  Mr.  Hyde  was  a  member  of  the 
Merchant  Tailors'  World's  Fair  Committee,  which  erected  the  beautiful  Mer- 
chant Tailors'  Building;  this  was  the  only  industry  that  had  a  building  of  its 
own  on  the  Fair  Grounds.  As  treasurer,  Mr.  Hyde  raised  about  $40,000  in 
subscriptions,  and  disbursed  the  same  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned ;  at 
the  close  of  the  Fair  he  was  presented  with  a  handsome  gold  medal  by  his  asso- 

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ciates,  many  of  whom  were  his  competitors  in  business,  as  an  evidence  of  his 
good  work  in  connection  with  the  World's  Fair.  He  was  president  of  the  Fox 
Lake  Shooting"  and  Fishing  Club ;  is  a  member  of  the  Illinois  Club,  having 
joined  in  1884;  also  a  member  of  the  Lincoln  Club.  Mr.  Hyde  is  a  thirty- 
second  degree  Mason;  he  joined  the  Fraternity  in  1865,  and  took  Chapter, 
Templar  and  Consistory  degrees  before  the  end  of  the  year  1866.  He  was  a 
charter  member,  first  senior  warden,  and  second  worshipful  master  of  the  now 
famous  Covenant  Lodge  No.  526,  of  Illinois,  one  of,  if  not  the  largest  in  point 
of  numbers  in  existence.  Today  he  is  the  oldest  living  of  thirty  past  masters 
of  his  lodge. 

Charles  Edwin  Hyde  Was  married  to  Medora  A.  Sammons  in  1869.  Miss 
Sammons  is  a  native  of  Chicago,  her  parents  arriving  here  in  1835-36,  when  old 
Fort  Dearborn  was  a  refuge  many  a  night  on  account  of  troublesome  Indians. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hyde  still  live  in  the  home  built  by  him  in  1873,  at  No.  601  Jack- 
son Boulevard.  They  have  three  children :  two  sons,  Charles  Albert  and  Walter 
Wood ;  arid  one  daughter,  Grace  Medora. 


JOHN   F.  SMULSKI. 

Mr.  Smulski  was  born  in  German  Poland  in  1867.  He  came  to  this  country 
with  his  father  when  .he  was  two  years  old,  and  having  been  raised  and  educated 
in  this  country,  he  is  regarded  as  thoroughly  American.  His  father,  on  arrival 
in  this  country,  Went  into  the  newspaper  business,  in  which  he  made  his  mark 
as  a  man  of  literary  merit.  John  F.  Smulski  began  his  education  in  the  German 
schools,  and  was  a 'student  of  St.  Jerome's  College,  Berlin.  Upon  his  return  to 
this  coubtry  he  went  into  newspaper  business,  and  subsequently  entered  Union 
College  of  Law,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1890.  Mr.  Smulski  inherits  from 
his  father  a  taste  and  adaptability  for  newspaper  work,  and  as  well  as  being  a 
lawyer,  is  a  good  newspaper  man. 

One  having  the  capability  and  -inclinations  possessed  by  Mr.  Smulski  could 
not  be  expected  to  refrain  from  entering  politics  as  an  active  factor.  Owing 
to  his  high  character  as  a  man,  and  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held  among 
the  Polish  and  othef  -citizens  who  know  him  best,  he  has  been  successful  as  a 
politician,  being  a  leader  among  his  associates  and  those  who  are  pleased  to 
confer  favors  upon  him.  He  first  ran  for  office  in  1896,  and  was  defeated  by 
the  narrow  margin  of  sixty-three  votes  by  his  popular  rival  candidate,  Peter 
Kiolbassa.  As  an  introduction  into  politics  this  result  was  taken  as  an  evidence 
of  the  worth  and  popularity  of  Mr.  Smulski.  In  1897  he  ran  again  for  alderman 
and  was  elected,  and  was  re-elected  by  a  good  majority  in  1899.  As  a  repre- 
sentative of  the  1 6th  Ward  in  the  City  Council,  he  has  established  a  most  excel- 
lent reputation,  not  only  in  looking  after  the  particular  interests  of  his  ward,  but 
working  for  the  good  of  the  entire  city.  He  is  recognized  as  an  able  and  ener- 
getic member  of  the  Council,,  thoroughly  honest  and  upright.  He  is  one  of  the 
leaders  in  the  Council,  and  is  a  member  of  most  of  the  important  committees. 

He  is  a  loyal  Republican,  and  as  a  public  speaker  is  forceful,  clear  and 
convincing.  Four  years  ago  he  rendered  admirable  service  to  the  Republican 
party,  but  was  prevented  from  similar  activity  during  the  last  campaign.  He  is 
secretary  of  the  organization  of  Republican  Alderman,  a  position  calculated  to 
render  his  services  of  value  to  the  Republican  party.  Mr.  Smulski  is  a  member 
of  the  law  firm  of  David,  Smulski  &  McGaffey.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Chicago 
Press  Club  and  of  the  Lincoln  Club.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Pulaski  Lumber 
Company,  and  a  director  of  the  Milwaukee  Avenue  State  Bank.  These  posi- 
tions attest  the  social  status  of  Mr.  Smulski  as  well  as  his  business  standing. 


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JAMES  P.  MALLETTE. 

James  P.  Mallette,  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in 
1851,  where  he  received  his  early  education;  came  to  Chicago  in  1873,  and  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  of  furniture,  organizing  the  Mallette  &  Raymond 
Manufacturing  Company.  In  1883  Mr.  Mallette  became  interested  in  real  es- 
tate, with  his  present  partner,  Charles  B.  Eggleston,  and  with  Ralph  E.  Brownell, 
organizing  the  firm  of  Eggleston,  Mallette  &  Brownell.  Mr.  Mallette  assumed 
active  charge  of  the  real  estate  branch  of  the  business,  and  the  beautiful  resi- 
dence suburbs  of  Eggleston  and  Auburn  Park  are  the  result  of  his  progressive 
ideas  and  keen  business  foresight.  The  present  firm  of  Eggleston  &  Mallette 
is  one  of  the  best  known  and  successful  real  estate  firms  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Mal- 
lette has  been  a  member  of  the  Chicago  Real  Estate  Board  for  a  number  of 
years  and  has  served  on  several  of  the  important  committees.  He  is  a  man  of 
excellent  business  capacity,  industrious  habits  and  marked  executive  ability,  and 
stands  high  in  the  financial  world. 

In  1892  Mr.  Mallette  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Education 
by  Mayor  Washburn,  and  re-appointed  two  years  later  by  Mayor  Swift.  During 
his  term  of  service  he  was  chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee,  and  an  active 
member  of  several  other  important  committees.  In  1895  Mr.  Mallette  was 
selected  as  a  candidate  for  the  office  of  Drainage  Trustee  by  the  Republican 
party,  and  on  November  5th  of  that  year  was  elected  to  that  important  office, 
and  resigned  from  the  Board  of  Education  upon  taking  his  seat  as  a  member 
of  the  Drainage  Board.  Mr.  Mallette  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  completion 
of  the  drainage  canal,  and  was  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee  of  that 
body  during  his  entire  term  of  office,  performing  the  duties  of  trustee  with 
great  ability,  and  his  name  will  always  be  prominently  connected  with  that  stu- 
pendous undertaking. 

Mr.  Mallette  is  an  earnest  and  influential  member  of  the  Republican  party, 
and  takes  a  deep  interest  in  public  affairs.  In  1877  Mr.  Mallette  married  Miss 
Mabel  L.  Stevens,  of  Chicago,  and  a  family  of  six  children,  three  boys  and 
three  girls,  have  made  the  home  life  very  delightful.  Mr.  Mallette  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Trinity  Reformed  Episcopal  Church,  of  which  he  has  been  a  vestry- 
man for  more  than  fifteen  years.  He  belongs  to  Englewood  Commandery  No. 
59,  Knights  Templar,  also  a  member  of  the  Union  League  Club  of  Chicago, 
and  of  the  Western  Society  of  Engineers.  Mr.  Mallette  is  a  public  spirited  man 
and  has  done  much  for  Chicago. 


JOSEPH  BRUCKER. 

Joseph  Brucker  was  born  at  Ischl,  Upper  Austria,  in  that  picturesque  part 
of  the  Alps  known  as  Salzkammergut,  October  30,  1849.  He  was  the  eldest  son 
of  Joseph  Brucker,  a  prominent  merchant  of  that  place.  Young  Brucker  re- 
ceived a  thorough  elementary  and  college  education,  graduating  in  1867.  He 
afterward  added  to  his  knowledge  of  the  languages  and  philosophy  at  various 
institutions,  finally  taking  a  course  at  the  University  of  Vienna.  Being  of  a  very 
liberal  turn  of  mind,  with  a  leaning  toward  radicalism,  Mr.  Brucker  was  at- 
tracted to  the  United  States.  He  left  his  native  country  in  the  spring  of  1871, 
came  to  America,  and  proceeded  directly  to  Milwaukee.  At  this  time  he  had 
neither  relative  nor  personal  friend  anywhere  in  the  United  States,  but  he  soon 
succeeded  in  obtaining  employment  with  the  engineering  party  that  surveyed 

710 


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the  line  of  the  Milwaukee  &  Northern,  now  the  Superior  Division  of  the  Chi- 
cago, Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway.  Following  this,  he  became  clerk  in  a 
bookstore  and  .from  that  humble  position  he  was  selected  to  become  a  teacher 
of  German,  Latin  and  history  in  the  German  and  English  Academy  at  Milwaukee. 

The  quiet  and  conservative  course  of  a  teacher's  life  was  not  suitable  for 
the  active  temperament  and  vivid  mind  of  Mr.  Brucker.  He  bought  an  interest 
in  a  radical  German  weekly,  the  "Freidenker"  ;  this  venture  marks  his  entry 
upon  a  journalistic  career,  which  continued  until  1878.  He  then  became  in- 
terested in  the  land  and  immigration  business  in  Northern  Wisconsin,  and  to 
assist  in  this  work  of  colonization  he  published  a  semi-monthly  paper,  "Der 
Ansiedler  in  Wisconsin."  Later  he  published  "Der  Waldbote"  (Messenger  of 
the  Forest),  at  Medford,  Wis. ;  this  paper  is  now  in  its  eighteenth  year  and  is 
still  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

Mr.  Brucker  spent  about  ten  years  of  hard  work  in  the  woods  of  Northern 
Wisconsin,  during  which  period  he  became  interested  in  various  enterprises, 
such  as  banking,  sawmills,  etc.,  but  in  the  spring  of  1891,  he  returned  to  his 
favorite  occupation  and  published  the  "National  Zeitung,"  a  German  Republican 
daily  paper  in  Chicago.  This  enterprise,  after  a  long  struggle  against  great 
odds,  failed. 

Two  years  after  the  death  of  Hermann  Raster,  the  late  A.  C.  Hesing,  then 
the  principal  owner  of  the  "Illinois  Staats  Zeitung,"  tendered  Mr.  Brucker  the 
position  as  editor,  which  he  accepted,  and  since  January,  1894,  he  has  been  con- 
stantly connected  with  that  paper  and  is  now  its  managing  editor. 

The  Staats  Zeitung  has  long  been  one  of  the  most  powerful  German  daily 
papers  in  the  United  States.  It  was  the  first  German  daily  to  denounce  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  Bill  and  to  defend  the  principles  of  the  Republican  platform  of 
1856,  vigorously  opposing  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  In  1856  it  advocated  the  elec- 
tion of  Fremont  for  President,  and  in  1858  labored  for  the  election  of  Abraham 
Lincoln  in  the  famous  struggle  with  Stephen  A.  Douglas.  This  paper  has  been 
largely  instrumental  in  leading  the  German  voters  into  the  Republican  party. 
Its  influence  with  German-Americans  was  shown  in  1892  when  it  is  given  credit 
for  swinging  the  voters  of  that  nationality  to  the  support  of  Cleveland,  for  Presi- 
dent, in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin.  Supporting  and  advocating  honest  and  pro- 
gressive principles  always,  the  Staats  Zeitung  raised  its  voice  for  sound  money 
in  1896  and  again  in  1900.  The  paper  is  now  controlled  by  those  who  helped 
to  make  its  past  honorable  record,  and  is  in  a  position  to  make  its  future  his- 
tory a  continuation  of  that  which  has  gone  before. 

Joseph  Brucker  will  not  only  continue  as  managing  editor  under  the  new 
regime  of  the  Staats  Zeitung,  but  he  will  become  a  more  potent  factor  than 
ever  in  the  conduct  of  the  paper.  While  he  always  took  an  active  part  in  poli- 
tics, newspaper  work  has  absorbed  most  of  his  thought  and  energy.  In  politics 
he  has  always  been  a  staunch  Republican,  and  is  an  active  and  aggressive  cam- 
paigner. In  1880  he  was  invited  by  the  National  Committee,  and  especially  by 
Mr.  Arthur,  afterward  President,  to  address  the  Germans  in  their  own  language 
in  the  States  of  Indiana,  Wisconsin  and  New  York.  In  1884  Mr.  Brucker  was 
made  Secretary  of  the  Wisconsin  Republican  State  Convention,  and  managed 
the  German  Bureau  for  the  State  Committee  in  the  National  campaign  of  that 
year.  He  led  the  fight  against  Carl  Schurz,  the  principal  "mugwump"  and  per- 
sonal enemy  of  James  G.  Blaine ;  at  this  time  Mr.  Brucker  was  given  the  by- 
name of  "The  Silver-tongued  Pinery  Boy"  by  a  political  writer  on  the  Chi- 
cago Tribune.  He  is  now  very  often  addressed  in  this  fashion  by  his  friends. 
Mr.  Brucker  continued  to  take  an  active  part  in  politics  in  each  campaign,  al- 
though he  has  never  held  an  elective  office.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Illi- 
nois Republican  State  Central  Committee  since  1898.  During  the  campaign 
of  1900  he  had  charge  of  the  German  literary  and  the  press  bureaus  organized 
by  the  State  Committee,  and  also  advised  the  National  Committee  in  matters 
pertaining  to  German  campaign  literature  and  speakers.  He  was  also  very  ac- 
tive on  the  stump  and  gave  the  party  much  of  his  time  for  this  purpose.  Through 
his  influence  and  leadership  the  "Illinois  Staats  Zeitung"  was  the  first,  and  for 
a  long  time  the  only  German  paper  in  the  whole  country  advocating  Expansion, 

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and  it  had  the  satisfaction  of  being  followed  in  this  course  by  the  other  German 
papers  of  Republican  tendencies. 

Joseph  Brucker  was  married  in  1873.  He  has  two  children,  the  eldest,  a 
daughter,  was  married  in  1896  to  Edwin  O.  Raster;  the  other,  a  son,  Ralph, 
was  born  in  1877,  is  now  a  lawyer  and  a  member  of  the  bar  of  Cook  County. 
Mr.  Brucker  is  a  member  of  several  societies,  among  which  are  the  Chicago 
Turngemeinde,  the  Press  Club,  the  Germania  Club,  and  the  Union  League  Club. 


ZINA  R.  CARTER. 

Zina  R.  Carter  was  born  on  a  farm  in  Jefferson  County,  New  York,  in  1847. 
His  father  died  when  Mr.  Carter  was  nine  years  old,  leaving  a  widow  and  four 
children  without  means  of  support.  Zina  R.,  was  the  eldest  of  the  children  and 
from  the  time  he  was  twelve  years  old  was  practically  the  head  of  the  family. 
He  obtained  his  education  in  the  district  school  during  the  winters,  it  being 
necessary  for  him  to  work  during  the  summer  months.  When  he  was  fourteen 
years  old  the  demands  upon  him  were  so  great  that  he  was  obliged  to  abandon 
school  entirely,  and  he  labored  in  the  forests  in  the  winter  and  managed  the  farm 
in  the  summer.  In  1864,  he  served  one  season  as  a  common  sailor  before  the 
mast  on  the  lakes.  He  then  came  West  with  his  family  and  rented  a  farm  in  Du- 
Page  County,  Illinois.  Here,  by  hard  work  and  careful  saving  he  laid  up  a  few 
hundred  dollars,  and  in  the  fall  of  1871  bought  an  interest  in  a  small  grocery 
store  in  Chicago.  Shortly  afterward  he  bought  out  his  partner's  interest  in  the 
flour  and  feed  business  and  sold  out  the  grocery  store.  Under  his  careful  man- 
agement, the  business  rapidly  increased  and  a  few  years  later,  he  took  into  part- 
nership a  younger  brother,  James  B.,  since  then  the  firm  has  been  known  as  Z.  R. 
Carter  &  Brother.  The  business  of  the  firm  is  an  extensive  one,  both  wholesale 
and  retail.  Mr.  Carter  has  always  been  known  as  a  careful,  conservative  and 
reliable  business  man.  His  character  and  dealings  on  the  Board  of  Trade  have 
made  him  popular  among  his  associates.  Since  he  has  been  a  member  of  the 
Board  he  has  served  on  the  committee  on  arbitration,  and  the  committee  on  ap- 
peals ;  he  has  also  been  a  director,  second  and  first  vice-president.  In  1898  he 
was  elected  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  by  a  large  majority,  the  vote  cast 
at  this  election  being  the  largest  on  record. 

Mr.  Carter  has  always  been  a  Republican  and  a  strong  organization  man. 
Since  his  first  residence  in  Chicago,  he  has  been  active  in  politics  but  has  never 
sought  office.  He  has,  however,  been  induced  by  his  friends  to  accept  several 
nominations  and  has  been  successful  in  every  instance  but  one.  In  the  Spring 
of  1895,  he  was  elected  alderman  of  the  Tenth  Ward,  resigning  in  November  of 
that  year  to  accept  the  office  of  Drainage  Trustee,  to  which  he  had  been  elected. 
In  1899,  Mr.  Carter  received  the  unanimous  nomination  for  Mayor  in  the  Repub- 
lican Convention.  He  was  defeated  at  the  election,  owing  to  peculiar  circum- 
stances which  existed  at  that  time.  He  conducted  a  masterful  campaign  and 
under  ordinary  conditions  would  no  doubt,  have  been  elected.  At  the  November 
election  of  1900,  Mr.  Carter  was  re-elected  for  another  term  of  five  years  on  the 
Drainage  Board. 

Mr.  Carter  resides  at  1441  Ogden  Avenue  and  is  the  head  of  a  bright  and 
interesting  family.  He  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  public  affairs  and 
is  a  man  whose  loyalty  to  his  friends  has  often  been  the  subject  of  favorable 
comment. 


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CHARLES  FITZ  SIMONS. 

In  July,  1861,  Charles  Fitz  Simons  entered  the  volunteer  service  of  the 
United  States  as  a  Captain  of  Cavalry  serving  under  General  Banks  at  Dams- 
town,  Maryland,  taking  in  the  battle  of  Ball's  Bluff,  October  21,  1861 ;  a  Platoon 
of  Fitz  Simons'  company  escorted  the  body  of  General  Baker  from  the  battle 
field  to  Washington.  Early  in  1862  Captain  Fitz  Simons  was  promoted  to  a  Ma- 
jority in  the  Third  New  York  Cavalry,  serving  with  Banks'  Division  in  the  win- 
ter of  1862.  In  April  1862,  his  Regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  forces  of  Gen- 
eral Burnside  at  Newbern,  North  Carolina ;  being  severely  wounded  at  Trenton, 
North  Carolina,  June  15,  1862,  and  recovering  but  slowly,  he  resigned  in  June 
1863,  returning  to  his  native  state  and  arriving  at  Albany,  New  York,  the  day 
after  the  battle  of  Gettysburg.  He  reconsidered  his  action  and  accepted  a  com- 
mission in  the  Twenty-first  New  York  Cavalry,  so  that  he  was  only  out  of  service 
about  ten  days.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Fitz  Simons  commanded  his  Regiment 
nearly  all  the  time  of  its  service  as  the  Colonel,  Wm.  B.  Tibbits,  was  Brevetted 
Brigadier  General  owing  to  the  special  gallantry  of  himself  and  his  regiment. 
Colonel  Fitz  Simons  as  Regimental  Commander  took  part  in  all  the  hardships 
and  severity  of  the  Winter  campaigns  in  West  Virginia  and  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  being  again  seriously  wounded  July  18,  1864,  at  Ashby's  Gap,  Virginia. 
While  convalescing,  he  was  placed  in  command  of  the  Remount  Camp  of  Cavalry 
at  Pleasant  Valley,  Maryland.  It  was  remarked  that  when  General  Sheridan  went 
down  the  valley  ostensibly  and  in  fact  to  finish  the  war,  he  had  but  eight  thou- 
sand men  in  his  command,  while  General  Fitz  Simons  had  eleven  thousand  men 
under  him  at  Remount  Camp.  After  the  war,  General  Fitz  Simons,  by  this  time 
a  Brevet  Brigadier  General,  was  sent  with  his  Brigade  to  serve  on  the  Plains  and 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  being  mustered  out  of  service  in  1866,  and  coming  to 
Chicago  with  his  wife.  Soon  after  reentering  civil  life,  he  engaged  in  his  ante- 
war  avocations  as  contractor  and  engineer. 

In  politics  he  supported  the  Republican  party  with  both  time  and  money, 
never  holding  any  office  but  one,  namely,  Sergeant  at  Arms  of  the  Republican 
National  Convention  at  Chicago,  in  1888.  There  were  no  emoluments  and  few 
privileges  attending  that  position.  General  Fitz  Simons  took  an  active  part  in 
the  late  Presidential  Campaign,  being  a  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  of 
the  Business  Men's  Sound  Money  Association.  The  General  is  still  in  the  mili- 
tary harness,  so  to  speak,  having  been  commissioned  by  President  McKinley 
Brigadier  General  in  the  Spanish-American  war  in  1898.  He  continues  to  hold 
the  office  of  Commander  of  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Illinois  National  Guard. 


HORATIO  N.  MAY. 

Mr.  May  was  born  August  7,  1843,  at  Phillipsburg,  Canada.  His  parents 
were  Americans.  He  was  of  the  Woodstock  branch  of  the  May  family,  who  in 
1640  emigrated  from  Mayfield,  Sussex,  England.  Ezra  May,  his  great-grand- 
father, married  Margaret  Lyon,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.  Dr.  Calvin  Dexter  May, 
his  grandfather,  married  Mary  Hyatt,  of  Highgate,  Vt.,  and  Horatio  May,  his 
father,  married  Sarah  Humphrey,  of  Highgate,  Vt. 

Horatio  N.  May  came  to  Chicago  in  1856,  when  he  was  a  lad  of  thirteen, 
and  shortly  afterward  began  his  active  career,  so  closely  identified  with  the 
growth  of  the  city.  He  was  a  member  of  the  old  volunteer  fire  department  and 
remained  a  member  until  the  paid  department  came  into  existence.  At  one 
time  he  engaged  in  the  commission  business  with  John  C.  Neeley.  Later  he 

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became  associated  with  McKinley,  Ingraham  &  Co.,  wholesale  grocers,  and  re- 
mained with  them  until  the  firm  of  Ingraham,  Corbin  &  May  was  organized, 
out  of  which  the  firm  of  Corbin  &  May  was  established  in  1883,  and  of  which 
he  was  a  member  at*  the  time  of  his  death,  September  30,  1898,  when  the  firm 
was  known  as  Corbin,  May  &  Co.,  importers  and  wholesale  tea  dealers.  Mr. 
May  died  at  Bad-Nanheim,  Germany,  whither  he  had  gone  for  rest  and  re- 
cuperation of  his  health.  In  speaking  of  his  death,  Mr.  Corbin,  the  surviving 
partner,  said:  "Mr.  May  had  thousands  of  friends  in  the  business  world.  His 
even  temperament,  kindly  disposition  and  unfaltering  honesty  in  the  transac- 
tion of  business  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who  came  in  conatct  with  him. 
He  was  full  of  civic  pride  and  always  ready  to  contribute  his  time  and  money 
to  any  movement  calculated  to  benefit  Chicago  and  its  people.  But  Mr.  May's 
character  shone  out  not  only  as  a  business  man  but  as  a  citizen  and  a  man  of 
affairs.  While  not  in  any  sense  a  politician,  he  gave  political  and  party  mat- 
ters close  attention  and  sought  at  all  times  to  discharge  his  full  duty.  He  was 
a  Republican,  and  an  active,  zealous  worker,  always  public  spirited  and  patriotic 
rather  than  partisan."  Governor  Oglesby,  whose  intimate  friend  he  was,  said : 
"In  the  death  of  Mr.  May  I  feel  as  though  I  had  lost  a  dearly  loved,  congenial 
and  devoted  son.  I  found  in  him  a  perfect  friend  and  counsellor ;  he  was  a  use- 
ful, respected  and  honored  citizen ;  a  modest  and  unassuming  man."  Governor 
Oglesby  appointed  Mr.  May  a  Commisioner  of  Lincoln  Park;  he  served  three 
terms,  thirteen  years,  on  that  board.  As  to  his  services  on  the  board,  ex- 
Mayor  Hempstead  Washburne  said  of  him :  "I  always  looked  upon  him  as  one 
of  the  cleanest,  brightest  and  most  reliable  men  in  the  city  of  Chicago.  In 
the  growth  of  Lincoln  Park,  his  hand  was  to  be  plainly  seen.  During  his  mem- 
bership on  the  board  when  the  park  was  in  its  infancy,  he  was  always  planning 
for  improvements ;  even  after  he  left  the  board,  he  was  an  enthusiastic  friend' 
and  conferred  with  members  of  the  board  frequently  regarding  improvements. 
The  beautiful  palm  house  there  is  the  result  of  his  untiring  energy." 

The  Board  of  Lincoln  Park  Commissioners  at  a  special  meeting  held  Oc- 
tober 5,  1898,  unanimously  adopted  the  following  memorial  resolution  on  the 
death  of  Mr.  May:  "The  Commissioners  of  Lincoln  Park  have  learned  with 
deep  degret  of  the  sad  death  in  a  foreign  land  of  their  honored  colleague,  Hora- 
tio N.  May,  and  to  the  bereaved  wife,  whose  presence  and  love  cheered  his  last 
hours,  they  extend  their  respectful  assurance  of  their  heartfelt  sympathy.  Both 
in  his  private  capacity  as  a  business  man  and  a  citizen,  and  in  his  public  capacity 
as  a  servant  of  the  people,  in  more  than  one  high  position,  Mr.  May  had  earned 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all  who  knew  him, — a  feeling  shared  in  fullest 
measure  by  members  of  the  board.  Some  of  the  important  and  popular  fea- 
tures of  the  park  bear  enduring  witness  to  his  energy  and  painstaking  zeal  in 
enhancing  the  attractiveness  of  the  park  and  securing  for  the  tax-payers  the 
greatest  possible  return  for  their  investment  therein.  His  experience  in  park 
matters  and  his  excellent  judgment  made  his  association  with  them  on  the 
board  of  a  special  value  to  his  fellow  commissioners,  who  can  here  express 
but  feebly  their  appreciation  of  Mr.  May's  high  character  as  a  man  and  of  his 
unselfish  and  unflagging  devotion  at  all  times  to  the  advancement  of  what  he 
believed  to  be  the  best  interests  of  Lincoln  Park.  He  gave  freely  of  his  time 
and  means  to  its  interests  and  the  splendid  fountain  which  he  presented  to 
Lincoln  Park  during  his  first  term  of  service  is  not  the  only  monument  there  to 
his  memory.  Therefore,  be  it  Resolved,  That  this  inadequate  memorial  of 
our  high  appreciation  of  the  life  and  character  of  our  late  associate  be  entered 
upon  the  records  of  this  board  and  that  a  copy  thereof  be  transmitted  to  his 
stricken  wife  as  a  token  of  our  sympathy  for  her  and  of  our  sense  of  the  great 
loss  both  official  and  personal  which  we  have  suffered  in  his  death." 

Ex-Mayor  Washburne  so  thoroughly  appreciated  the  business  qualities  of 
Mr.  May,  that  he  made  him  City  Comptroller  and  placed  in  his  hands  the  man- 
agement of  the  finances  of  the  city.  Mr.  May  was  a  director  of  the  Union  Na- 
tional Bank,  and  his  associates,  aipon  hearing  of  his  death,  passed  the  follow- 
ing :  "Resolved,  that  we  desire  to  record  our  feelings  of  respect  and  esteem 
for  the  memory  of  our  late  associate,  Horatio  N.  May,  whose  death  has  cle- 

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prived  the  bank  of  an  able  and  conscientious  director,  who  had  long  devoted 
his  most  efficient  services  to  its  interests.  We  deeply  deplore  the  loss  of  Mr. 
May  as  a  faithful  and  true  friend,  as  a  capable  and  upright  business  man,  and 
as  an  honorable  citrzen  whose  pure  life  and  public  spirit  made  him  an  example 
to  all."  In  his  interecourse  with  others  he  was  always  courteous  and  consid- 
erate— a  good  friend  and  a  good  counsellor. 

Mr.  May  was  a  strong  character;  whatever  he  undertook  was  with  a  de- 
gree of  earnestness,  which  foretold  success.  Honorable  and  sincere  in  all 
things,  he  made  his  personality  felt  wherever  his  influence  could  reach,  and  to 
his  family  and  friends  he  has  left  a  legacy  in  his  character  of  which  they  may 
justly  feel  proud.  While  Mr.  May  had  not  rounded  out  the  allotted  time  of 
man,  and  while  Hope  gave  promise  of  many  things  yet  to  be  accomplished,  his 
life  was  one  of  much  fruitage.  The  city  of  Chicago  will  long  hold  in  remem- 
brance the  good  deeds  done  by  him  in  behalf  of  the  city  in  which  he  spent  his 
life  and  performed  his  life  work. 

The  "May  Memorial  Chapel"  at  Rosehill  Cemetery,  Chicago,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  in  the  country,  was  erected  to  his  memory  by  his  devoted  wife. 


WILLIAM   H.  BAKER. 

William  H.  Baker  was  born  September  18,  1865,  on  a  farm  in  the  township 
of  Lyons,  Cook  County,  111.,  and  just  west  of  the  present  city  limits  of  Chi- 
cago. His  father,  Digory  W.  B.aker,  came  to  Chicago  in  the  4o's,  was  at  one 
time  prominent  in  politics  and  held  the  office  of  West  Town  Supervisor.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Agnes  Bielby.  When  William  H.  Baker  was  three 
years  old  his  parents  moved  to  the  city,  locating  on  the  West  Side,  where  they 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1871,  when  they  changed  their  location  to  the 
corner  of  Wood  and  Monroe  Streets,  in  which  neighborhood  they  now  reside. 

Mr.  Baker  is  virtually  a  Chicago  product,  having  grown  from  boyhood  to 
manhood  within  its  limits.  He  was  educated  at  the  Brown  School,  corner  of 
Warren  Avenue  and  Wood  Streets.  After  leaving  the  public  schools,  he  took 
a  course  in  Souder's  Business  College,  from  which  he  subsequently  graduated. 
He  then  entered  the  employ  of  Baker  Brothers,  wholesale  coal  dealers,  of  which 
firm  his  father  was  at  that  time,  and  is  now,  the  senior  member.  He  remained 
with  this  firm  ever  since,  fulfilling  the  duties  imposed  upon  him  so  earnestly 
and  faithfully  that  he  finally  became  manager,  which  position  he  holds  at  the 
present  time. 

Having  spent  his  whole  life  in  Chicago,  it  is  quite  natural  that  Mr.  Baker 
should  have  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances,  and  that  he  should  be  a  member  of  a 
several  social  organizations  ;  thus  we  find  him  connected  with  the  Illinois,  Ashland 
and  Mencken  Clubs,  also,  the  Chicago  Athletic  Association,  the  Horicon  Shoot- 
ing Club  and  Garfield  Gun  Club.  Aside  from  being  an  active  business  man 
and  a  club  men,  Mr.  Baker  has  found  time  to  interest  himself  greatly  in  charit- 
able work,  a  work  in  which  he  has  become  prominently  identified.  He  is  treas- 
urer of  the  Bureau  of  Associated  Charities,  WTest  Side  District,  and  has  been 
particularly  active  in  establishing  vegetable  gardens  on  vacant  land  on  the  West 
Side  for  the  benefit  of  the  poor. 

The  business  qualities  of  Mr.  Baker  and  his  recognized  character  for  in- 
tegrity induced  his  friends  to  have  his  name  placed  in  nomination  for  Drainage 
Trustee,  and  in  November,  1900,  he  was  elected  for  the  term  of  five  years,  to 
serve  as  a  member  of  the  new  board.  While  not  known  as  a  politician,  Mr. 
Baker  is  active  in  politics  and  always  gives  liberally  of  his  time  and  money  to 
further  the  interests  of  the  Republican  party  of  which  he  is  a  staunch  member. 
During  the  campaign  of  1900,  he  rendered  valuable  service  and  materially  as- 
sisted in  the  success  of  the  State  and  National  tickets.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  re- 
side on  South  Central  Park  Avenue  and  their  hospitable  home  is  often  visited  by 
their  many  friends. 

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WILLIAM  BOLDENWECK. 

William  Boldenweck  was  born  at  Jettingen,  Germany,  August  9,  1851.  He 
is  the  son  of  Carl  G.  and  Christiana  Yent  Boldenweck.  The  family,  consist- 
ing of  the  parents  and  seven  children,  came  to  Chicago  in  the  summer  of 
1854;  the  parents  died  shortly  after  their  arrival,  leaving  four  daughters  and 
three  sons  in  a  strange  city  in  a  strange  land.  Mr.  Boldenweck's  father  was 
a  man  of  a  good  deal  of  force  of  character.  He  was  a  contractor  and  civil  en- 
gineer in  the  Old  Country,  and  was  employed  on  several  important  works  by 
Ludwig,  King  of  Bavaria.  William  Boldenweck  inherited  largely  the  quali- 
ties of  his  father  and  has  displayed  many  of  his  forceful  traits,  in  showing  an 
adaptability  to  engineeiin^  and  the  labor  incident  thereto.  His  education  was 
acquired  at  the  Dearborn  School,  a  German  school,  and  in  the  Dyrenfurth  Col- 
lege, an  institution  at  that  time  located  on  the  corner  of  Wells  and  Lake  Streets. 
He  was  only  ten  years  old  when  the  war  broke  out,  and  too  young  to  give  any 
evidences  of  patriotism^  but  later,  when  he  was  but  twelve  years  of  age,  in  the 
spring  of  1863,  when  the  war  spirit  was  at  its  height,  his  enthusiasm  ran  away 
with  his  judgment  and  he  tried  to  enlist,  but  failed  on  account  of  his  age ;  finally 
he  stowed  himself  away  on  the  gunboat  "Michigan,"  then  anchored  at  Chicago, 
but  was  discovered  before  the  vessel  left  port  and  was  sent  home. 

At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  left  school  to  begin  his  life  work.  He  com- 
menced by  learning  the  tinsmith's  trade,  serving  two  years.  He  then  became 
bookkeeper  for  a  hardware  firm — Holz  &  Hartman — with  whom  he  remained 
until  he  was  nineteen,  when  he  became  book  and  timekeeper  for  his  brother, 
Louis  H.  Boldenweck,  a  cut-stone  contractor;  this  was  in  1871.  In  1875  he 
bought  out  his  brother  and  entered  into  business  for  himself  with  P.  Henne, 
under  the  firm  name  of  Boldenweck  &  Henne.  In  1882  this  partnership  was 
dissolved,  and  another  formed  with  Ernest  Heldmaier,  under  the  name  of  Bol- 
denweck &  Heldmaier,  which  association  continued  until  1887,  when  Mr.  Bol- 
denweck retired  from  business.  Up  to  this  time  he  had  devoted  himself  assidu- 
ously to  business,  but,  now  that  he  was  relieved,  he  felt  at  liberty  to  give  some 
attention  to  public  and  political  matters.  He  first  became  known  to  the  citi- 
zens of  Chicago  generally  in  1887,  when  Lake  View  voted  to  have  a  city  organi- 
zation. Mr.  Boldenweck  was  elected  Mayor  of  the  new  city  government,  and 
has  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  first  and  only  Mayor  Lake  View  ever 
had,  for  although,  re-elected  in  1889,  Lake  View  voted  to  become  annexed  to 
Chicago,  and  the  office  of  Mayor  consequently  became  extinct.  In  the  spring 
of  1891,  he  was  appointed  by  Mayor  Washburne  to  serve  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Education,  and  remained  on  the  board  three  years.  In  the  fall 
of  1891  he  was  elected  Drainage  District  Trustee,  serving  four  years,  and  was 
re-elected  in  1895  for  the  term  of  five  years,  giving  him  nine  years'  service  on 
the  Drainage  Board;  he  was  president  from  December,  1897,  to  December,  1900. 

An  incident  that  occured  while  he  was  Mayor  of  Lake  View  will  indicate 
something  of  the  calibre  of  Mr.  Boldenweck.  Firms  that  had  contracted  to 
construct  a  system  of  sewers  threw  up  their  work,  the  Mayor  was  without  a 
Commissioner  of  Public  Works,  but  took  the  matter  into  his  own  hands  and 
completed  the  work,  much  to  his  own  credit  and  greatly  to  the  satisfaction 
of  his  friends.  This  characteristic  energy,  independence  and  good  sense  have 
been  emphasized  in  his  record  as  Drainage  Trustee.  As  president  he  officiated 
at  the  opening  of  that  great  undertaking,  the  Chicago  Drainage  Canal,  and  his 
guiding  hand  has  been  discernible  during  his  entire  connection  with  the  board. 
It  was  largely  through  his  energy  and  untiring  effort  that  the  great  work  was 
completed  as  soon  as  it  was. 

Mr.  Boldenweck  is  an  accomplished  business  man — capable,  popular  and 
liberal  and  of  the  strictest  integrity.  He  is  prominent  among  the  German  socie- 

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ties  of  the  city,  being  a  member  of  the  Germania  Club,  Lake  View  Mannerchor, 
Krutzer  Quartet,  North  Chicago  Turners  and  other  organizations.  He  is  a 
member  of  Welcome  Lodge  No.  i,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a  thirty-second 
degree  Mason* 

On  March  25,  18/3,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Adelheid  G.  Samme,  only 
daughter  of  Capt.  Frederick  Samme,  one  of  Chicago's  large  vessel  owners. 
They  have  had  three  children,  all  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 


C.  PRUYN  STRINGFIELD,  M.  D. 

Dr.  C.  Pruyn  Stringfield  was  born  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  the  son  of  Francis 
Marion  and  Sarah  Agnes  Stringfield,  and  is  a  grandson  of  the  famous  surgeon, 
the  late  Owen  Munson,  of  Washington.  His  parents  moved  to  Topeka,  Ivans., 
when  he  was  very  young,  and  his  boyhood  and  youth  were  spent  there.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Topeka,  and  there  began  a  journalistic  career. 
He  was  connected  with  the  Blade,  Kansas  State  Journal  and  the  Capital. 

He  came  to  Chicago  in  August,  1881,  and  entered  the  employ  of  the  Brad- 
street  Commercial  Agency.  He  continued  with  them  for  two  years,  leaving 
them  to  embark  in  the  retail  drug  business.  He  purchased  a  half  interest  in 
the  drug  business  of  his  father  and  succeeded  to  the  entire  buisness  in  a  year 
and  a  half.  While  thus  engaged  .he  entered  the  Northwestern  University  and 
graduated  in  1889.  He  began  the  practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  that  year, 
and  six  months  after  he  was  made  assistant  to  the  Chair  of  Principles  and 
Practice  of  Surgery  in  the  Northwestern  University  Medical  School.  He  con- 
tinued in  this  chair  for  five  and  one-half  years.  At  this  time  his  practice  had 
grown  so  he  was  compelled  to  resign  to  attend  his  private  practice.  This  ex- 
perience gave  him  great  opportunities  to  study  human  character,  as  well  as 
become  expert  in  his  life's  work — surgery.  He  very  soon  afterwards  was  ap- 
pointed consulting  physician  to  the  Chicago  Baptist  Hospital.  He  has  entry  to 
all  the  hospitals  of  Chicago  and  has  been  in  many  notable  cases.  The  Chicago 
Tribune  selected  him  as  its  expert  in  the  celebrated  Holmes'  castle  murder  case. 
He  was  hospital  steward  of  the  old  First  Cavalry  under  Lieut. -Col.  Welter,  for 
five  years,  and  on  the  medical  staff  of  the  Second  Infantry  under  Colonel,  now 
General  Wheeler.  Dr.  Stringfield  is  now  the  contract  surgeon  of  the  United 
States  Marine  Corps,  attached  to  the  Chicago  office.  He  did  general  family 
practice  for  the  first  nine  years,  but  his  practice  became  so  large  that  he  de- 
cided to  quit  the  arduous  part  and  gave  up  the  out  practice,  confining  himself 
to  office  consultations  and  hospital  work.  This,  in  addition  to  his  practice  as 
resident  physician  of  the  Grand  Pacific  Hotel,  consumes  his  entire  time. 

Dr.  Stringfield  has  a  wide  acquaintance  among  doctors  and  students,  as 
well  as  the  general  public — being  a  member  of  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society  and  the  Chicago  Medical  Society.  He 
is  a  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  a  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
and  was  chaplain  of  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks.  He  is  an 
active  member  of  the  Hamilton  and  Chicago  Athletic  Clubs,  and  widely  known 
as  a  consistent  Republican — always  ready  to  help  his  party  in  any  way  possible. 
His  friends  in  the  administrative  circles  are  legion.  He  is  the  personal  friend 
and  physician  to  Senator  Mason,  and  a  host  of  other  leaders  in  the  party.  He 
has  never  sought  office,  but  has  always  been  regarded  as  good  timber.  He  was 
married  August  14,  1889,  to  Miss  Josephine  Milgie,  of  Chicago.  His  offices  are 
in  the  Western  Union  Building. 


724 


725 


ARTHUR  HUMPHREY. 

Born  beyond  the  Middle  West,  July  13,  1858,  from  an  ancestry  embracing 
some  of  the  oldest  and  most  influential  families  of  old  Virginia  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, Mr.  Humphrey  spent  the  earlier  portion  of  his  life  on  a  farm  and  in  the 
stock-raising  and  milling  business,  where  a  naturally  robust  constitution  and 
kindly  disposition  were  given  full  development.  In  his  youth  he  attended  the 
common  schools  and  later  a  State  normal,  but  his  real  education  was  acquired 
by  private  study  and  reading  and  in  the  school  of  nature  and  experience. 

In  1880  Mr.  Humphrey  came  to  Chicago,  a  stranger,  with  practically  no 
capital,  but  with  a  sterling  integrity,  an  indomitable  will  and  an  abiding  faith  in 
the  future.  He  soon  secured  a  position  as  instructor  and  afterwards  as  super- 
intendent of  the  business  department,  of  Bryant's  Business  College.  While  en- 
gaged in  this  work  his  leisure  time  and  evenings  were  employed  in  reading  law. 
With  a  desire  to  get  a  more  practical  experience  and  a  knowledge  of  business 
men  and  methods,  he  later  entered  the  employ  of  one  of  the  largest  concerns  at 
the  Union  Stock  Yards.  Here  his  thorough  knowledge  of  accounts  was  soon 
demonstrated  and  he  gained  a  most  valuable  business  experience.  He  often 
says  that  of  all  his  schooling  the  time  spent  with  this  house  was  of  the  most 
practical  value,  for  it  gave  him  a  thorough  knowledge  of  first-class  business  men 
and  methods.  While  engaged  with  this  house  Mr.  Humphrey  pursued  his 
legal  studies  with  a  regularity  and  tenacity  which  was,  to  say  the  least,  unusual, 
and  when  the  time  came,  took  the  examination  for  admission  to  the  Illinois 
Bar  before  a  committee  appointed  by  the  Appellate  Court,  and  was  one  of  the 
fortunate  few  who  passed  a  most  rigid  examination.  After  devoting  nearly  an- 
other year  to  hard  work  and  study  he  entered  his  chosen  profession.  Then 
commenced  those  days  of  waiting  for  business  and  clients  which  try  the  souls 
of  young  professional  men,  and  cause  so  many  to  fall  by  the  wayside. 

Mr.  Humphrey  possesses  in  a  high  degree  three  characteristics  which  have 
dominated  his  life  and  have  contributed  largely  to  his  success, — honesty,  indus- 
try and  determination.  When  he  is  once  convinced  that  a  thing  is  right,  and 
sets  his  mind  upon  accomplishing  it,  he  never  gives  up,  but  works  and  waits 
with  a  singleness  of  purpose  and  determination  that  usually  brings  success.  Mr. 
Humphrey  practiced  alone  up  to  1892,  when  he  formed  a  partnership  with  ex- 
Judge  Barnum  and  his  son,  under  the  firm  name  of  Barnum,  Humphrey  &  Bar- 
num,  which  continued  for  six  years,  when  Mr.  Humphrey  withdrew.  Since  this 
time  he  has  practiced  alone,  with  greater  success  than  before. 

Mr.  Humphrey  is  an  able  lawyer,  thorough,  careful  and  painstaking  in  his 
business.  He  enjoys  an  enviable  reputation  as  lawyer  and  a  man,  and  has 
built  up  a  good  general  practice,  but  prefers  corporation  and  real  estate  law,  in 
which  he  has  won  his  greatest  success.  Reared  in  an  atmosphere  of  political 
intensity,  such  as  characterized  the  early  days  of  Kansas,  it  is  not  strange  that 
Mr.  Humphrey  should  be  a  stalwart  in  Republicanism,  and  a  firm  adherent  to 
his  party.  Although  a  man  of  strong  convictions  and  active  in  politics,  he  is 
not  a  politician  and  has  never  held  nor  has  he  been  a  candidate  for  political 
office,  preferring  to  devote  his  attention  to  his  profession. 

Mr.  Humphrey  possesses  fine  literary  tastes ;  and,  besides  an  ecxellent  law 
library,  has  a  fine  general  library  of  over  fourteen  hundred  volumes  of  care- 
fully selected  works.  He  is  fond  of  biography,  history,  travel  and  adventure, 
as  well  as  fiction  and  poetry,  but  does  not  care  particularly  for  the  popular  novel* 
of  the  day,  preferring  Scott,  Thackeray,  Hawthorne,  and  others  of  the  same 
school.  He  is  fond  of  outdoor  sports,  particularly  riding,  driving  and  the  "rod 
and  gun,"  but  finds  little  time  to  gratify  his  tastes  in  this  direction.  Mr. 
Humphrey  is  a  member  of  the  Union  League,  Marquette,  Hamilton  and  Wood- 
lawn  Park  Clubs,  also  a  Mason. 


726 


727 


GRAEME  STEWART. 

Mr.  Stewart  is  of  Scotch  ancestry — the  Stewarts  of  Ayrshire.  His  parents 
came  to  America  in  1845  ancl  m  l&5°  removed  to  Chicago,  finally  settling  in 
what  is  now  the  west  division  of  the  city.  His  father,  William  Stewart,  was  a 
prominent  citizen  during  the  early  days  of  the  city's 'history  and  was  closely 
identified  with  its  material  progress,  particularly  on  the  West  Side.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  Hesperia  Lodge  of  Masons ;  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  West  Side  Masonic  Temple,  and  has  been  president  of  the  Illinois  St.  An- 
drew's Society. 

Graeme  Stewart  was  born  August  30,  1853,  in  Chicago,  at  the  corner  of 
Franklin  and  Monroe  streets,  now  a  prominent  business  center.  Later  the 
Stewart  family  removed  into  what  became  the  Ninth,  now  the  Eighteenth,  Ward. 
His  early  education  was  acquired  at  the  public  schools,  chiefly  the  Skinner 
School.  He  also  attended  a  German  school,  afterwards  entering  the  University 
of  Chicago  with  the  class  of  1872.  While  attending  the  university  he  acted  as 
office  boy  in  the  wholesale  grocery  house  of  George  W.  Flanders  &  Co.  In 
this  service  he  acquired  some  knowledge  of  mercantile  affairs  which  he  found 
of  benefit  in  later  years.  His  first  inclination  was  toward  a  profession,  but  ill- 
ness before  graduating  caused  him  to  abandon  his  studies  and  change  his 
course.  After  terminating  his  schooling  he  commenced  commercial  life  with 
King,  Stewart  &  Aldrich,  and  was  subsequently  advanced  to  shipping  clerk. 
Later,  he  became  a  salesman  for  the  same  firm,  holding  this  position  until  he 
became  identified,  in  1880,  with  the  firm  of  W.  M.  Hoyt  &  Co.,  wholesale 
grocers,  in  which  he  is  now  a  director.  The  building  occupied  by  this  company 
stands  upon  historic  ground — being  the  site  of  old  Fort  Dearborn  of  the  very 
early  days — and  is  replete  with  thrilling  interest,  to  which  Mr.  Stewart  fre- 
quently recurs  when  in  a  reminiscent  mood. 

Though  Mr.  Stewart  is  emphatically  a  business  man  whose  mind  is  taken 
up  with  the  affairs  of  the  large  house  with  which  he  is  connected,  he,  never- 
theless, takes  an  active  interest  in  politics,  National,  State  and  municipal,  espe- 
cially the  latter,  and  is  an  outspoken  advocate  of  clean  business  methods  in 
politics,  particularly  with  regard  to  the  administration  of  municipal  affairs.  Af- 
ter the  great  fire  of  1871,  there  being  at  that  time  no  military  guard  for  Illinois, 
Mr.  Stewart  was  active  in  the  organization  of  the  first  Illinois  regiment,  arid  was 
one  of  the  charter  members.  This  regiment  was  disbanded  after  the  National 
Guard  Act  was  passed  in  1876. 

Mr.  Stewart  has  never  held  office,  and  is  free  from  political  alliances.  He 
is  an  ardent  Republican  and  believes  every  one  should  be  a  party  man  to  the 
extent  of  doing  his  full  duty  as  a  patriot  and  a  citizen.  He  resides  in  the 
Twenty-fourth  Ward,  where  his  personal  influence  is  recognized.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  one  of  the  controlling  forces  of  the  Cook  County  Central 
Republican  Committee,  and  is  also  a  valuable  member  of  the  National  Repub- 
lican Executive  Committee.  He  has  served  on  the  Board  of  Education  for  six 
years.  Mr.  Stewart  is  a  member  of  Hesperia  Lodge  No.  411,  A.  F.  &  A.  M., 
Washington  Chapter  No.  43,  Montjoie  Commandery  No.  53,  Oriental  Con- 
sistory and  Mystic  Shrine  Medina  Temple,  also  a  member  of  the  Hamilton, 
Marquette  and  Chicago  Clubs. 

In  1879  Mr.  Stewart  was  married  to  Miss  Nellie  Pullman.  They  have  two 
children,  Helen  and  Mercedes.  Mr.  Stewart  resides  at  No.  181  Pine  Street, 
Chicago. 


728 


729 


D.  F.  CHILLY. 

Mr.  Crilly  is  a  Pennsylvania!!.  He  was  born  at  Mercersburg,  Pa.,  October 
14,  1838.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Newport,  in 
that  State.  His  father  was  John  D.  and  his  mother  Rebecca  Crilly.  His  father 
was  what  is  known  as  an  Irish-American,  and  with  two  of  his  sons  served  in 
the  Civil  War.  John  D.  Crilly  was  at  one  time  editor  of  the  Perry  County 
Standard,"  at  Bloomfield,  Pa.  Afterward,  he  engaged  in  hotel  and  mercantile 
business  in  that  place.  He  owned  several  stages  which  ran  on  the  state  routes 
before  the  days  of  railroads,  and  was  an  all-around  business  man  of  intelli- 
gence and  energy.  He  was  known  also  prominently  in  politics  and  was  a  great 
friend  and  admirer  of  James  Buchanan,  the  Democratic  President  from  Penn- 
sylvania. 

D.  F.  Crilly  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  in  his  youth,  chiefly  at 
Newport  and  Mercersburg,  Pa.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  came  West  and 
located  in  Iowa  City,  la.,  and  there  learned  the  "building  trade."  After  a  three 
years'  residence  in  Iowa  City,  he  removed  in  1858  to  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  where 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  1860.  From  St.  Louis  he  went  south  to  Louis- 
iana, where  he  was  engaged  in  building  sugar  houses  on  plantations  when  the 
war  broke  out.  He  left  Louisiana  and  with  great  difficulty  came  North,  but 
with  the  assistance  of  Captain  Dardin  and  the  influence  of  a  New  Orleans  bank- 
ing firm,  Foley,  Avery  &  Co.,  he  finally  reached  St.  Louis,  his  former  home. 
Here  he  remained  for  one  year,  following  his  trade,  and  then  removed  to  Chi- 
cago, where  he  commenced  business  as  a  building  contractor  and  where  he 
has  since  resided. 

Mr.  Crilly  has  now  retired  from  active  business,  but  is  followed  by  his  sons. 
His  business  career  has  been  active  and  successful  to  a  marked  degree,  and 
has  been  characterized  by  energy,  honesty  and  integrity.  He  is  the  owner  of 
the  old  Stock  Exchange  Building,  corner  of  Dearborn  and  Monroe  Streets, 
Chicago,  and  is  a  large  real  estate  owner  in  the  city.  While  Mr.  Crilly  was  in 
active  business  he  was  the  contractor  for  many  buildings  erected  in  Chicago, 
before  and  after  the  great  fire.  Among  the  latter  may  be  mentioned  "The  Meth- 
odist Church"  block,  corner  Clark  and  Washington  Sts.,  and  many  other  import- 
ant buildings.  The  last  large  contract  in  which  Mr.  Crilly  was  interested  was 
for  building  the  "Windsor  Hotel,"  in  Denver,  Colo.,  which  is  one  of  the  best 
hotel  buildings  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Crilly  has  been  essentially  a  business  man  and  in  no  sense  a  politician. 
He  has  never  held  an  elective  office,  nor  aspired  to  political  preferment.  He  is  a 
thorough-going  Republican,  and  takes  great  interest  in  ward  politics,  and  sev- 
eral times  has  been  treasurer  of  his  ward  club.  He  is  a  member  of  and  has 
been  treasurer  of  the  Hamilton  Club.  He  is  now  South  Park  Commissioner  by 
appointment  of  the  Circuit  Judges.  He  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  the 
Union  League  Club,  his  membership  dating  from  the  first  year  of  the  club's 
organization.  He  is  a  member  and  director  of  the  Sheridan  Club,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Builders'  Club.  He  is  a  prominent  Mason,  being  a  member  of 
Home  Lodge,  Chicago  Chapter,  Apollo  Commandery,  Consistory,  and  a 
Shriner.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  Apollo  Commandery,  and  was  treasurer  of 
the  Knights'  Templar  charity  ball  each  year  but  one  since  its  organization. 

Since  Mr.  Crilly's  retirement  from  business  he  has  spent  much  time  in 
traveling  in  the  United  States  and  has  spent  two  years  in  Europe,  widening  his 
field  of  observation  and  gaining  fresh  knowledge. 

In  1863  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Snyder  London,  of  Fort  Franklin 
County,  Pa.  They  have  a  family  of  six  children,  all  living — four  boys  and  two 
girls — Erminnie,  George,  Frank,  Edgar,  Isabelle  and  Oliver. 


730 


731 


WINFIELD  NEWELL  SATTLEY. 

Winfielcl  Newell  Satiiey  was  born  June  19,  1859,  at  Ferrisburg,  Addison 
County,  Vermont.  His  parents,  Robert  Preston  and  Harriet  Foote  (Newell) 
Sattley,  were  thrifty  New  England  farmers.  His  paternal  grandparents  came 
to  the  United  States  in  1/84,  and  settled  on  Long  Island ;  but  the  following  year 
they  removed  to  Ferrisburg,  Vermont,  and  settled  on  a  tract  of  land  that  is 
now  known  as  the  "W.  N.  Sattley  stock  farm,"  and  contains  about  736  acres. 
On  this  old  homestead  several  generations  of  Sattleys  were  born  and  reared, 
among  whom  was  the  subject  of  this  sketch  and  his  brothers. 

Mr.  Sattley  obtained  the  rudiments  of  an  education  in  a  little  old  red 
school  house,  about  one  mile  from  the  old  home  farm ;  afterward  he  attended 
the  public  schools  at  Burlington,  Vermont,  and  took  a  course  in  the  Commer- 
cial College,  at  the  same  city.  On  December  I5th,  1878,  he  entered  the  employ 
of  the  Vermont  Life  Insurance  Company,  at  the  home  office  in  Burlington, 
and  was  soon  promoted  to  the  position  of  chief  clerk.  He  came  to  Chicago 
January  8,  1881,  as  general  agent  for  the  company,  his  territory  covering  the 
State  of  Illinois.  In  February,  1884,  he  accepted  the  general  agency  of  the 
Massachusetts  Mutual  Life  and  remained  with  that  company  until  April  i,  1887, 
when  he  resigned  to  become  superintendent  of  agencies  for  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois of  the  New  York  Life  Insurance  Company,  being  in  the  employ  of  this  com- 
pany until  March  15,  1889.  He  then  became  manager  for  the  State  of  Illi- 
nois for  the  Manhattan  Life  Insurance  Company,  a  position  he  held  for  ten 
years,  during  which  time  the  business  of  the  company  in  the  State  was  in- 
creased more  than  four-fold.  Mr.  Sattley  was  assistant  manager  of  the  Equita- 
ble Life  for  Northern  Illinois  from  May  ist,  1899,  to  October  ist,  1899;  he 
then  received  an  appointment  in  the  executive  special  department  of  the  Mu- 
tual Life  Insurance  Company,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Mr.  Sattley  is  a  born  insurance  man.  From  the  commencement  of  his 
career  he  has  followed  the  business  of  insurance  and  he  understands  every  de- 
tail thoroughly.  His  methods  of  managing  the  affairs  of  the  companies  with 
which  he  has  been  connected  have  always  given  great  satisfaction  to  the  offi- 
cials at  the  home  office. 

In  politics  Mr.  Sattley  has  always  been  a  Republican ;  although  not  a 
politician  he  never  neglects  the  duties  of  citizenship,  and  is  alwrays  found  work- 
ing for  the  success  of  the  party.  When  the  Hamilton  Club  was  organized  he 
became  one  of  its  charter  members ;  was  its  vice-president  in  1892,  and  assisted 
in  building  up  the  large  membership  of  the  club. 

He  is  a  Thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  Knight  Templar, 
being  a  life  member  in  each  of  the  following  bodies :  Oriental  Blue  Lodge,  La- 
fayette Chapter,  Palestine  Council,  Apollo  Commandery,  Oriental  Consistory 
and  the  Order  of  Elks  No.  4 ;  he  is  also  a  member  of  Medinah  Temple,  Wash- 
ington Park  Club,  and  the  Chicago  Athletic  Association.  Mr.  Sattley  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  Sons  of  Vermont  in  Chicago,  was  chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee  for  several  years  and  was  elected  President  in  1896. 

Winfield  Newell  Sattley  was  married  to  Miss  May  E.  Kelley,  on  June  19, 
1884.  They  have  two  interesting  children,  Ethelwynne  May  and  Winfield 
Newell,  Jr. 


732 


NJ 


733 


CHAPTER   XXXVIII. 

THE  1900  CAMPAIGN — RE-ELECTION  OF  WILLIAM  McKiNLEY — RICHARD  YATES, 
JR.  ELECTED  GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS — CONCLUSION. 

The  election  of  November  6,  1900,  must  take  its  place  as  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  It  was  a  high  test  of  the  intelli- 
gence, the  patriotism  and  continuity  of  purpose  of  the  American  people.  The 
great  question,  the  true  issue  involved  in  the  contest  and  to  be  decided  by  the 
people,  was  whether  they  proposed  to  continue  the  Republican  party  in  power 
and  with  it  continue  the  gold  standard,  the  protective  tariff,  and  that  extraor- 
dinary prosperity  and  confidence  in  the  future,  which  accompanied  these  great 
measures,  and  Republican  administration ;  or,  whether  they  proposed  to  re- 
turn the  Democratic-Populistic  party  to  power,  with  its  hostility  to  protective 
legislation  and  the  gold  standard,  and  its  demand  for  the  passage  of  a  law  for 
the  free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  i.  The  people 
could  not  be  drawn  aside  from  this  issue. 

The  attempt  to  create,  as  paramount,  an  issue  against  the  Republican  ad- 
ministration of  Imperialism  and  Militarism,  proved  absolutely  abortive.  The 
majority  of  electors  of  both  parties  by  an  unmistakable  expression  of  public 
opinion  had  approved  the  Spanish  War,  and  the  acquisition  and  retention  of 
Porto  Rico  and  the  Philippine  Islands.  They  had  faith  in  the  Republican  prin- 
ciples of  government,  and  in  the  ability  of  the  United  States  to  govern  those 
islands  in  accordance  with  those  principles.  They  had  faith  in  themselves  and 
knew  that  misgovernment  in  those  islands  by  the  administration  of  any  party, 
would  call  down  on  its  head  public  condemnation  and  a  change  of  party  ad- 
ministration. 

The  canvass  throughout  the  country  was  remarkable  for  the  friendly  spirit 
in  which  it  was  conducted  and  the  cheerful  manner  in  which  the  unsuccessful 
party  accepted  defeat.  But  another  feature  made  the  contest  most  remarkable : 
for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  the  Republican  party  did  it  have  the  sympathy 
of  the  ruling  classes  in  Great  Britain  and  the  Continent.  Heretofore,  the  feel- 
ing on  the  other  side  favored  the  success  of  the  Democratic  party.  That  party 
held  to  doctrines  concerning  tariff  legislation  which  had  the  approval  abroad ; 
they  opposed  protection ;  they  favored  a  tariff  for  revenue  only,  such  a  tariff 
as  gave  to  foreign  producers  easy  and  highly  profitable  access  to  the  American 
market.  Consequently,  it  was  to  the  interest  of  the  foreigner  that  the  Demo- 
cratic party  should  succeed.  But  in  this  year  of  1900  it  was  different.  Great 
Britain,  France,  Germany,  and  the  whole  of  Europe  have  adopted  the  gold 
standard  ;  they  believe  in  it ;  they  believed  that  general  prosperity  depends  upon 
its  continuance.  The  United  States  had  loomed  up  above  the  horizon  of  pro- 
duction, commerce  and  finance  as  the  most  conspicuous  figure  in  the  sky. 
Leading  statesmen,  and  men  largely  engaged  in  production  and  trade  abroad 
held  the  opinion  that  if  the  United  States  should  adopt  the  free  coinage  of  silver, 
the  finances  of  this  country  would  at  once  be  based  upon  silver,  and  this  would 
result  in  world-wide  calamity.  Continuance  of  the  gold  standard  in  the  United 
States  was  the  paramount  question  in  their  minds  and  they  put  aside  their  long- 
time opposition  to  Republican  protection  and  hoped  for  the  success  of  the  Re- 
publican party. 

The  great  day  came.  More  than  fifteen  millions  of  electors  cast  their  bal- 
lots. The  Republican  party  was  sustained.  William  McKinley  and  Theodore 
Roosevelt  were  elected  President  and  Vice-President  of  the  United  States.  A 
strong  working  Republican  majority  was  returned  for  the  National  House  of 
Representatives,  besides,  Republican  success  in  various  States  insures  an  in- 
creased Republican  majority  in  the  United  States  Senate.  The  Republican  State 

734 


ticket  was  elected  in  Illinois  with  a  safe  Republican  majority  in  the  Legislature 
insuring  the  election  of  a  Republican  United  States  Senator.  Two  interesting 
facts  have  appeared  following  the  announcement  of  Republican  success :  First. — 
There  has  been  a  marked  advance  in  the  value  of  stocks  and  bonds  the  world 
over;  prices  in  London  and  Berlin  immediately  advanced  upon  the  announce- 
ment of  the  re-election  of  President  McKinley.  Second. — In  the  business  cen- 
ters of  Democratic  States,  there  has  been  marked  expressions  of  satisfaction 
that  there  is  to  be  no  change  of  national  policy  by  changing  the  political  char- 
acter of  the  administration.  The  business  men  of  the  country  are  satisfied  to 
have  the  present  conditions  continue  and  were  not  willing  to  risk  a  change. 

The  following  named  State  officers  were  elected  in  Illinois :  Richard 
Yates,  Governor ;  William  A.  Northcott,  Lieutenant  Governor ;  James  A.  Rose, 
Secretary  of  State ;  James  McCullough,  Auditor ;  Moses  O.  Williamson,  Treas- 
urer ;  Rowland  J.  Hamlin,  Attorney  General ;  Alexander  McLean,  Samuel  A. 
Bullard  and  Carrie  T.  Alexander,  University  trustees. 

The  delegation  returned  to  Congress  from  Illinois  was : 

Republicans  :  First  district,  James  R.  Mann,  Chicago  ;  Sixth,  Henry  S.  Bon- 
tell,  Chicago;  Seventh,  George  E.  Foss,  Chicago;  Eighth,  Albert  J.  Hopkins, 
Aurora ;  Ninth,  Robert  R.  Hitt,  Mount  Morris ;  Tenth,  George  W.  Prince,  Gales- 
burg  ;  Eleventh,  Walter  Reeves,  Streator ;  Twelfth,  Joseph  G.  Cannon,  Danville ; 
Thirteenth,  Vespasian  Warner,  Clinton ;  Fourteenth,  Joseph  V.  Graff,  Pekin ; 
Twenty-second,  George  W.  Smith,  Murphysboro. 

Democrats :  Second  district,  John  J.  Feeley,  Chicago ;  Third,  George  P. 
Foster,  Chicago ;  Fourth,  James  McAndrews,  Chicago ;  Fifth,  William  F.  Ma- 
honey,  Chicago;  Fifteenth,  J.  Ross  Mickey,  Macomb ;  Sixteenth,  T.  J.  Selby, 
Hardin ;  Seventeenth,  Ben  T.  Caldwell,  Chatham ;  Eighteenth,  Thomas  M.  Jett, 
Hillsboro;  Nineteenth,  Joseph  B.  Crowley,  Robinson;  Twentieth,  James  R.Wil- 
^liams,  Carmi;  Twenty-first,  Frederick  J.  Kern,  Belleville. 

There  was  great  disappointment  among  Republicans  throughout  the  state 
over  the  result  in  Cook  County.  While  the  County  gave  a  majority  for  the 
'  Presidential  ticket  of  17,567,  Judge  Yates,  the  Republican  candidate  for  Gov- 
ernor, lost  the  County  by  7,573.  His  opponent,  Samuel  Alchuler,  a  man  of 
recognized  ability,  no  doubt  carried  a  large  Jewish  vote,  which  otherwise  was 
Republican.  Other  Republican  State  candidates  carried  the  County  ranging 
from  i,ooo,the  plurality  for  Lt.  Governor  Northcott,  to  14,175,  the  plurality  for 
James  McCullough  for  Auditor.  But  the  defeat  of  William  Lorimer  of  Chi- 
cago, and  of  W.  A.  Rodenberg  of  East  St.  Louis,  for  Congress,  was  a  severe 
blow  to  Republican  pride  and  prestige.  However,  the  general  result  throughout 
the  State  was  satisfactory  and  assuring.  The  Republicans  of  Illinois  have  again 
shown  their  strong  adhesion  to  the  principles  of  the  Republican  party,  and  their 
vote  on  November  6,  1900,  is  one  of  confidence  in  the  present  National  Repub- 
lican administration.  The  Republican  principles  and  policies  for  domestic 
affairs,  the  conduct  of  our  Foreign  relations,  and  particularly  our  Territorial  Ex- 
pansion by  the  acquisition  of  Hawaii,  Porto  Rico,  the  Philippines  and  Guam  have 
all  received  popular  endorsement.  The  Ship  of  State  moves  on  in  grandeur  and 
in  glory  with  the  Republican  party  at  the  helm. 


735 


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736 


CHRONOLOGICAL  TABLE 

OF  THE  PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  IN  AMERICAN  HISTORY,  FROM  THE  DISCOV- 
ERY IN  1492  TO  1860. 

1492.     Aug.  3,  Columbus  sets  sail  from  Palos,  in  Spain. 

Oct.  12,  First  land  discovered  (one  of  the  Bahamas). 

1    27,  Cuba  discovered. 

"        Dec.  6,  Hayti  or  Hispaniola  discovered. 
M93-     Jan.  16,  Columbus  returns  to  Spain. 

Sept.  25,  Columbus  sails  from  Cadiz  on  his  second  voyage. 
"        Dec.  8,  Columbus  lays  the  foundation  of  Isabella,  in  Hispaniola,  the  first  European 

town  in  the  New  World. 
1494.     May  5,  Jamaica  discovered. 
1496.     Mar.  10,  Columbus  sails  again  for  Spain. 
J497-     June  24,  Newfoundland  discovered  by  the  Cabots. 

1498.  May  30,  Columbus  sails  from  Spain  on  his  third  voyage. 
July  31,  Trinidad  discovered. 

Aug.  i,  America  discovered  by  Columbus. 

1499.  June  16,  America  discovered  by  Americus  Vespucius. 

1500.  Amazon  river  discovered  by  Pinzon. 
April  23,  Brazil  discovered  by  Cabral. 

1502.     May  n,  Columbus  sails  on  his  last  voyage. 

Aug.  14,  Bay  of  Honduras  discovered  by  Columbus. 
1504.     Sept.  2,  Columbus  returns  to  Spain. 
1506.     May  20,  Columbus  dies,  in  his  fifty-ninth  year. 
1508.     St.  Lawrence  river  first  navigated  by  Aubert. 

1512.  April  2,  Florida  discovered  by  Juan  Ponce  de  Leon. 
Baracoa,  the  first  town  in  Cuba,  built  by  Diego  Velasquez. 

1513.  Sept.  25,  Pacific  ocean  discovered  by  Vasco  Nunez  de  Balboa. 

1516.  Rio  de  la  Plata  discovered  by  Juan  Diaz  de  Solis. 

1517.  Patent  granted  by  Charles  V.  for  an  annual  import  of  4,000  negro  slaves  to  His- 

paniola, Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  Puerto  Rico. 
"        Yucatan  discovered  by  Francis  Hernandez  Cordova. 

1519.  Mar.  13,  Cortes  lands  at  Tabasco,  in  Mexico. 

"       April  22,  Cortes  arrives  at  San  Juan  de  Ulloa. 
Vera  Cruz  settled  by  Cortes. 
Nov.  8,  Cortes  enters  Mexico. 

1520.  Montezuma  dies. 

"        Nov.  7,  Straits  of  Magellan  discovered  by  Ferdinand  Magellan. 

1521.  Aug.  13,  Mexico  taken  by  Cortes. 

1522.  Bermudas  discovered  by  Juan  Bermudez. 

1525.  First  invasion  of  Peru  by  Pizarro  and  Almagro. 

1528.  Pizarro  appointed  governor  of  Peru. 

1531.  Second  invasion  of  Peru  by  Pizarro. 

1532.  First  colony  founded  in  Peru  by  Pizarro. 
J535-  Chili  invaded  by  Almagro. 

1537.     California  discovered  by  Cortes. 

*539-     May  18,  Ferdinand  de  Soto  sails  from  Havana,  on  an  expedition  for  the  conquest 

of  Florida. 

1541.     Aug.  6,  Orellana  explores  the  Amazon,  and  arrives  at  the  ocean. 
1545.     Mines  of  Potosi,  in  South  America,  discovered. 
1548.     Platina  discovered  in  the  south  of  Mexico. 

737 


1563.  Slaves  first  imported  into  the  West  Indies  by  the  English. 

1576.  Elizabeth's  and  Frobisher's  straits  discovered  by  Martin  Frobisher. 

J585.  June  26,  Virginia  visited  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh. 

1586.  Tobacco  introduced  into  England  by  Mr.  Lane. 

1587.  Aug.  13,  first  Indian  baptized  in  Virginia. 

1602.  May  15,  Cape  Cod  named  by  Bartholemew  Gosnold. 
"     21,  Martha's  Vineyard  discovered  by  Gosnold. 

1607.  May  13,  Jamestown,  Virginia,  founded. 

1608.  July  3,  Quebec  founded. 

1609.  Hudson  river  discovered  by  Henry  Hudson. 
1611.  Lake  Champlain  discovered  by  Champlain. 
1616  Baffin's  bay  discovered  by  Baffin. 

1617.  Pocahontas  dies  in  England. 

1619.  June  19,  first  general  assembly  in  Virginia. 

'T  May  20,  Long  Island  sound  first  navigated  by  Dermer. 

1620.  Aug.  5,  Puritans  sail  from  Southampton,  England,  for  America. 
"  Nov.  10,  Puritans  anchor  at  Cape  Cod. 

"     first  white  child  born  in  New  England. 

"  Dec.   n,  first  landing  at  Plymouth. 

"     25,  first  house  built  at  Plymouth. 

"  Slaves  first  introduced  into  Virginia  by  the  Dutch. 

1621  May  12,  first  marriage  at  Plymouth. 

1630.  Boston  settled. 

"  Oct.  19,  first  general  court  of  Massachusetts  colony,  holden  at  Boston. 

1631.  Delaware  settled  by  the  Swedes. 

1632.  First  church  built  at  Boston. 

1633.  First  house  erected  in  Connecticut,  at  Windsor. 

1634.  Maryland  settled. 

''  Roger  Williams  banished  from  Massachusetts. 

1636.  Hartford,  Connecticut,  settled. 

"  Providence  founded  by  Roger  Williams. 

1637.  First  synod  convened  at  Newtown  (now  Cambridge),  Massachusetts. 

1638.  New  Haven  founded. 

"  Harvard  college  founded. 

"  June  i,  earthquake  in  New  England. 

1639.  Jan.  14,  convention  at  Hartford,  Connecticut,  for  forming  a  constitution. 
"  April,  first  general  election  at  Hartford. 

"  First  printing-press  established  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts,  by  Stephen  Day. 

1642.  Oct.  9,  first  commencement  at  Harvard  college. 

1643.  May  19,  union  of  the  New  England  colonies. 

1646.  First  act  passed  by  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts,  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel 

among  the  Indians. 

1647.  May  19,  first  general  assembly  of  Rhode  Island. 

1648.  First  execution  for  witchcraft. 
"  New  London  settled. 

1650.  Harvard  college  chartered. 

"  Constitution  of  Maryland  settled. 

1651.  Navigation-act  passed  by  Great  Britain. 

1652.  First  mint  established  in  New  England. 

1654.  Yale  college  first  projected  by  Mr.  Davenport. 

1663.  Jan.  26,  earthquake  felt  in  New  England,  New  Netherlands,  and  Canada. 

1664.  Aug.  27,  surrender  of  New  Amsterdam  to  the  English. 

1665.  June  12,  New  York  city  incorporated. 
16/2.  First  copyright  granted  by  Massachusetts. 

1673.  Mississippi  river  explored  by  Marquette  and  Joliet. 

1675.  Junt  24,  commencement  of  King  Philip's  war. 

1676.  Aug.   12,  death  of  King  Philip. 

1 68 1.  Mar.  4,  grant  of  Pennsylvania  to  William  Penn. 

1682.  Oct.  24,  arrival  of  William  Penn  in  America. 

"  Louisiana  taken  possession  of  by  M.  de  la  Sale. 

738 


1683.     First  legislative  assembly  in  New  York. 
"        Roger  Williams  dies,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year. 

1686.  First  episcopal  society  formed  in  Boston. 

1687.  First  printing-press  established  near  Philadelphia,  by  William  Bradford. 

1688.  New  York  and  New  Jersey  united  to  New  England. 
1690.     Feb.  8,  Schenectady  burned  by  the  French  and  Indians. 

"        First  paper-money  issued  by  Massachusetts. 

1692.  William  and  Mary  college,  Virginia,  chartered. 

1693.  Episcopal  church  established  at  New  York. 

"        First  printing-press  established  in  New  York,  by  William  Bradford. 
1695.     Rice  introduced  into  Carolina. 

1698.  First  French  colony  arrive  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi. 

1699.  Captain  Kidd,  the  pirate,  apprehended  at  Boston. 

1700.  Episcopal  church  established  in  Pennsylvania. 

1701.  Oct.,  Yale  college  chartered  and  founded  at  Saybrook. 

1702.  Episcopal  church  established  in  New  Jersey  and  Rhode  Island. 

1703.  Culture  of  silk  introduced  into  Carolina. 

"        Duty  of  £4  laid  on  imported  negroes,  in  Massachusetts. 

1704.  Tonnage  duty  laid  by  Rhode  Island  on  foreign  vessels. 

"       Act  "to  prevent  the  growth  of  popery,"  passed  by  Maryland. 

"        First  newspaper  (Boston  News  Letter)  published  at  Boston,  by  Bartholomew  Green. 
1706.     Bills  of  credit  issued  by  Carolina. 
1709.     First  printing-press  in  Connecticut,  established  at  New  London,  by  Thomas  Short. 

1711.  South  Sea  Company  incorporated. 

1712.  Free  schools  founded  in  Charlestown,  Massachusetts. 
1714.     First  schooner  built  at  Cape  Ann. 

1717.  Yale  college  removed  from  Saybrook  to  New  Haven. 

1718.  Impost  duties  laid  by  Massachusetts  on   English  manufactures  and   English  ships. 

1719.  First  Presbyterian  church  founded  in  New  York. 

1720.  Tea  first  used  in   New   England. 

1721.  Inoculation  for  smallpox  introduced  into  New  England. 

1722.  Paper-money  first  issued  in  Pennsylvania. 

1725.  First   newspaper   in    New   York    (the    New    York    Gazette),    published   by   William 

Bradford. 

1726.  First  printing-presses  established  in  Virginia  and  Maryland. 

1727.  Earthquake  in  New  England. 

1730.     First  printing-press  and  newspaper  established  at  Charleston,  South  Carolina. 

1732.     Tobacco  made  a  legal  tender  in  Maryland  at  id.  per  pound,  and  corn  at  2od.  per 

bushel. 
1732.     Feb.  22,  George  Washington  born. 

First  printing-press  and  newspaper  established  at  Newport,  Rhode  Island. 
T733-     Georgia  settled. 
"        Freemason's  lodge  first  held  in  Boston. 

1737.  Earthquake  in  New  Jersey. 

1738.  College  founded  at  Princeton,   New  Jersey. 

1741.  Jan.    i,   General   Magazine   and   Historical   Chronicle,   first   published   by    Benjamin 

Franklin. 

1742.  Faneuil  Hall  erected  at  Boston. 

1750.     First  theatrical  performance  in   Boston. 

1754.  Columbia  college  founded  in  New  York. 

1755.  Defeat  of  General  Braddock. 
Sept.  8,  battle  of  Lake  George. 
Earthquake  in  North  America. 

First  newspaper  (Connecticut  Gazette)  published  at  New  Haven. 

1756.  May  17,  war  declared  with  France  by  Great  Britain. 

First  printing-press  and  newspaper  established  at  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  by 

Daniel  Fowle. 
T758.     July  26,  Louisburg  taken  by  the  English. 

Aug.  27,  Fort  Frontenac  taken  by  the  English. 

Nov.  25,  Fort  du  Quesne  (now  Pittsburgh)  taken  by  the  English. 

739 


'759-     Ticonderoga  taken  by  the  English. 

Sept.  18,  Quebec  taken  by  the  English. 
1761.     Mar.  12,  earthquake  in  New  England. 

1763.  Feb.  10,  treaty  of  peace  signed  at  Paris,  between  the  English  and  French. 
First  newspaper  published  in  Georgia. 

1764.  Mar.,  right  to  tax  American  colonies  voted  by  house  of  commons. 
"       April  5,  first  act  for  levying  revenue  passed  by  parliament. 

"    21,   Louisiana  ordered  to  be  given  up  to  Spain. 

1765.  Stamp  act  passed  by  parliament. 

Mar.  22,  stamp  act  receives  the  royal  assent. 
"        May  29,  Virginia  resolutions  against  the  right  of  taxation. 
"       June  6,  general  congress  proposed  by  Massachusetts. 

"        Oct.  7,   congress  of  twenty-eight  delegates  convenes  at  New  York,   and  publishes 
a  declaration  of  rights. 

1766.  Feb.,  Dr.   Franklin  examined  before  the  house  of  commons,  relative  to  the  repeal 

of  the  stamp-act. 
Mar.  18,  stamp-act  repealed. 

1767.  Tax  laid  on  paper,  glass,  painters'  colors,  and  teas. 

1769.  Dartmouth  college  incorporated. 

"        American  philosophical  society  instituted  at  Philadelphia. 

1770.  Tea-plant  introduced  into  Georgia. 
I773-     Tea  thrown  overboard  at  Boston. 

1774.  Boston  port-bill  passed. 

"        Sept.   4,   first  continental   Congress  at  Philadelphia. 
"        Dr.  Franklin  dismissed  from  the  postoffice. 

1775.  April  19,  battle  of  Lexington. 

"        May  10,  Ticonderoga  taken  by  the  provincials. 
"       June  17,  battle  of  Bunker's  Hill. 

July  2,  General  Washington  arrives  at  Cambridge. 
"        Dec.  13,  resolution  of  Congress  to  fit  out  a  navy  of  thirteen  ships. 
"     31,  assault  on  Quebec,  and  death  of  General  Montgomery. 

1776.  Jan.  3,  battle  near  Princeton. 

March  17,  Boston  evacuated  by  the  British. 
"        July  4,  declaration  of  independence. 
''        Sept.  n,  battle  of  Brandywine. 

"      15,  the  British  take  possession  of  New  York. 

"     27,  the  British  take  possession  of  Philadelphia. 
"        Oct.  4,  Battle  of  Germantown. 

"  22,  battle  of  Red  Bank. 

"  28,  battle  of  White  Plains. 

"        Nov.  16,  capture  of  Fort  Washington  by  the  British. 
"        Dec.  26,  battle  of  Trenton. 

1777.  Sept.  19,  battle  near  Still  water. 

J7?8.     June  28,  battle  at  Monmouth  courthouse. 
"        Dec.  29,  Savannah  taken  by  the  British. 

1780.  Aug.  16,  battle  near  Camden. 

1781.  Bank  of  North  America  established. 
"       Jan.  17,  battle  of  Cowpens. 

March  15,  battle  of  Guilford. 
Sept.  6,  Fort  Trumbull,  Conn.,  taken  by  Arnold,  and  New  London  burnt. 

"    8,  battle  of  Eutaw. 
Oct.  19,  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis. 

1782.  March  4,  resolution  of  the  house  of  commons  in  favor  of  peace. 
April  19,  independence  of  United  States  acknowledged  by  Holland. 

"       July,  evacuation  of  Savannah. 

Dec.  14,  evacuation  of  Charlestown. 

1783.  Jan.  20,  cessation  of  hostilities  agreed  on. 

Feb.  5,  independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by  Sweden. 
"  25,  independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by  Denmark. 
March  24,  independence  of  the  United  States  acknowledged  by  Spain. 

740 


i/83-     July,  independence  of  the   United   States  acknowledged  by  Russia. 
April  n,  proclamation  of  peace  by  Congress. 

19,  peace  proclaimed  in  the  army  by  Washington. 
Sept.  3,  definitive  treaty  of  peace  signed  at  Paris. 
Oct.   18,  proclamation  for  disbanding  the  army. 
Nov.  2,  Washington's  farewell  orders. 

'    25,   New  York  evacuated  by  the  British. 

1784.  Feb.,  first  voyage  to  China  from  New  York. 

1785.  July  9,  and  Aug.  5,  treaty  with  Prussia. 

1786.  Shay's  insurrection  in  Massachusetts. 
Sept.  20,  insurrection  in  New  Hampshire. 

1787.  Sept.   17,  federal  constitution  agreed  on  by  convention. 

1788.  Federal  constitution  adopted. 

1789.  March  3,  George  Washington  elected  president. 
April  30,  inauguration  of  George  Washington. 

1790.  District  of  Columbia  ceded  by  Virginia  and  Maryland. 
May  29,  constitution  adopted  by  Rhode  Island. 

1791.  Mar.  4,  Vermont  admitted  into  the  Union. 
Bank  of  the  United  States  established. 

First  folio  Bible  printed  by  Worcester  of  Mass. 

1792.  June  i,  Kentucky  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1793.  Washington  re-elected  president. 
''        Death  of  John  Hancock. 

1794.  Insurrection  in  Pennsylvania. 

T7p6.     June  i,  Tennessee  admitted  into  the  Union. 
"        Dec.  7,  Washington's  last  speech  to  Congress. 

1797.  March  4,  John  Adams  inaugurated  president. 

1798.  Washington  reappointed  commander-in-chief. 

1799.  Dec.   14,  death  of  George  Washington. 

1800.  Seat  of  government  removed  to  Washington. 
"        May  13,  disbanding  of  the  provisional  army, 

1801.  March  4,  Thomas  Jefferson  inaugurated  president. 

1802.  July  20,  Louisiana  ceded  to  France  by  Spain. 

1803.  Feb.    19,   Ohio   admitted  into  the   Union. 

"       April  30,  Louisiana  purchased  by  the  United  States. 
August,  Commodore  Preble  bombards  Tripoli. 

1805.  June  3,  treaty  of  peace  with  Tripoli. 

1806.  Expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clark  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 

1807.  June  22,  attack  on  the  frigate  Chesapeake. 
July  2,  interdict  to  armed  British  vessels. 

"        Nov.   II,   British  orders  in  council. 
"        Dec.   17,  Milan  decree. 

"     22,  embargo  laid  by  the  American  government. 

1808.  Jan.  i,  slave-trade  abolished. 
"       April  17,  Bayonne  decree. 

1809.  March   i,  embargo  repealed. 

"        4,  James  Madison  inaugurated  president. 

1810.  March  23,  Rambouillet  decree. 

1811.  May  16,  engagement  between  the  frigate  President  and  Little  Belt. 
"        Nov.  7,  battle  of  Tippecanoe. 

1812.  April  3,  embargo  laid  for  ninety  days. 

"       June  19,  proclamation  of  war.     (War  declared  June  i8th.) 
"    23,  British  orders  in  council  repealed. 

Aug.   15,  surrender  of  General  Hull. 

"       Action  between  the  frigates  Constitution  and  Guerriere. 
"        Nov.,  defeat  at  Queenstown. 
"       Action  between  the  Frolic  and  Wasp. 

Action  between  the  United  States  and   Macedonian. 
"       April  8,   Louisiana  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1813.  April  27,  capture  of  York,  Upper  Canada. 

741 


1813.  May  27,  battle  of  Fort  George. 

"       June  i,  Chesapeake  captured  by  the  Shannon. 
"        Sept.  10,  Perry's  victory  on  Lake  Erie. 

Oct.  5,  battle  of  the  Thames. 
"        Dec.  13,  Buffalo  burnt. 

1814.  March  28,  action  between  the  frigates  Essex  and  Phoebe. 
"       July  5,  battle  of  Chippewa. 

"    25,  battle  of  Bridgewater. 

"       August,  Washington  city  captured,  and  capitol  burnt. 
"  "        9,  ii,  Stonington  bombarded. 

"  "         n,  M'Donough's  victory  on  Lake  Champlain. 

"        Sept.  12,  battle  near  Baltimore. 
"        Dec.  24,  treaty  of  Ghent  signed. 
"          "     25,  battle  of  New  Orleans. 

1815.  Feb.  17,  treaty  of  Ghent  ratified  by  the  president. 
"        March,  war  declared  with  Algiers. 

1817.  Mar.  4,  James  Monroe  inaugurated  president. 
"        Dec.  10,  Mississippi  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1818.  Dec.  3,  Illinois  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1819.  Dec.  14,  Alabama  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1819.  May,  first  steamship  sailed  for  Europe. 

1820.  Mar.  15,  Maine  admitted  info  the  Union. 

1821.  July  I,  "Jackson  takes  possession  of  Florida. 
"       Aug.  10,  Missouri  admitted  into  the  Union. 
"        First  settlement  of  Liberia. 

1824.  March  13,  convention  with  Great  Britain  for  suppression  of  slave-trade. 
"       April  5,  convention  with  Russia  in  relation  to  the  northwest  boundary. 
"       August  13,  arrival  of  General  Lafayette. 

1825.  Mar.  4,  John  Quincy  Adams  inaugurated  president. 
'•'        Sept.  7,  departure  of  General  Lafayette. 

1826.  July  4,  death  of  Presidents  Adams  and  Jefferson. 

1829.  Feb.  20,  resolutions  passed  by  the  Virginia  house  of  delegates,  denying  the  right 

of  Congress  to  pass  the  tariff  bill. 
"        March  4,  Andrew  Jackson  inaugurated  president. 
"        May  2,  hail  fell  in  Tuscaloosa,  Alabama,  to  the  depth  of  twelve  inches. 

"     17,  death  of  John  Jay,  at  Bedford,  New  York. 
"        Sept.  15,  slavery  abolished  in  Mexico. 
"        Nov.  9,  separation  of  Yucatan  from  Mexico,  and  union  with  the  republic  of  Central 

America. 
"        Dec.  4,  revolution  commences  in  Mexico. 

1830.  Jan.  20,  General  Bolivar  resigns  his  military  and  civil  commission. 

"     27,   city  of  Guatemala   nearly  destroyed  by  earthquakes. 
"       April  4,  Yucatan  declares  its  independence. 

1831.  Jan.  12,  remarkable  eclipse  of  the  sun. 
"       July  4,  death  of  James  Monroe. 

"        Oct.  I,  free-trade  convention  at  Philadelphia. 
"    26,  tariff  convention  at  New  York. 

1832.  Feb.  6,  attack  on  Qualla  Battoo,  in  Sumatra,  by  U.  S.  frigate  Potomac. 

"       June  8,   cholera  breaks   out  at   Quebec,   in   Canada;   being  its   first   appearance   in 

America. 

"        Aug.  27,  capture  of  Blackhawk. 
"        Sept.  26,  university  of  New  York  organized. 
"        Nov.,  union  and  state-rights  convention  of  South  Carolina. 
"        Dec.  28,  John  C.  Calhoun  resigns  the  office  of  vice-president. 

1833.  Mar.  i,  new  tariff-bill  signed  by  the  president. 

"      4,  Andrew  Jackson  inaugurated  president  for  a  second  term. 
"    II,  state-rights  convention  of  South  Carolina. 
"    29,  Santa  Anna  elected  president  of  Mexico. 
"        May  16,  Santa  Anna  inaugurated  president  of  Mexico. 

742 


1833-     Oct   i,   public    deposits  removed  from  the  bank  of  the   United  States,  by  order  of 

Gen.  Jackson. 
"        Nov.  13,  remarkable  meteoric  showers  in  the  United  States. 

1834.  Mar.  28,  vote  of  censure  by  the  senate  against  General  Jackson,  for  removing  the 

deposits. 

1835.  April  18,  French  indemnity-bill  passes  the  chamber  of  deputies. 
''        Dec.   16,  great  fire  in  New  York. 

1836.  April  21,  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  in  Texas. 

"       June  14,  Arkansas  admitted  into  the  Union. 

"        Dec.  15,  burning  of  the  general  postoffice  and  patent  office,  at  Washington. 

1837.  Jan.  26,  Michigan  admitted  into  the  Union. 

Mar.  4,  Martin  Van  Buren  inaugurated  president  of  the  United  States. 

1840.  Jan.  19,  antarctic  continent  discovered  by  the  U.  S.  exploring  expedition. 
"       June  30,  sub-treasury  bill  becomes  a  law. 

1841.  Mar.  4,  William  Henry  Harrison  inaugurated  president  of  the  United  States. 
"       April  4,  death  of  President  Harrison. 

"       Aug.  9,  sub-treasury  bill  repealed. 

"     18,  bankrupt  act  becomes  a  law. 
1843.     March  3,  bankrupt  act  repealed. 
"       June  17,  Bunker  Hill  monument  celebration. 

1845.  Mar.  i,  Texas  annexed  to  the  United  States. 

"     3,  Florida  admitted  into  the  Union. 

"     4,  James  K.  Polk  inaugurated  president. 
"       June  18,  death  of  Andrew  Jackson. 
"        Dec.  24,  Texas  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1846.  May  8,  battle  of  Palo  Alto,  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

"    9,  battle  of  Resaca  de  la  Palma,       do. 

"  13,  proclamation  of  war  existing  with  Mexico. 
"       June  18,  United  States  senate  advises  the  president  to  confirm  the  Oregon  trea'v 

with  Great  Britain. 

"       July  28,  new  United  States  tariff  bill  passed. 
"       Aug.  3,  President  Polk  vetoes  the  river  and  harbor  bill. 

"      6,  revolution  in  Mexico,  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna. 

"     8,  President  Polk  vetoes  the  French  spoliation  bill. 

"    10,  Congress  adjourns. 

"    18,    Brigadier-General    Kearney    of   United    States    army,    takes    possession    ofr 
Santa  Fe. 

"    19,  Commodore  Stockton  blockades  the  Mexican  ports  on  the  Pacific. 
"        Sept.  21,  22,  23,  battles  of  Monterey,  Mexico. 

"       26,   California   expedition   with   Colonel   Stevenson's   regiment   of   780   officers 

and  men,  sails  from  New  York. 

"        Oct.  25,  Tabasco  in  Mexico,  bombarded  by  Commodore  Perry. 
"        Nov.  : },  Commodore  Conner  takes  Tampico. 
"        Dec.  6,  General  Kearney  defeats  the  Mexicans  at  San  Pasqual. 

"      25,  Colonel  Doniphan  defeats  the  Mexicans  at  Brazito,  near  El  Paso. 

"      28,  Iowa  admitted  into  the  Union. 

1847.  Jan.  8,  Mexican  Congress  resolve  to  raise  fifteen  millions  of  dollars  on  the  property 

of  the  clergy  for  the  war  with  the  United  States. 
"    8,  9,  battles  of  San  Gabriel  and  Mesa  in  California,  fought  by  General  Kearney, 

who  defeats  the  Mexicans. 

"    14,  revolt  of  the  Mexicans  in  New  Mexico  against  the  United  States  authorities. 
"    24,  battle   of  Canada,  in   New  Mexico.     Mexicans  defeated  by  the  Americans 

under  Colonel  Price. 
"        Feb.   22,   23,   battle    of   Buena   Vista.     Mexicans   21.000   in    number,    under    General 

Santa  Anna,  defeated  by  4,500  Americans  under  General  Taylor. 
"     28,    battle    of    Sacramento.     Colonel    Doniphan,    with    924   Americans,    defeats 

4,000  Mexicans. 
"        Mar.  i,  General  Kearney  declares  California  a  part  of  the  United  States. 

"     20,  city  and  castle  of  Vera  Cruz  taken  by  the  army  and  navy  of  the   United 
States,  under  General  Scott  and  Commodore  Perry. 

743 


i847-     April  2,  Alvarado  taken  by  the  Americans  under  Lieutenant  Hunter. 

"     18,  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo.     Mexicans  under  Santa  Anna  defeated  by  the  Ameri- 
cans under  General  Scott. 

"     18,  Tuspan  in  Mexico  taken  by  Commodore  Perry. 
"        May   I,   Smithsonian   Institution   at   Washington,   corner-stone   laid. 
"       Aug.  20,  battles  of  Contreras  and  Churubusco,  in  Mexico.     Mexicans  defeated  by 

Americans  under  General  Smith,  part  of  General  Scott's  command. 
"      31,  new  constitution  of  Illinois  adopted  by  state  convention. 

"  Sept.  8,  battle  of  Molina  del  Rey,  near  the  city  of  Mexico.  The  Americans  under 
General  Worth  (part  of  Scott's  command),  defeat  the  Mexicans  under  General 
Santa  Anna. 

"     12,    14,   battle   of  Chapultepec,   near   Mexico;   the  Americans,   under   Generals 
Scott,   Worth,    Pillow,   and   Quitman,   defeat   the    Mexicans   under   Santa   Anna. 
General  Scott  and  American  army  enter  the  city  of  Mexico  on  the  i4th. 
"        Sept.  13,  to  Oct.  12,  siege  of  Puebla,  held  by  the  Americans  against  the  Mexicans. 

The  latter  repulsed  by  the  former,  under  Colonel  Childs. 
•"        Oct.  9,  the  city  of  Huamantla,  in  Mexico,  taken  by  the  Americans,  under  General 

Lane. 

"     20,  port  of  Guayamas,  in  Mexico,  bombarded  and  captured  by  the  Americans. 
"        Dec.  31,  the  several  Mexican  states  occupied  by  the  American  army  placed  under 

military  contributions. 

1848.  Jan.  27,  a  national  convention  to  nominate  president  and  vice-president  called  by  the 
whig  members  of  Congress.  At  an  adjourned  meeting  it  was  resolved  that  the 
convention  meet  at  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia. 

1848.  Feb.  18,  By  a  general  order,  Major-General  Scott  turns  over  the  command  of  the 

U.  S.  army  in  Mexico  to  Major-General  Butler. 

"      May  22-26,  the  democratic  national  convention  at  Baltimore  nominate  General  Lewis"' 
Cass  of  Michigan  for  president,  and  General  William  O.  Butler  of  Kentucky  for 
vice-president. 
"     25,   Major-General  Scott  received  by  the  municipal  authorities  of  the  city  of 

New  York.     There  was  a  large  military  and  civic  procession. 
"    29,  Wisconsin  admitted  into  the  Union. 

"  30,  treaty  of  peace  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico,  which  had  been 
signed  at  Guadalupe  Hidalgo,  Feb.  2,  1848,  afterward  modified  at  Washington, 
and  confirmed  by  the  Mexican  Congress;  ratified  by  the  American  commission- 
ers, Sevier  and  Clifford,  and  the  Mexican  minister  of  foreign  relations,  Don  Luis 
de  la  Rosa.  It  was  proclaimed  in  the  United  States,  July  4,  1848. 

"       June  7,  8,  the  whig  national  convention  meet  at  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  second  day, 
fourth  ballot,  nominate  General  Zachary  Taylor  for  president,  and,  on  second 
ballot,  Hon.   Millard  Fillmore  for  vice-president. 
"      22,  23,  democratic  convention  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  nominate  Martin  Van  Buren 

for  president  and  Henry  Dodge  (who  declined  June  29)  for  vice-president. 
"       July  4,  corner-stone  of  monument  to  General  Washington,  laid  at  the  city  of  Wash- 
ington.    Oration  by  Hon.   Robert  C.   Winthrop,  speaker  of  the   United  States 
house  of  representatives. 

"       Aug.   13,  Oregon  territorial  bill,  with  prohibition  of  slavery,  passed  by  Congress. 
"    9,   io,   free-soil  convention  at  Buffalo,   nominate  Martin  Van   Buren,  of  New 
York,   for  president,   and   Charles   Francis  Adams,   of   Massachusetts,   for  vice- 
president.     Sixteen  states  were  represented  by  delegates. 
"     14,  adjournment  of  3Oth  Congress,  ist  session. 
"     17,  destructive  fire  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 
"        Sept.  9,  destructive  fire  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
"        Nov.  7,  presidential  election. 
"        Dec.  4,  meeting  of  the  3Oth  Congress,  second  session. 

"  6,  Taylor  and  Fillmore  elected  president  and  vice-president  by  the  electoral 
colleges. 

1849.  March  5,  inauguration  of  Zachary  Taylor  as  president,  and  of  Millard  Fillmore  as 

vice-president,  of  the  United  States. 

"  May  io,  Riot  at  Theater,  New  York,  occasioned  by  dispute  between  Actors  Forrest 
and  Macready. 

744 


1849-     Aug.  ii,  Proclamation  of  President  against  marauding  expedition  to  Cuba. 
"       Sept.  14,  French  Ambassador  dismissed  from  Washington. 

1850.  March  31,  President  Taylor  died. 

"       "    John  C.  Calhoun,  Senator  from  South  Carolina,  died. 
"        "     Millard  Fillmore,  I3th  President. 
"       Aug.  15,  California  admitted  as  a  state. 
Fugitive  slave  law  passed. 

1851.  April  25,  President  Fillmore  issued  proclamation  warning  promoters  of  expedition 

against  Cuba. 
June  16,  Census  of  United  States  completed;  total  population,  23,347,884. 

"      29,  Henry  Clay,  Senator  from  Kentucky,  died. 
Oct.    22,    President    issued    proclamation    against    sympathizers    with    revolutionary 

movement  in  Mexico. 
Dec.  24,  Part  of  Capitol  at  Washington  and  whole  of  Congressional  library  destroyed 

by  fire. 
Dec.  30,  M.  Kossuth,  the  Hungarian  Chief,  arrived  at  Washington  on  invitation  of 

Congress. 

1852.  March  20,  Publication  of  "Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,"  by  Mrs.  Stowe. 

Oct.  3,  U.  S.  S.  Crescent -City  boarded  at  Havana  and  not  allowed  to  land  mails  and 

passengers. 
Oct.  24,  Daniel  Webster,  eminent  statesman,  died,  aged  70. 

Expedition  of  United  States  fleet  under  Commodore  Perry  to  Japan. 

1853.  March  4,  General  Franklin  Pierce  inaugurated  fourteenth  President. 

June  21,  Koszta  affair.  Koszta,  a  Hungarian  refugee  to  United  States,  after  taking 
out  naturalization  papers,  visited  Smyrna,  was  seized  by  crew  of  Austrian  brig 
Huzzar.  By  direction  of  American  minister  at  Constantinople,  Capt.  Ingraham 
of  U.  S.  Sloop  St.  Louis,  demanded  Koszta's  release  by  a  certain  hour  and  pre- 
pared to  attack  Austrian  vessel.  Koszta  was  given  up  July  2. 

July  14,  Crystal  Palace  opens  at  New  York. 

Dec.  18,  Duel  between  M.  Sottle,  American  minister  at  Madrid,  and  M.  Turgot. 
(    26,  Great  fire  at  New  York. 

1854.  Jan.  9,  Astor  Library,  New  York,  opened. 

18,  William  Walker  proclaims  the  republic  of  Sonora  divided  into  two  states, 
Sonora  and  Lower  California. 
Feb.  28,  American  steamer  Black  Warrior  seized  at  Cuba. 

1854.  March   23,    Commercial    treaty   concluded   beween   Japan  and  the  United  States  by 

Commodore   Perry. 
"       June   7,    Reciprocity   treaty   between    Great   Britain   and   United    States,    respecting 

Newfoundland  fisheries,  international  trade,  etc. 

"       July  13,  Captain  Hollins,  in  American  Sloop  Cyane,  bombards  San  Juan  de  Nicaragua. 
Oct.,  Negotiations  for  annexation  of  Sandwich  Islands. 

1855.  March-April,  Dreadful  election  riots  in  Kansas. 

J855.     July,   Dispute  with  British  Government  on  enlistment. 

Sept.  3,  General  Harney  gains  a  victory  over  the  Sioux  Indians. 

1856.  May  2,  Senator  Sumner  savagely  assaulted  in  National  Capital  by  Preston  Brooks, 

M.  C.  from  South  Carolina. 

May  28,  Mr.  Crampton,  British  envoy,  dismissed. 

"       June  17,  John  C.  Fremont  nominated  Republican  candidate  for  President. 
"       Nov.  4,  James  Buchanan  elected  fifteenth  President. 
J8S7.     Jan.   16,   Lord  Napier,  appointed  British  envoy  to  United  States,  warmly  received 

March    18. 

"       March,   Decision  in  "Dred  Scott"  case  rendered  by  United  States  Supreme  Court. 
"        May-June,  Disorganized  condition  in  Utah;  troops  march  to  support  new  Governor. 
June,  Election  riots  in  Washington  against  Irish  electors. 

"       Riot  in  New  York  on  account  of  changes  in  police  arrangements. 
"       August,  Commercial  panic  in  New  York  and  extending  throughout  the  country. 
"        December,  Import  duties  of  the  protective  tariff  reduced  from  23  to  15  per  cent. 
1858.     May,   Dispute  with   Great   Britain  respecting  right   of  search   of  American  vessels 

settled. 
"       June,  Peace  restored  in  Utah. 

745 


1858.  August,  Great  rejoicing  at  the  successful  completion  of  the  Atlantic  telegraph. 

"        Sept.  18,  Massacre  of  emigrants  at  Mountain  Meadow;  Mormons  suspected  of  crime". 
"        Sept.  18,  Lieut.  Moffit  seizes  the  American  slave  ship  Echo  and  takes  her  to  Charles- 
ton with  cargo  of  Africans. 

1859.  Jan.  28,  Death  of  W.  H.  Prescott,  eminent  American  historian. 

"  June  25,  American  Commodore  Tatnall  assists  the  English  at  the  Chinese  engage- 
ment on  the  River  Peiho;  in  his  report  said:  "Blood  is  thicker  than  water." 

"  July,  General  Ward,  United  States  Envoy,  goes  to  Pekin,  but  does  not  see  the 
emperor. 

"  July  27,  General  Harney  sends  troops  to  San  Juan  Island,  near  Vancouver  Island, 
"to  protect  American  settlers."  Governor  Douglas  also  sends  troops. 

"  Oct.  16,  John  Brown's  raid  upon  Harper's  Ferry,  with  twenty-seven  men,  seizing 
the  arsenal;  Col.  Lee,  with  military,  kill  some  and  capture  the  balance. 

"  Nov.,  Gen.  Scott  supersedes  Gen.  Harney  at  San  Juan;  conciliatory  arrangement 
for  joint  occupation  of  Island. 

"        Nov.  28,  Death  of  Washington  Irving. 

"        Dec.  2,  John  Brown  executed. 

"  Dec.,  Agitation  in  Congress  over  election  of  speaker.  House  not  organized  until 
February  i,  1860. 

1860.  March  28,  President  Buchanan  protests  against  proposed  investigation  of  his  acts. 
"        March,  Companions  of  John  Brown  executed. 

"  May  16,  Abraham  Lincoln  nominated  at  Chicago  as  Republican  candidate  for 
President. 

"        May  17,  Japanese  Embassy  received  by  the  President  at  Washington. 

"      "     William  Goodrich,  noted  publisher  of  school  books,  and  who  wrote  under 
name  of  "Peter  Parley,"  died. 

"  June  18,  Stephen  A.  Douglas  nominated  at  Baltimore  as  regular  Democratic  candi- 
date for  President.  The  Seceders  nominated  John  C.  Breckenridge. 

"       June  23,  The  Great  Eastern  arrived  at  New  York. 

"  Sept.  20,  The  Prince  of  Wales  arrived  at  Detroit.  Visits  Washington  October  3, 
Philadelphia  October  9,  New  York  October  II,  Boston  October  17;  embarks  at 
Portland  October  20. 

"        Nov.  6,  Abraham  Lincoln  elected  i6th  President.     Intense  excitement  all  over  the 

Southern  States. 
•"        Dec.  20.     South  Carolina  seceded  from  the  Union. 

Dec.  26,  Major  Anderson  occupied  Fort  Sumpter,  removing  his  garrison  from  Fort 

Moultrie  in  Charleston  Harbor. 

Dec.  30,  Delegates  from  South  Carolina  not  received  by  President  Buchanan.  Presi- 
dent Buchanan  vacillated  in  his  policy  towards  Southern  States.  Secretary  Cass, 
Cobb,  Floyd  and  Thompson  resign.  New  York  and  other  states  protest  against 
secession. 

1861.  Jan.  4,  A  general  fast  observed  as  result  of  proclamation. 

"       Jan.,   Secession  of  states — Jan.   8,   Mississippi;   January    n,   Alabama  and   Florida; 

January  19,  Georgia;  January  26,  Louisiana;  February  I,  Texas. 
Jan.  12,  Vicksburg  fortified. 
Jan.  21,  Kansas  admitted  as  a  State. 
Feb.  8,  Jefferson  Davis  elected  President  of  Southern  Confederacy.     Inaugurated  at 

Montgomery,  Ala.,  February  18. 
Mar.  2,  Morrell  Tariff  bill  passes  Congress. 

President  Davis  prepares  for  war;  100,000  men  to  be  raised. 
"        Mar.  4,  Abraham  Lincoln  inaugurated  President. 


746 


CHRONOLOGICAL   HISTORY  OF   THE   CIVIL 

WAR. 

The  great  Slaveholders'  Rebellion  threatened  by  the  Southern  statesmen  during  the 
political  campaign  of  1860  took  form  immediately  after  the  announcement  of  the  election 
of  Abraham  Lincoln  as  President. 

,  1860. 

November  7.     Presidential  election. 

November  10.  Bill  introduced  in  South  Carolina  Legislature  to  raise  10,000  volunteers. 
Legislature  ordered  the  election  of  a  Convention  to  consider  the  question  of  Secession. 
Senator  James  Chestnut  resigned. 

November  n.     United  States  Senator  Hammond  of  South  Carolina  resigned. 

November  14.  Alexander  H.  Stevens  addressed  the  Georgia  Legislature  in  opposition 
to  Secession;  favored  a  State  Convention. 

November  15.  Senator  Robert  Tooms  replied  to  Mr.  Stevens;  he  favored  secession. 
Mr.  Stevens  soon  joined  the  secession  movement.  Governor  Letcher  of  Virginia  called 
extra  session  of  Legislature.  Great  public  meeting  at  Mobile  adopted  Declaration  of  Causes 
of  Secession. 

November  17.     Large  Secession  meeting  in  Charleston,  S.'C. 

November  18.  Georgia  Legislature  voted  $1,000,000  to  arm  the  State,  and  ordered 
election  of  State  Convention.  Maj.  Anderson  ordered  to  command  of  Fort  Moultrie, 
Charleston  Harbor,  relieving  Col.  Gardner,  ordered  to  Texas. 

November  19.     Governor  Moore  called  extra  session  of  Louisiana  Legislature. 

November  20-23.  Banks  suspend  in  Philadelphia,  Trenton,  Baltimore,  Washington, 
Richmond  and  Southern  States. 

November  24.  Vigilance  Association  organized  in  Lexington  District,  S.  C.  The 
movement  extended  throughout  the  South,  the  object  being  to  rid  the  country  of  Northern 
people  whose  sympathies  were  for  the  Union;  thousands  of  men  and  women  were  forced 
to  leave  the  country. 

November  29.  Mississippi  Legislature  sent  Commissioners  to  confer  with  authorities 
of  other  slaveholding  states. 

December  i.  Great  secession  meeting  at  Memphis,  Tenn.  Florida  Legislature  pro- 
vides for  State  Convention. 

December  3.  Congress  meets.  President  Buchanan's  message  denied  right  of  seces- 
sion. Message  attacked  by  Senator  Clingman  of  North  Carolina,  and  defended  by  Senator 
Crittenden  of  Kentucky. 

December  4.  The  President  sent  Mr.  Trescott  to  South  Carolina  to  ask  postponement 
until  Congress  could  decide  upon  remedies.  Senator  Iverson  of  Georgia  made  secession 
speech.  Senator  Saulsbury  of  Delaware  spoke  for  the  Union,  reproving  Iverson. 

December  5.     Secession  Delegates  elected  to  South  Carolina  Convention. 

December  6.  John  Bell  of  Tennessee,  late  candidate  for  President,  published  letter 
in  favor  of  the  Union.  In  House  of  Representatives,  Committee  of  33  appointed  to  consider 
question  of  compromise,  consisting  of  16  Republican,  17  opposition. 

December  10.  Howell  Cobb,  Secretary  of  Treasury,  resigned.  Senator  Clay  of  Ala- 
bama resigned.  Louisiana  Legislature  met,  appropriated  $500,000  to  arm  State,  and  called 
a  State  Convention.  Debate  in  Congress  on  State  of  the  Union.  Senator  Iverson,  Wigfall 
and  other  Southerners  declared  for  secession  and  against  any  compromise. 

December  13.  Great  Union  meeting  in  Philadelphia.  At  session  of  Cabinet,  President 
opposed  reinforcing  Fort  Moultrie. 

December  14.  Lewis  Cass,  Secretary  of  State,  resigned  because  the  President  would 
not  reinforce  Southern  forts. 

747 


1860—1861. 

December  17.  South  Carolina  Convention  assembled.  Governor  Pickins  favored 
immediate  secession.  Senator  Wade  of  Ohio  addressed  Senate,  foreshadowing  policy  of 
Lincoln's  Administration. 

December  18.  Senator  CrittenderTs  Compromise  Measure  introduced.  Jacob  Thomp- 
son, Secretary  of  the  Interior,  visited  Raleigh  to  influence  North  Carolina  Legislature  to 
vote  for  Secession. 

December  19.  Senator  Johnson  of  Tennessee  made  able  speech  favoring  Crittenden's 
Compromise  Bill.  Governor  Hicks  of  Maryland  refused  to  receive  the  Secession  Commis- 
sioner from  Mississippi.  The  Commissioner  addressed  a  secession  meeting  in  Baltimore. 

December  20.  South  Carolina  Convention  unanimously  adopted  a  Secession  Ordi- 
nance. News  of  the  action  hailed  with  immense  enthusiasm  throughout  the  South.  Com- 
mittee of  13  appointed  in  Senate  to  consider  Compromise  Measure.  Caleb  Cushing  reached 
Charleston  with  message  from  President  Buchanan  guaranteeing  that  Maj.  Anderson  should 
not  be  reinforced  and  asked  the  Convention  to  respect  Federal  laws.  Convention  refused 
to  make  any  promises. 

December  22.  North  Carolina  Legislature  adjourned.  A  bill  to  arm  the  State  failed 
to  pass  the  House.  The  Crittenden  proposition  voted  down  in  the  Committee  of  13. 

December  23.     The  robbery  of  the  Indian  Trust  Fund  discovered  at  Washington. 

December  24.  The  people  at  Pittsburgh  refused  to  permit  the  shipment  of  ordnance 
from  the  arsenal  to  Southern  forts.  South  Carolina  Convention  adopted  a  "Declaration  of 
Causes"  for  Secession,  and  formally  perfected  the  withdrawal  of  the  State.  An  address  to 
the  slave  holding  States  was  adopted.  Governor  Moore  ordered  a  session  of  the  Alabama 
Legislature.  Convention  elected  in  Alabama.  Majority  for  secession  over  50,000.  South 
Carolina  members  of  Congress  present  their  resignation.  The  Speaker  would  not  recognize 
it,  and  their  names  were  called  through  the  session. 

December  25.  South  Carolina  Convention  adopted  resolutions  to  form  a  Confederate 
Government  of  slaveholding  States. 

December  26.  South  Carolina  Commissioners  arrived  in  Washington.  Maj.  Anderson 
left  Fort  Moultrie,  and  with  his  band  of  about  80  men  established  himself  in  Fort  Sumpter. 

December  27.  Governor  Magoffin  called  an  extra  session  of  the  Kentucky  Legislature. 
Maj.  Anderson's  movement  created  intense  excitement;  troops  were  ordered  out  in  Charles- 
ton, and  aid  was  tendered  from  ^Georgia  and  other  States.  Revenue  cutter  Aikin  treacher- 
ously surrendered  by  Capt.  M.  L.  Coste  to  the  South  Carolina  authorities. 

December  28.  South  Carolina  seized  the  Custom  House,  Postoffice  and  Arsenal  at 
Charleston,  and  occupied  Castle  Pinckney  and  Fort  Moultrie. 

December  29.  John  B.  Floyd,  Secretary  of  War,  resigned,  charging  the  President  with 
trying  to  provoke  Civil  war,  by  refusing  to  withdraw  Maj.  Anderson.  The  South  Carolina 
Commissioners  formally,  sought  an  audience  of  the  President.  He  replied  next  day,  refus- 
ing to  receive  them. 

December  31.  South  Carolina  adopted  an  oath  of  abjuration  and  allegiance,  and  sent 
Commissioners  to  other  Slave  States,  with  the  view  to  the  formation  of  a  Southern  Con- 
federacy. 

1861. 

Jan.  2.  Governor  Ellis  of  North  Carolina  took  possession  of  Fort  Macon,  at  Beau- 
fort, the  works  at  Wilmington,  and  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Fayetteville.  Georgia  troops  in 
possession  of  Forts  Pulaski  and  Jackson  and  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  at  Savannah. 

Jan.  3.  Florida  State  Convention  met  at  Tallahassee.  South  Carolina  Commissioners 
wrote  an  Insulting  letter  to  the  President  and  went  home. 

Jan.  4.  Fast-day,  by  proclamation  of  the  President;  it  was  generally  observed  in  the 
Free  and  the  Border  Slave  States,  but  disregarded  in  the  South.  Fort  Morgan,  at  the 
mouth  of  Mobile  Bay,  and  the  U.  S.  Arsenal  in  Mobile,  seized  by  order  of  Governor  Moore 
of  Alabama.  South  Carolina  Convention  appointed  seven  delegates  to  "the  General  Con- 
gress of  the  Seceding  States." 

Jan.  5.  Steamer  Star  of  the  West  sailed  from  New  York  with  supplies  and  reinforce- 
ments for  Fort'  Sumpter.  Governor  Hicks  of  Maryland  published  a  strong  Union  address 
to  the  people.  South  Carolina  Convention  adjourned,  subject  to  a  call  by  the  Governor. 

Jan.  7.     Meeting  of  Alabama  State  Convention.     Meeting  of  Mississippi  State  Conven- 

748 


1861 — Continued. 

tion.  Meeting  of  Tennessee  Legislature.  Meeting  of  Virginia  Legislature.  Senator 
Toombs  of  Georgia  made  a  violent  Secession  speech  in  the  Senate. 

Jan.  8.  Jacob  Thompson,  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  resigned,  after  treacherously  be- 
traying the  sailing  of  the  Star  of  the  West  to  reinforce  Fort  Sumpter. 

Jan.  9.  Star  of  the  West  arrived  off  Charleston,  and  was  fired  upon  and  driven  back  to 
sea  by  the  rebel  batteries.  Mississippi  Convention  passed  a  Secession  Ordinance,  84  to  15. 

Jan.  10.     Florida  Secession  Ordinance  passed,  62  to  7. 

Jan.  ii.  Alabama  Secession  ordinance  passed,  61  to  39.  Philip  S.  Thomas,  Secretary 
of  the  Treasury,  resigned,  and  John  A.  Dix  of  New  York  appointed  in  his  place.  U.  S. 
Arsenal  at  Baton  Rouge,  Forts  Philip  and  Jackson,  below  New  Orleans,  and  Fort  Pickins, 
on  Lake  Ponchartrain,  seized  by  order  of  the  Governor  of  Louisiana.  Legislature  of  New 
York  voted  to  tender  the  whole  military  power  of  the  State  to  the  President  for  the  support 
of  the  Constitution. 

Jan.  13.  Virginia  State  Legislature  adopted  bill  calling  a  State  Convention.  Commo- 
dore Armstrong  surrendered  the  Pensacola  Navy  Yard  and  Fort  Barrancas  to  the  Florida 
troops.  Lieut.  Slemmer,  in  command  of  Fort  Pickins,  refused  to  obey  Armstrong's  order, 
and  saved  that  important  fortress  to  the  Union. 

Jan.  14.  South  Carolina  Legislature  declared  that  any  attempt  to  reinforce  Fort 
Sumpter  would  be  an  act  of  war. 

Jan.  16.  The  Crittenden  Compromise  practically  voted  down  in  the  United  States 
Senate,  by  the  adoption  of  Mr.  Clark's  substitute,  that  the  Constitution  is  good  enough, 
and  that  Secession  ought  to  be  put  down.  Arkansas  Legislature  voted  to  have  a  Conven- 
tion. Missouri  Legislature  voted  to  hold  a  Convention.  Maj.-Gen.  Sandford  of  New  York 
City  tendered  to  the  President  the  services  of  the  First  Division  of  7,000  men  for  any  service 
which  may  be  required.  Col.  Hayne,  in  the  name  of  Governor  Pickins,  demanded  of  the 
President  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumpter.  The  President  refused  to  receive  him  in  any 
official  capacity. 

Jan.  18.  Massachusetts  Legislature  tendered  to  the  President  all  the  power  of  the 
State  to  support  the  Federal  Government.  Virginia  Legislature  appropriated  $1,000,000 
for  the  defense  of  the  State. 

Jan.  19.  Georgia  Secession  ordinance  adopted,  208  to  89.  Alex.  H.  Stevens  and 
Herschel  V.  Johnson  voted  in  the  negative.  Tennessee  Legislature  called  a  State  Con- 
vention. 

Jan.  21.  Alabama  members  of  Congress  resigned.  Jefferson  Davis  took  leave  of  the 
Senate,  in  consequence  of  the  secession  of  his  State. 

Jan.  22.     Sherrard  Clemens  of  Virginia  made  a  strong  Union  speech  in  Congress. 

Jan.  23.  Georgia  members  of  Congress  resigned.  Mr.  Etheridge  of  Tennessee,  in  a 
speech  in  Congress,  declared  secession  to  be  rebellion,  and  to  be  put  down  at  any  cost. 

Jan.  24.     Arsenal  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  seized  by  the  State. 

Jan.  25.  Correspondence  between  Governor  Brown  of  Georgia  and  Mayor  Wood  of 
New  York,  about  seizure  of  arms  by  the  New  York  police.  Rhode  Island  Legislature 
repealed  the  Personal  Liberty  Bill. 

Jan.  26.     Louisiana  Convention  adopted  a  Secession  ordinance,  113  to  17. 

Jan.  28.     Texas  State  Convention  met  at  Austin. 

Jan.  30.  North  Carolina  Legislature  submitted  the  Convention  question  to  a  vote  of 
the  people — the  first  recognition  in  all  the  South  that  the  people  had  any  right  to  a  voice 
in  the  matter.  Ex-Secretary  Floyd  indicted  by  a  Grand  Jury  for  malfeasance  and  con- 
spiracy. Revenue  cutters  Cass,  Capt.  J.  J.  Morrison,  and  McClelland,  Capt.  Breshwood, 
surrendered  to  the  Louisiana  authorities  by  their  commanders. 

Feb.  i.  Mint  and  Custom  House  at  New  Orleans  seized  by  the  State  authorities. 
Texas  Convention  passed  a  Secession  ordinance,  166  to  7,  subject  to  a  vote  of  the  people. 

Feb.  4.  The  Rebel  Delegates  met  at  Montgomery,  Ala.,  to  organize  a  Confederate 
government.  Howell  Cobb  was  chosen  chairman.  The  Peace  Congress  met  at  Washing- 
ton, ex-President  Tyler  presiding. 

Feb.  8.  Col.  Hayne,  commissioner  from  South  Carolina,  unable  to  get  recognition, 
finally  left  Washington.  The  Montgomery  Convention  adopted  a  Provisional  Constitution. 
Gov.  Brown  of  Georgia  seized  New  York  ships  in  Savannah  Harbor,  in  retaliation  for  the 
seizure  of  arms  in  New  York.  The  ships  were  released  on  the  loth.  Little  Rock  Arsenal 
surrendered  to  Arkansas. 

749 


1861 — Continued. 

Feb.  9.  Jefferson  Davis  and  Alex.  H.  Stevens  elected  Provisional  President  and  Vice- 
President  at  Montgomery. 

Feb.  ii.     President  Lincoln  started  for  Washington. 

Feb.  13.     Electoral  vote  counted.     Lincoln  and  Hamlin  officially  declared  elected. 

Feb.  18.     Jefferson  Davis  inaugurated  President  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America. 

Feb.  19.  Enthusiastic  reception  of  President  Lincoln  in  New  York  City.  Fort  Kear- 
ney, Kansas,  taken  by  Secessionists;  soon  after  retaken. 

Feb.  21.  Jeff.  Davis  appointed  his  Cabinet.  Toombs,  Secretary  of  State;  Memminger, 
Treasury;  and  L.  P.  Walker,  War.  Governor  of  Georgia  made  another  seizure  of  New 
York  vessels. 

Feb.  22.  President  Lincoln's  night  journey  from  Harrisburg  to  Washington,  in  order 
to  prevent  an  anticipated  outrage  in  Baltimore. 

Feb.  25.     News  received  of  the  surrender  and  treason  of  Maj.-Gen.  Twiggs  in  Texas. 

Feb.  26.     Capt.  Hill  refused  to  surrender  Fort  Brown,  Texas,  under  Twiggs'  order. 

Feb.  27.     Peace  Congress  submitted  to  the  Senate,  their  plan  of  pacification. 

Feb.  28.  Vote  on  Corwin's  report  from  the  committee  of  33;  the  resolutions  adopted — 
136  to  53. 

March  i.     Gen.  Twiggs  expelled  from  the  army. 

March  2.     Revenue  cutter  Dodge  surrendered  to  the  rebels  at  Galveston. 

March  4.  Inauguration  of  President  Lincoln.  Texas  State  Convention  declared  that 
State  out  of  the  Union. 

March  5.     Gen.  Beauregard  ordered  to  take  command  of  the  rebels  at  Charleston. 

March  6.     Fort  Brown  surrendered. 

March  18.     Supplies  cut  off  from  Fort  Pickins,  Pensacola. 

March  22.  Dr.  Fox,  of  the  Navy,  visited  Maj.  Anderson,  as  special  messenger  of 
Government. 

March  25.  Col.  Lamon,  Government  messenger,  had  an  interview  with  Gov.  Pickins 
and  Gen.  Beauregard. 

March  28.  Vote  of  Louisiana  on  Secession  published.  For,  20,448;    against,  17,296. 

March  30.     Mississippi  Convention  ratified  the  Confederate  Constitution — 78  to  7. 

April  3.  Long  Cabinet  meeting  on  Fort  Sumpter  business.  Great  activity  in  the 
Navy  "Department.  Rebel  battery  on  Morris  Island  fired  into  a  schooner — nobody  hurt. 
South  Carolina  Convention  ratified  the  Confederate  Constitution,  114  to  16. 

April  7.  Virginia  Convention  refused,  89  to  45,  to  submit  a  Secession  ordinance  to  the 
people. 

April  7.  Gen.  Beauregard  notified  Maj.  Anderson  that  intercourse  between  Fort 
Sumpter  and  the  city  would  no  longer  be  permitted.  Steam  transport  Atlantic  sailed  from 
New  York  with  troops  and  supplies. 

April  8.  Official  notification  given  that  supplies  would  be  sent  to  Maj.  Anderson,  by 
force,  if  necessary.  State  Department  declined  to  recognize  the  Confederate  States  Com- 
missioners. 

April  9.     Steamers  Illinois  and  Baltic  sailed  from  New  York  with  sealed  orders. 

April  10.  Floating  battery  of  the  rebels  at  Charleston  finished  and  mounted.  Large 
numbers  of  troops  sent  to  the  various  fortifications. 

April  ii.  Fears  of  the  seizure  of  Washington.  Troops  posted  in  the  Capitol — oath  of 
fidelity  administered  to  the  men.  Confederate  Commissioners  left  Washington,  satisfied 
that  no  recognition  of  their  government  would  take  place  under  President  Lincoln.  Beau- 
regard  demands  of  Maj.  Anderson  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumpter.  The  Major  declined. 
Bids  for  Treasury  notes  opened.  Whole  amount  taken  at  a  premium. 

April  12.  ACTUAL  COMMENCEMENT  OF  WAR.  Bombardment  of  Fort  Sump- 
ter began  at  4:30  a.  m.,  and  continued  all  day;  partially  suspended  at  nightfall.  The  rebels 
had  in  action  17  mortars  and  30  large  guns,  mostly  columbiads.  The  rebels  fired  at  in- 
tervals all  night;  Sumpter  was  silent.  Pennsylvania  Legislature  voted  $500,000  to  arm 
the  State.  Fort  Pickins  reinforced. 

April  13.  Fort  Sumpter  opened  fire  about  7  a.  m.  At  8  o'clock  the  officers'  quarters 
were  fired  by  a  shell.  At  10  o'clock  a  chance  shot  struck  down  the  flag.  At  noon  most 
of  the  woodwork  of  the  fort  was  £>n  fire;  men  rolled  out  90  barrels  of  powder  to  prevent 
explosion.  Sumpter's  fire  almost  silenced;;  the  flames  forced  the  destruction  of  almost  all 
the  powder;  cartridges  were  gone,  and  none  could  be  made.  About  i  p.  m.  the  flag- 

750 


1861 — Continued. 

staff  was  shot  away,  when  the  flag  was  nailed  to  the  piece,  and  displayed  from  the  ram- 
parts. Senator  Wigfall  now  came  with  a  flag  of  truce,  arrangements  were  made  for  evacu- 
ating the  fort,  and  at'  12:55  P-  m-  the  shot-riven  flag  was  hauled  down,  the  garrison 
departed  on  honorable  terms,  taking  their  flag,  arms,  and  private  property.  No  man  was 
hurt  in  the  fort  during  the  action,  and  none  were  killed  on  the  rebel  side. 

April  14.     Major  Anderson  and  his  men  left  Fort  Sumpter,  and  sailed  for  New  York. 
April  15.    The  President's  proclamation  issued,  calling  for  75,000  volunteers,  and  com- 
manding the  rebels  to  return  to  peace  within  20  days.     Extra  session  of  Congress  called. 
New  York   Legislature  voted  30,000  men  and  $3,000,000  for  putting  down  the  rebellion. 
Several  Southern  vessels  at  New  York  were  seized  and  fined  for  irregular  clearances. 

April  16.  Governor  Magoffin  refuses  to  furnish  troops  from  Kentucky  under  the 
President's  proclamation.  Gov.  Letcher  makes  a  similar  response  from  Virginia.  Goy. 
Harris,  of  Tennessee,  refuses  soon  after;  also  Gov.  Jackson,  of  Missouri. 

April  16-17,  etc.  General  uprising  in  the  North.  Proclamations,  military  orders,  vot- 
ing men  and  money,  the  order  of  the  day.  In  the  principal  cities,  crowds  visited  news- 
papers and  firms  suspected  of  disloyalty,  and  compelled  them  to  raise  the  Stars  and  Stripes. 
Legislatures  not  in  session  were  called  together;  banks  offered  loans  to  the  Government; 
great  public  meetings  were  held;  Union  badges  worn  by  everybody. 

April  17.  Virginia  Secession  ordinance  passed  in  secret  session — 60  to  53 — to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  people.  Gov.  Letcher  recognized  the  Southern  Confederacy  by  proclama- 
tion. Massachusetts  Sixth  Rgiment  started  for  Washington. 

April  18.  Pennsylvania  volunteers  reached  Washington.  The  Virginians  obstruct  the 
channel  at  Norfolk  to  prevent  the  sailing  of  war  vessels  from  that  point.  Maj.  Anderson 
reached  New  York.  Sixth  Massachusetts  pass  New  York.  Fourth  Massachusetts  arrive. 
Lieut.  Jones  burned  Harper's  Ferry  Arsenal  to  keep  it  from  the  rebels.  Two  of  his  men 
were  killed  by  rebel  shots. 

April  19.  Rebels,  under  Col.  Van  Dorn,  seized  the  steamship  Star  of  the  West,  off 
Indianola.  Attack  on  the  Sixth  Massachusetts  in  Baltimore — two  killed  and  seven  wounded 
— eleven  rioters  killed  and  wounded.  Baltimore  in  the  hands  of  the  mob.  The  Mayor  and 
Governor  informed  the  President  that  no  more  troops  could  pass  through  Baltimore  with- 
out fighting  their  way.  New  York  Seventh  left  for  Washington.  (From  this  date  for 
many  days  troops  were  rapidly  pouring  in  for  Washington,  Annapolis,  and  Fortress  Monroe.) 
April  20.  Great  mass  meetings  in  New  York — all  parties  for  the  Union — John  A.  Dix 
presided.  Maj.  Anderson  was  present.  Branch  Mint  at  Charlotte,  N.  C.,  seized.  Several 
bridges  on  the  Northern  Pennsylvania  Railroad  burned  (in  Maryland).  Arsenal  at  Lib- 
erty, Mo.,  seized.  John  C.  Breckinridge  spoke  against  the  Government  at  Louisville,  Ky. 
Gosport  Navy  Yard  destroyed  to  keep  it  from  the  rebels.  The  Pennsylvania,  Delaware, 
Columbus,  Merrimac,  Raritan,  Columbia,  Germantown,  Plymouth,  Dolphin,  and  United 
States,  vessels  of  war,  scuttled  and  set  on  fire.  The  Cumberland  was  towed  out. 

April  21.  Government  took  possession  of  the  Philadelphia  and  Baltimore  Railroad. 
Over  4,000  men  left  New  York  for  the  seat  of  war.  War  sermons  preached  in  most  of 
the  Northern  churches.  Senator  Andrew  Johnson,  of  Tennessee  (Union),  mobbed  at 
Lynchburg,  Va. 

April  22.  Arsenals  at  Fayetteville.  N.  C.,  and  Napoleon,  Ark.,  seized  by  the  rebels. 
New  York  City  appropriated  $1,000,000  to  equip  volunteers,  and  $500,000  for  their  fami- 
lies. Western  Virginia  begins  to  take  sides  for  the  Union.  Union  meeting  at  Lexington, 
Ky.  Senator  Crittenden  spoke.  New  York  Seventh  arrived  at  Annapolis.  Vermont 
Leislature  met  in  extra  session. 

April  23.  John  Bell  came  out  for  the  rebels.  First  South  Carolina  Regiment  started 
for  the  Potomac. 

April  24.  Rebels  under  Solon  Borland  seized  Fort  Smith,  Ark.  Gov.  Magofnn  called 
an  extra  session  of  the  Kentucky  Legislature. 

April  25.  Maj.  Sibley  surrendered  450  U.  S.  troops  to  the  rebel  Col.  Van  Dorn  at 
Saluria,  Tex.  Legislature  of  Vermont  voted  $1,000,000  to  equip  volunteers.  Six  hundred 
U.  S.  troops  arrived  at  New  York  from  Texas.  Gen.  Harney  arrested  by  Virginia  au- 
thority at  Harper's  Ferry.  Illinois  troops  removed  arms  from  the  U.  S.  Arsenal,  St.  Louis. 
Steamship  Catawba  seized  at  New  Orleans,  but  released  soon  after.  New  York  Seventh 
Regiment  reached  Washington.  Gov.  Letcher  proclaims  Virginia  a  member  of  the  South- 
ern Confederacy.  Senator  Douglas  spoke  for  the  Union  before  the  Illinois  Legislature. 

751 


1861 — Continued. 

April  26.  Gov.  Brown,  of  Georgia,  prohibited  the  payment  of  debts  due  the  North- 
ern men,  diverting  the  amount  to  the  State  Treasury.  Governor  of  North  Carolina  called 
an  extra  session  of  the  Legislature.  More  bridges  burned  near  Baltimore  on  the  Phila- 
delphia road.  Gov.  Burton,  of  Delaware,  called  for  Union  volunteers. 

April  27.  Numerous  resignations  of  Southerners  at  Washington  who  refused  to  take 
the  oath.  A  steamer  loaded  with  powder  for  the  rebels  seized  at  Cairo.  The  blockade  ex- 
tended to  North  Carolina  and  Virginia  ports. 

April  28.     Frigate  Constitution  arrived  at  New  York,  having  barely  escaped  the  rebels. 

April  29.  Indiana  Legislature  voted  $500,000  to  arm  the  State.  Bonds  and  money  in 
the  Collector's  office  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  seized  by  Gov.  Harris.  Steamship  Tennessee, 
Texas,  Hermes,  seized  at  New  Orleans.  Maryland  House  of  Delegates  voted  against 
Secession,  53  to  13;  the  Senate  unanimously  repudiate  Secession. 

April  30.  Gen.  Harney  released.  New  Jersey  Legislature  met.  Governor  recom- 
mended $2,000,000  for  war  purposes. 

May  i.  State  Convention  bill  passed  North  Carolina  Legislature.  Rhode  Island  Leg- 
islature met.  Gen.  Harney  published  a  Union  letter. 

May  2.  New  York  6o.th  arrived  in  Washington.  Ellsworth's  Fire  Zouaves  also  arrived. 
Missouri  Legislature  met.  National  flag-raising  at  Washington. 

May  3.  Connecticut  Legislature  voted  $2,000,000  for  public  defense.  Governor  Letcher 
called  out  the  militia  to  defend  Virginia  from  the  Northerners.  President  Lincoln  called 
for  42,000  three-year  volunteers. 

May  4.  Union  meeting  in  Preston,  Va.  Union  delegates  to  a  Border  State  Con- 
vention elected  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  by  7,000  majority.  Committee  of  Maryland  Legislature 
visited  President  Lincoln.  Funeral  at  Lawrence,  Mass.,  of  Corporal  Needham,  of  the 
Mass.  Sixth,  killed  at  Baltimore. 

May  5.  Gen.  Butler,  with  a  Union  force,  took  possession  of  the  Relay  House,  near 
Baltimore. 

May  6.  Virginia  admitted  to  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Arkansas  Convention  voted, 
69  to  i,  to  secede.  The  rebel  Congress  made  public  the  War  and  Privateering  Act.  Balti- 
more City  Militia  disbanded.  Kentucky  Legislature  met. 

May  7.  Michigan  Legislature  met.  Maj.  Anderson  accepted  command  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Volunteers.  Riot  at  Knoxville  on  hoisting  a  Union  flag.  Gov.  Harris  announced 
a  military  league  between  Tennessee  and  the  Confederacy. 

May  9.  Rebel  Congress  authorizes  the  President  to  accept  all  the  volunteers  that 
offer.  First  landing  of  troops  by  steamers  at  Baltimore. 

May  10.  Mob  attack  upon  Volunteer  Home  Guard  at  St.  Louis.  The  Guard  fired; 
7  of  the  mob  killed.  A  brigade  of  Secession  militia  near  St.  Louis,  under  Gen.  Frost, 
surrendered  to  Gen.  Lyon.  Maj. -Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  put  in  command  of  the  rebel  forces 
in  Virginia.  Orders  from  Washington  to  administer  the  oath  of  alfegiance  to  the  officers 
of  the  army.  The  Winans  steam  gun  captured. 

May  u.  Great  Union  demonstration  in  San  Francisco.  A  Separation-of-the-State 
meeting  at  Wheeling,  W.  Va.  Another  street  fight  in  St.  Louis.  Blockade  of  Charleston 
established. 

May  12.  Gen.  Harney  issued  a  proclamation  to  the  people  of  Missouri.  Several 
attempts  to  destroy  bridges  on  the  railroad  north  of  Baltimore. 

May  13.  Union  troops  under  Gen.  Butler  took  possession  of  Federal  Hall,  Baltimore. 
Travel  through  Baltimore  re-established.  Separation  Convention  met  at  Wheeling,  35 
counties  represented.  Queen  Victoria  issued  a  proclamation  of  neutrality. 

May  14.  A  schooner  loaded  with  arms  for  the  rebels  seized  in  Baltimore.  Arms 
seized  in  other  parts  of  the  city.  Ross  Winans  arrested.  Gunboat  Quaker  City  captured 
ship  Argo  with  $150,000  worth  of.  tobacco.  St.  Louis  and  Memphis  mail  contracts  an- 
nulled and  mails  stopped. 

May  15.  Gov.  Hicks,  of  Maryland,  called  for  volunteers  under  the  President's  pro- 
clamation. Massachusetts  Legislature  offers  to  loan  the  Government  $7,000,000. 

May  16.  Bridges  on  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  destroyed.  Gen.  Scott  ordered 
the  fortification  of  Arlington  Heights.  Secessionists  dispersed  at  Liberty,  Mo. 

May  17.  Secession  spies  arrested  in  Washington.  Express  packages  go  no  further 
south  than  the  Capital.  Collectors  appointed  for  the  Southern  ports.  Yacht  Wanderer 
captured  by  the  Crusader  off  Key  West.  Rebels  fortify  Harper's  Ferry.  Rebels  dis- 

752 


1861—  Continued. 

persed  at  Potosi,  Mo.  Search  for  secreted  arms  at  St.  Louis.  Confederate  Congress 
authorizes  the  issue  of  Treasury  notes. 

May  18.  Arkansas  admitted  to  the  Southern  Confederacy.  Lightship  in  the  Potomac 
stolen  by  rebels  retaken. 

May  19.  U.  S.  steamers  attacked  the  rebel  battery  at  Sewall's  Point,  2  wounded  on 
Union  side.  Two  schooners  with  rebel  troops  taken  in  the  Potomac.  Rebels  at  Har- 
per's ferry  reinforced. 

May  20.  Seizure  of  telegraphic  dispatches  throughout  the  North  by  order  from  Wash- 
ington. North  Carolina  Secession  ordinance  adopted.  Interview  between  Gen.  Harney 
and  Gen.  Price  about  Missouri  affairs.  Gov.  Magoffin  issued  his  proclamation  of  neu- 
trality of  Kentucky. 

May  21.  Confederate  Congress  adjourned. 

May  22.  Ship  Island  fortifications  destroyed  to  keep  them  from  the  rebels.  Flag- 
raising  at  the  Postofrice  at  Washington.  Speeches  by  the  President  and  Cabinet. 

May  24.  General  movement  of  troops  into  Virginia;  the  rebels  evacuated  Alexandria; 
Col.  Ellsworth  shot  by  the  rebel  Jackson,  landlord  of  the  Marshall  House,  Alexandria, 
from  which  the  Colonel  had  taken  down  a  secession  flag;  Jackson  was  instantly  killed. 
Arlington  Heights  occupied  by  Union  troops.  Virginia  cavalry  company  captured.  The 
Southern  mails  stopped. 

May  25.  Union  troops  destroyed  bridges  on  the  Alexandria  and  Leesburg  road 
Rebel  attack  on  the  I2th  New  York;  nobody  hurt.  Ellsworth's  funeral  in  Washington. 

May  26.  Alexandria  put  under  martial  law.  Western  Virginia  voted  strongly  for  the 
L'nion. 

May  27.  Chief  Justice  Taney's  habeas  corpus  in  the  Merryman  case  disregarded  by 
Gen.  Cadawallader.  Blockade  of  the  Mississippi  commanded.  Brig.-Gen.  McDowell  took 
command  at  Washington.  Mobile  blockaded. 

May  28.     Gen.  Butler  advanced  his  forces  to  Newport  News.     Savannah  blockaded. 

May  29.  Jeff.  Davis  reached  Richmond.  Union  troops  advanced  towards  Harper's 
Ferry;  the  rebels  retire  towards  Martinsburg. 

May  30.  Rebels  fled  from  Grafton,  Va.  Col.  Kelly  took  possession.  Rebels  fled 
back  from  Williamsport.  Md. 

May  31.  Gen.  Lyons  superseded  Gen.  Harney.  Maj.-Gens.  Banks  and  Freemont  com- 
missioned. New  York  7th  left  Washington.  Gunboat  Freeborn  engaged  batteries  at 
Acquia  Creek. 

June  i.  Lieut.  Tomkins,  U.  S.  regular  cavalry,  with  47  men  charged  through  the  rebels 
at  Fairfax  Court  House,  killed  Capt.  Marr  and  several  others.  Tompkins  had  two  killed. 

June  3.  Rebels  routed  at  Philippa,  Va.,  by  Col.  Kelly,  with  a  loss  of  16  killed  and  10 
prisoners;  2  Union  men  were  killed,  and  Col.  Kelly  was  wounded.  Senator  Douglas  died. 
Border  State  Convention  met. 

June  6.  The  Harriet  Lane  engaged  the  Pig  Point  batteries.  Capt.  Ball's  rebel  cavalry 
captured  at  Alexandria,  sworn  and  let  go. 

June  8.     Gen.  Patterson's  advance  moved  from  Chambersburg  towards  Harper's  Ferry. 

June  9.  Alex.  H.  Stevens  made  his  cotton  loan  speech  at  Milledgeville. 

June  10.  Battle  at  Big  Bethel.  Union  force  under  Gen.  Pierce  repulsed,  14  killed,  45 
wounded;  Lieut.  Greble  and  Major  Winthrop  killed.  Rebels  report  17  killed. 

June  ii.  Col.  Wallace  surprised  and  routed  500  rebels  at  Romney,  Va.,  killing  2, 
losing  none.  Wheeling  Convention  met. 

June  13.     Fast-day  in  the  rebel  States. 

June  14.  Rebels  evacuated  and  burned  Harper's  Ferry,  destroyed  the  railroad  bridge, 
and  took  the  armory  machinery  to  Richmond.  Maryland  Congress  election  showed  a 
Union  victory. 

June  15.  Privateer  Savannah  arrived  in  New  York  as  a  prize  of  U.  S.  brig  Perry.  Gen. 
Lyon  occupied  Jefferson  City,  Mo.  Price  retreated  to  Bonneville. 

June  16.     Skirmish  at  Seneca  Mills,  a  Secession  captain  and  2  men  killed. 

June  17.  Western  Virginia  Convention  unanimously  voted  its  independence  of  the 
rebel  section  of  the  State.  Street  fight  in  St.  Louis,  6  rebels  killed.  The  surprise  at  Vi- 
enna, Va. ;  rebels  fire  upon  a  railroad  train,  killing  8  Union  soldiers;  6  rebels  killed.  Bat- 
tle of  Boonveville,  Mo.;  Gen.  Lyon  routed  the  rebels  under  Gens.  Price  and  Jackson; 

753 


1861 — Continued. 

about  50  rebels  killed.  Lyon  lost  only  2.  Gen.  Patterson  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Wil- 
liamsport. 

June  19.  Rebels  occupy  Piedmont,  Va.  Thirty-five  rebels  captured  at  Liberty,  Mo. 
Andrew  Johnson  spoke  in  Cincinnati. 

June  20.  Maj.-Gen.  McClellan  took  command  in  Western  Virginia.  Wheeling  Con- 
vention elected  Francis  H.  Pierpont  Governor  of  Virginia. 

June  21.     East  Tennessee  Union  Convention  held. 

June  23.     Balloon  reconnoissance  commenced. 

June  24.  Gov.  Harris  proclaimed  Tennessee  out  of  the  Union,  the  vote  of  the  people 
being  for  separation  104,019,  against  47,238.  Large  fire  in  Richmond,  Va. 

June  25.  Virginia  Secession  vote  announced  at  128,884  to  32,134  against.  Iowa  voted 
a  war  loan  of  $600,000. 

June  26.  The  President  acknowledged  the  Wheeling  government  as  the  government  of 
Virginia.  Skirmish  at  Patterson's  Creek,  Va. ;  17  rebels,  i  Union  killed. 

June  27.  Marshal  Jane  arrested  in  Baltimore.  J.  C.  Freemont  arrived  from  Europe. 
Engagement  between  gunboat  Freeborn  and  rebel  batteries  at  Mathias  Point;  Capt.  Ward, 
of  the  navy,  killed. 

June  29.  General  council  of  war  at  Washington.  Steamer  St.  Nicholas  captured  in  the 
Potomac  by  the  rebels. 

July  i.  Privateer  Sumpter  escaped  from  the  Mississippi.  Privateer  Petrel  escaped 
from  Charleston.  Fight  at  Buckhannon,  rebels  routed,  23  killed,  200  prisoners.  Skirmish 
at  Falling  Waters,  Va. 

July  2.  Engagement  near  Martinsburg,  Va.,  rebels  routed,  loss  heavy;  Union,  3  killed. 
Steamship  Catiline  burned.  Virginia  Legislature  at  Wheeling  organized. 

July  3.  Arkansas  called  out  10,000  men  to  repel  invasion.  Rebel  company,  94  men, 
taken  at  Neosho,  Mo. 

July  4.  Congress  met  in  extra  session.  New  Hampshire  voted  a  $1,000,000  loan  for 
the  war.  Rebels  seized  Louisville  and  Nashville  railroad.  Great  Union  meeting  in  San 
Francisco. 

July  5.  President's  Message  read;  opposition  only  6  Senators  and  5  Representatives. 
Battle  at  Carthage,  Mo.,  rebels  lost  about  350  killed  and  wounded;  Union  loss  13  killed, 
31  wounded.  Col.  Sigel  commanded. 

July  6.  Gallant  fight  of  45  men  of  3d  Ohio  Regiment  at  Middle  York  bridge,  near 
Buckhannon,  cutting  through  an  ambuscade  of  200  or  300  rebels. 

July  7.  Infernal  machine  found  in  the  Potomac.  Battle  at  Brier  Forks,  near  Carthage; 
drawn. 

July  8.  Col.  Taylor  brought  to  the  President  a  message  from  Jeff.  Davis  concerning 
prisoners  captured  as  privateers. 

July  9.     Maj.-Gen.  Freemont  put  in  command  of  the  Western  Department. 

July  10.  Battle  at  Laurel  Hill,  Va. ;  a  Georgia  regiment  routed;  loss  unknown;  Union 
loss  i  killed.  Sharp  skirmish  at  Monroe  Station,  Mo.,  rebels  driven  off. 

July  ii.  Battle  of  Rich  Mountain,  Va.  Gen.  Rosecrans  defeated  Col.  Pegram,  took  all 
his  camp  equipage,  killed  60  and  took  many  prisoners.  Union  loss,  n  killed,  35  wounded. 

July  12.  Col.  Pegram  surrendered  his  whole  force  of  600  men  to  Gen.  McClellan. 
Union  troops  occupied  Beverly. 

July  13.  Battle  of  Carrickford,  Va. ;  Gen.  Garnett,  of  Virgina,  killed;  Union  loss  light, 
rebel  heavy;  rebel  power  in  western  Virginia  broken.  Fairfax  Court  House  occupied. 

July  15.    Skirmish  at  Bunker  Hill,  Va.,  rebels  routed.     Peace  meeting  at  Nyack,  N.  Y. 

July  16.  Skirmish  at  Millville,  Mo.,  rebels  fire  into  a  train  of  cars.  Battle  at  Bar- 
boursville,  Va.,  rebels  defeated.  Tighlman,  a  negro,  killed  three  of  a  rebel  prize  crew  on 
the  schooner  S.  J.  Waring,  and  brought  the  vessel  into  New  York. 

July  17.  Skirmish  at  Fulton,  Mo.,  rebels  driven  back  with  loss. 

July  18.  First  battle  of  Bull  Run,  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  between  Union  troops  under 
Gen.  Tyler  and  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Beauregard;  after  3  hours'  hard  fighting,  Gen. 
Tyler  ordered  his  men  to  fall  back  to  Centreville  for  water  for  horses.  Union  loss,  19  killed, 
38  wounded,  26  missing;  rebel  loss,  15  killed,  53  wounded. 

July  19.     Gen.  Banks  supersedes  Gen.  Patterson  in  command  on  the  Potomac. 

July  20.     Rebel  Congress  met  at  Richmond. 

July  21.     Battle  of  Bull  Run;    18,000  Union  men  under  Gen.  McDowell  attacked  the 

754 


1861 — Continued. 

rebel  army  of  21,000  under  Gens.  Johnson,  Lee  and  Beauregard,  and  in  a  desperate  conflict 
of  ten  hours  almost  won  the  hotly  contested  ground,  when  an  unaccountable  panic  seized 
upon  the  Union  army,  and  nearly  the  whole  force  retreated  in  disorder  toward  Washington. 
Union  loss,  479  killed,  1,011  wounded,  1,500  prisoners;  rebel  loss,  393  killed,  1,200  wounded. 

July  22.     Gen.  McClellan  placed  in  command  of  the  Potomac  army. 

July  22-30.  General  disorganization  of  McDowell's  army.  Three-months'  men  return 
home. 

August  i.  Gen.  McClellan  begins  the  reorganization  of  the  army.  Rebels  leave  Har- 
per's Ferry,  falling  back  to  Leesburg.  Privateer  Petrel  sunk  by  the  St.  Lawrence;  crew 
taken. 

August  2.  War  tax  and  Tariff  Bill  passed  Congress — 500,000  men  to  be  raised.  Battle 
of  Dug  Spring,  Mo.,  Gen.  Lyon  defeated  Ben  McCulloch's  force;  rebel  loss,  42  killed,  44 
wounded;  Union  loss,  8  killed,  30  wounded.  Fort  Filmore,  New  Mexico,  traitorously  sur- 
rendered to  Major  Lynde,  who  had  750  men.  Rebel  vessels  and  stores  destroyed  in  Poko- 
moke  sound. 

August  5.  Galveston  bombarded;  foreign  consuls  protest;  not  much  damage  done. 
Baftle  of  Athens,  Mo.,  rebels  defeated,  losing  40  killed. 

August  7.  Village  of  Hampton  burned  by  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Magruder.  Priva- 
teer York  burned  by  gunboat  Union. 

August  8.     Skirmish  at  Lovettsville,  Va.,  rebels  routed. 

August  9.     Rebels  repulsed  at  Potosi,  Mo. 

August  10.  Battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  near  Springfield,  Mo.  Gen.  Lyon  with  5,200 
men  attacked  24,000  rebels  under  McCulloch,  Rains,  Price  and  Jackson,  and  repulsed  them, 
but  afterwards  retreated  to  Rolla;  rebel  loss,  421  killed,  1,300  wounded;  Union  loss,  263 
killed,  721  wounded.  Gen.  Lyon  was  killed  while  heading  a  charge. 

August  12.  Ex-Minister  Faulkner  arrested.  Bangor  Democratic  office  destroyed  by 
a  mob. 

August  13.     Battle  near  Grafton,  Va.,  21  rebels  killed;    no  Union  loss. 

August  14.  Mutiny  in  the  79th  New  York  Regiment  at  Washington.  Fremont  de- 
clared martial  law  in  Missouri. 

August  15.  Davis  ordered  all  Northern  men  to  leave  the  South  in  40  days. 

August  16.  President  proclaims  non-intercourse  with  the  rebel  States.  Various  news- 
papers in  New  York  presented  by  the  grand  jury  for  hostility  to  the  Government.  Gen. 
Wood  took  command  at  Fortress  Monroe.  Passport  system  established. 

August  19.  Editor  of  Essex  County  Democrat,  Mass.,  tarred  and  feathered  for  rebel 
sentiments. 

August  20.  Mayor  Berrett,  of  Washington,  arrested  for  declining  to  take  oath.  Col. 
McCunn  dismissed  for  misconduct. 

August  21.  Bird's  Point  affair — 40  rebels  killed  and  17  taken;  Union  loss,  i  killed, 
6  wounded. 

August  26.  Seventh  Ohio  Regiment  surprised  at  Somerville,  Va.,  while  at  break- 
fast, but  fought  their  way  out,  losing  3  captains  and  3  other  officers.  Floyd  commanded 
the  rebels.  Hatteras  expedition  sailed. 

August  28-29.  Bombardment  and  taking  of  Forts  Hatteras  and  Clark — rebel  loss  in 
prisoners  765,  Commodore  Barron  being  taken. 

August  30.     Fort  Morgan,  at  Ocrocoke  Inlet,  abandoned  by  the  rebels. 

Sept.  i.     Fight  at  Boone  Court  House,  Va. ;    rebel  loss,  30;    village  burned.  ' 

Sept.  2.  Kentucky  Legislature  met — Senate,  27  Union,  n  Secession;  House,  76  Union, 
24  Secession.  Floating  dock  at  Pensacola  burned. 

Sept.  3.  Massacre  on  Hannibal  and  St.  Joseph  railroad,  rebels  having  burned  the 
Piatte  bridge.  Seventeen  lives  lost. 

Sept.  10.  Colors  of  the  N.  Y.  79th  restored.  Battle  of  Carnifex  Ferry,  Va. ;  Gen. 
Rosecrans  defeated  the  rebels  under  Floyd.  Union  loss  15  killed,  80  wounded;  rebel  loss 
heavy. 

Sept.  n.  Skirmish  at  Lewinsville,  Va.;  considerable  rebel  loss;  Union,  6  killed,  8 
wounded.  President  modified  Gen.  Fremont's  proclamatiin. 

Sept.  12.  Fight  at  Cheat  Mountain,  Va. ;  Col.  John  A.  Washington,  proprietor  of 
Mount  Vernon,  killed;  rebel  loss,  about  40;  Union,  10.  Mayor  Berrett  took  the  oath  and 
was  released. 

755 


1861 — Continued. 

Sept.  14.  Privateer  Judith  destroyed  at  Pensacola  by  a  boat  expedition  from  the  ship 
Colorado. 

Sept.  17.  Bridge  broke  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  railroad,  and  nearly  100  of  the 
Illinois  ipth  killed  and  wounded. 

Sept.  18.  Col.  Frank  P.  Blair  arrested  by  Gen.  Fremont.  Maryland  Legislature  closed 
by  the  Provost  Marshal;  all  the  Secession  members  arrested  and  sent  to  Fort  McHenry. 

Sept.  19.     Ex-Governor  Morehead  and  others  in  Louisville  arrested  for  treason. 

Sept.  20.  Surrender  of  Col.  Mulligan,  at  Lexington,  Mo.,  after  four  days'  struggle 
with  2,500  men  against  26,000  rebels  under  Gen.  Price. 

Sept.  21.     John  C.  Breckinridge  fled  from  Frankfort,  Ky.,  and  openly  joined  the  rebels. 

Sept.  24.  Count  de  Paris  and  Due  de  Chartres  entered  service  as  aids  to  Gen.  Mc- 
Clellan.  Grand  review  of  troops  at  Washington. 

Sept.  25.  Frank  P.  Blair  released  from  arrest;  he  demands  a  trial.  Gen.  Prentiss  took 
command  of  St.  Joseph. 

Sept.  27.  Gen.  Fremont  takes  the  field  against  the  rebels.  Skirmishes  within  a  week 
of  the  date  at  Black  River,  Greenville,  Tuscumbia,  Osceola,  Papinsville,  Hunter  and 
Shanghae  in  Missouri;  at  Columbus,  Barboursville,  Ellicott's  Mills,  Smithland,  Cynthiana, 
Lucas  Bend;  and  Hopkinsville,  in  Kentucky;  and  at  Romney,  Catoctin  Mountain,  Lewins- 
ville,  Chapmansville,  Munson's  Hill,  and  Great  Falls,  in  Virginia.  Losses  trifling. 

Sept.  28.     Munson's  Hill  occupied  by  Union  troops. 

Sept.  29.  Baker's  California  regiment  and  Baxter's  Philadelphia  Volunteers  mistook 
each  other  for  rebels  at  Falls  Church  and  fired,  killing  15  and  wounding  30. 

Oct.  i.  Propeller  Fanny  taken  by  the  rebels  at  Chicamanomico,  N.  C. ;  several  prison- 
ers taken.  Rebel  camp  broken  up  at  Charleston,  Mo. 

Oct.  2.  Fight  at  Chapmansville,  Va.;  rebels  lost  60  killed  and  70  prisoners;  attacked 
again  on  their  retreat  and  lose  40. 

Oct.  3.  Battle  of  Greenbrier,  Va. ;  rebels  defeated  with  considerable  loss;  Union  loss 
slight.  Ex-Street  Commissioner  Smith  of  N.  Y.  appointed  a  Brigadier  General  in  the 
rebel  army.  The  rebels  evacuated  Lexington,  Mo. 

Oct.  4.  Rebels  under  Col.  Bartow  attack  the  2Oth  Indiana  near  Hatteras;  narrow 
escape  of  the  regiment. 

Oct.  5.  Steamer  Monticello  shelled  the  rebel  troops  under  Bartow  and  drove  them 
to  their  boats.  Gen.  Robert  Anderson  took  command  in  Kentucky. 

Oct.  6.     Skirmish  at  Flemington,  Ky.     Home  Guards  defeated  the  rebels. 

Oct.  9.  Attack  upon  Wilson's  Zouaves  at  Santa  Rosa  Island  by  1,500  rebels.  The 
Zouaves,  with  help  from  Fort  Pickins,  defeat  the  rebels,  killing  and  wounding  a  great 
number;  Union  loss  13  killed  and  21  wounded.  Advance  of  the  Union  lines  beyond  the 
Potomac.  A  rebel  picket  guard  surprised.  Charter  election  in  Baltimore;  the  rebels  made 
no  opposition. 

Oct.  10.     Further  advance  of  the  Union  outposts  near  Washington. 

Oct.  n.  Rebel  steamer  Nashville  escaped  from  Charleston.  Missouri  State  Conven- 
tion met.  Marshal  Kane  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette. 

Oct.  12.  Rebels  advance  in  force  toward  Prospect  Hill,  but  retired  on  finding  Gen. 
McCall  ready  for  battle.  Attempt  to  burn  the  blockading  fleet  at  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi; the  rebel  "ram"  disabled, 

Oct.  13.     Skirmishes  at  Beckwith  and  Tavern  Creek,  Mo.;    many  rebels  taken. 

Oct.  14.  Secretary  Seward's  circular  to  Governors  of  States  issued,  advising  seacoast 
and  lake  defenses. 

Oct.  15.  Jeff.  Thompson  captured  50  Union  troops  at  Potosi,  Mo.  Three  steamers 
sent  from  New  York  in  pursuit  of  the  Nashville.  Battle  of  Linn  Creek,  Mo.;  the  rebels 
defeated. 

Oct.  16.  Recapture  of  Lexington,  Mo.,  by  a  small  Union  force  under  Major  White. 
Col.  Geary  routed  the  rebels  at  Boliver,  near  Harper's  Ferry.  Sharp  skirmish  at  Ironton, 
Mo.;  rebels  defeated,  losing  36;  Union  loss,  n. 

Oct.  21.  Battle  of  Edwards  Ferry.  Gen.  Stone's  division  of  1,500  men  attacked  by 
double  their  number,  during  a  reconnoissance  on  the  Potomac.  After  a  fierce  contest  the 
Union  men  were  driven  back,  and  recrossed  in  confusion,  a  great  number  being  drowned. 
Senator  Baker  was  killed  while  leading  the  California  brigade.  The  Union  loss  was  heavy, 
reaching  in  all  several  hundred;  the  rebels  also  lost  heavily.  Battle  of  Wild  Cat,  Ky. ;  the 

756 


1861 — Continued. 

rebels  under  Zollicoffer  defeated  by  Gen.  Shoepf;  an  important  victory.  Battle  of  Fred- 
ericktown,  Mo.;  rebels  under  Jeff.  Thompson  and  Gen.  Lowe  defeated,  and  Lowe  killed; 
rebel  loss,  200  to  300;  Union  loss,  30. 

Oct.  22.     Rebel  camp  at  Buffalo  Mills,  Mo.,  broken  up;  17  killed  and  90  prisoners  taken. 

Oct.  25.  Rebels  routed  at  Romney,  Va.,  and  many  prisoners  taken  by  Gen.  Kelly. 
The  rebels  retreat  to  Winchester. 

Oct.  26.  Gallant  charge  of  Major  Zagonyi,  with  a  portion  of  Fremont's  bodyguard, 
through  a  rebel  force  of  2,000  at  Springfield,  Mo.;  the  rebels  signally  defeated  and  many 
of  them  killed;  Union  loss  about  15  killed. 

Oct.  28.     Gen.  Lane  captured  a  rebel  transportation  train  near  Butler,  Mo. 

Oct.  29.  A  great  naval  expedition  sailed  from  Fortress  Monroe,  Commodore  Dupont 
in  command;  land  forces  under  Gen.  Sherman;  about  80  vessels  and  15,000  men. 

Oct.  30.     The  State  prisoners  sent  from  Fort  Lafayette,  N.  Y.,  to  Fort  Warren,  Boston. 

Nov.  i.  Lieut. -Gen.  Scott  resigned  the  command-in-chief  of  the  Union  armies.  Gen. 
McClellan  appointed  in  his  place.  The  rebels,  under  Floyd,  attempt  to  capture  Rosecrans' 
army  at  Gauley  Bridge,  Va.,  but  fail,  and  Floyd  only  saved  himself  by  a  precipitate  flight. 

Nov.  2.  Maj.-Gen.  Fremont  removed  from  his  command;  he  returns  to  St.  Louis, 
where  he  is  enthusiastically  received.  Rebel  steamer  Bermuda  runs  the  Savannah  blockade. 

Nov.  3.  Rising  of  Union  men  in  East  Tennessee,  who  burn  or  break  down  several 
important  railroad  bridges. 

Nov.  7.  The  Union  fleet  captures  Forts  Walker  and  Beauregard  at  Port  Royal 
entrance,  take  the  town  of  Beaufort  and  command  Hilton  Island  and  the  harbor.  The 
fleet  consisted  of  73  vessels  in  all;  Union  loss  only  8  killed  and  6  wounded;  rebel  loss 
unknown,  but  not  large. 

Nov.  8.  Battle  of  Belmont,  Mo.;  severe  conflict;  rebel  camp  captured  and  broken  up. 
Union  troops  under  Gen.  Grant  return  by  boats  to  Cairo  before  arrival  of  rebel  reinforce- 
ments from  Columbus,  Ky. ;  loss  large  on  both  sides.  Battle  at  Pikeville,  Ky. ;  rebels  de- 
feated. 

Nov.  10.  Rebel  foray  upon  Guyandotte,  Kansas,  with  the  intention  of  slaughtering 
the  Union  men,  but  the  rebels  were  driven  off  and  the  village  burned. 

Nov.  u.  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  succeeds  Fremont  in  command  of  the  Western  Depart- 
ment. A  skirmish  near  Kansas  City. 

Nov.  15.  Frigate  San  Jacinto  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe,  bringing  Mason  and  Slidell, 
rebel  commissioners  to  Europe,  as  prisoners,  Commodore  Wilkes  having  taken  them  from 
the  English  mail  steamer  Trent  in  the  Bahama  channel. 

Nov.  18.  Rebels  in  Accomac  and  Northampton  Counties,  Va.,  disband  and  Union 
troops  take  possession  of  the  peninsula.  Rebel  Congress  met. 

Nov.  19.     The  Missouri  Rebel  State  Legislature  pass  an  ordinance  of  Secession. 

Nov.  20.  Grand  review  of  60,000  men  by  Gen.  McClellan.  Rebels  burn  the  town  of 
Warsaw. 

Nov.  23.  Fort  Pickins  and  the  fleet  bombard  the  rebels  near  Pensacola,  and  burn  the 
navy  yard  and  much  of  the  village  of  Warrenton. 

Nov.  24.     Mason  and  Slidell  placed  in  Fort  Warren. 

Nov.  26.  Reinforcement  left  New  York  for  Port  Royal.  Sharp  skirmish  near  Hunter's 
Hill,  with  loss  to  Union  side. 

Nov.  28.     Union  forces  occupy  Tybee  Island,   S.   C. 

Nov.  29.     News  of  the  full  occupation  of  Ship  Island  by  Union  troops. 

Dec.  2.  Meeting  of  Congress.  Meeting  of  loyal  Legislature  of  Virginia  at  Wheeling. 
Maryland  Legislature  met.  Naval  skirmish  near  Newport  News. 

Dec.  4.  John  C.  Breckinridge  expelled  from  the  Senate  by  unanimous  vote.  Western 
Missouri  overrun  by  rebel  maurauding  parties.  Gen.  Phelps  lands  on  Ship  Island  with 
strong  Union  force. 

Dec.  5.  Maj.-Gen.  Halleck  orders  the  arrest  and  imprisonment  of  every  man  found 
in  arms  against  the  Union  in  Missouri;  those  found  guilty  of  aiding  the  rebels  to  be  shot. 

Dec.  7.  Skirmish  near  Dam  No.  5  on  the  Potomac;  rebels  driven  off,  losing  12  men. 
Gen.  Butler's  expedition  arrived  at  Port  Royal.  Company  of  rebels  captured  near  Glas- 
gow, Mo. 

Dec.  9.  Congress  takes  measures  to  effect  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  Confiscation  bill 
introduced.  Garret  Davis  elected  Senator  from  Kentucky  in  place  of  Breckinridge.  Shell- 

757 


1861—1862. 

ing  of  Freestone  Point  by  the  Union  gunboats.  Rebel  Congress  pass  a  bill  admitting  Ken- 
tucky to  the  Confederacy. 

Dec.  13.  First  military  execution  in  Union  army;  a  deserter  named  Johnson  shot. 
Battle  at  Camp  Alleghany,  Va.;  five  Union  regiments,  under  Gen.  Milroy,  had  a  sharp 
fight  with  the  rebels  under  Col.  Johnson;  Union  loss  21  killed,  107  wounded;  rebel  loss 
supposed  over  200  killed;  the  battle  was  suspended  at  night  and  the  rebels  retreated. 

Dec.  15.  News  from  England  of  the  feeling  caused  by  the  seizure  of  Mason  and 
Slidell  create  apprehensions  of  a  war  with  Great  Britain. 

Dec.  17.  Battle  of  Mumfordville,  on  Green  River,  Ky.;  rebels  defeated,  33  killed,  50 
wounded;  Union  loss,  10  killed,  17  wounded.  Gen.  Pope  captured  300  rebels  near  Osce- 
ola,  Mo. 

Dec.  18.  Gen.  Pope  surprised  a  rebel  camp  near  Martinsburg,  and  took  1,300  prisoners, 
including  3  Colonels  and  17  Captains,  and  all  their  camp  stores  and  equipage;  Union  loss, 
2  killed. 

Dec.  20.  Battle  at  Dranesville,  Va.,  in  which  the  Union  troops  under  Gen.  McCall 
signally  defeat  the  rebels;  57  dead  and  22  wounded  rebels  left  on  the  field;  Union  loss,  7 
killed,  about  40  wounded. 

Dec.  24.     Skirmish  near  Newport  News;  several  rebels  killed. 

Dec.  27.     Mason  and  Slidell  surrendered  to  the  British  Minister. 

1862. 

Jan.  i.  Mason  and  Slidell  left  Fort  Warren  for  England.  Cannon  fight  at  Fort 
Pickins. 

Jan.  2.     Skirmish  near  Port  Royal. 

Jan.  7.  Ex-Gov.  Moorhead  of  Kentucky  released  from  Fort  Warren.  Rebels  routed 
at  Blue's  Gap,  Va. 

Jan.  8.     Rebels  routed  in  Randolph  County,  Mo. 

Jan.  10.  Waldo  P.  Johnson  and  Trusten  Polk  of  Missouri  expelled  from  the  U.  S. 
Senate.  Humphrey  Marshall  defeated  near  Prestonburg,  Ky. 

Jan.  ii.  Gunboat  action  near  Columbus,  Ky.  Rebels  burn  the  bridges  on  the  Louis- 
ville and  Nashville  Railroad.  . 

Jan.  12.     Burnside's  advance  sailed  from  Fortress  Monroe. 

Jan.  13.     Secretary  Cameron  resigned.     Edwin  M.  Stanton  appointed. 

Jan.  17.     Burnside  arrives  at  Hatteras. 

Jan.  18.    Gunboat  reconnoissance  up  the  Tennessee  River. 

Jan.  19.     Battle  of  Mill  Springs,  Ky. ;  rebel  Gen.  Zollicoffer  killed. 

Jan.  23.     Stone  fleet  sunk  in  the  channel  off  Charleston  harbor,  S.  C. 

Jan.  28.     Fight  with  rebel  gunboats  near  Savannah. 

Feb.  i.     Skirmish  near  Bowling  Green,  Ky. 

Feb.  3.  Rebel  steamer  Nashville  ordered  to  leave  Southampton  harbor;  the  U..  S. 
steamer  Tuscarora  endeavors  to  follow,  but  is  stopped  by  an  English  frigate. 

Feb.  3.    Jesse  D.  Bright,  of  Indiana,  expelled  from  the  U.  S.  Senate. 

Feb.  6.     Fort  Henry  captured  by  Gen.  Grant. 

Feb.  7.     Gen.  Lander's  Union  forces  occupy  Romney,  Va. 

Feb.  8.     Battle  of  Roanoke  Island. 

Feb.  10.     Elizabeth  City,  Va.,  surrendered  to  Burnside's  forces. 

Feb.  13.     Springfield,  Mo.,  taken  by  Union  forces. 

Feb.  15.     Bowling  Green  evacuated  by  the  rebels. 

Feb.  16.  Capture  of  Fort  Donelson;  rebel  Generals  Buckner  and  Tighman  with  large 
force  surrender  to  Gen.  Grant;  great  victory;  Confederate  forces  evacuate  Columbus  and" 
Bowling  Green,  Ky. 

Feb.  17.     Battle  at  Sugar  Creek,  Ark. 

Feb.  18.     Skirmish  at  Independence,  Mo. 

Feb.  19.  Clarkesville,  Tenn.,  taken  by  Com.  Foote.  Rebel  Congress  meets  at  Rich- 
mond. 

Feb.  20.     Winton,  N.  C.,  burned  by  Union  forces. 

Feb.  21.    Union  troops  defeated  at  Rio  Grande,  New  Mexico. 

Feb.  22.     Jeff.  Davis  inaugurated  at  Richmond. 

758 


1862—  Continued. 

Feb.  23.  Rebels  evacuate  Nashville,  Tenn.  Gen.  Curtis  captures  Fayetteville,  Ark. 
Gen.  Buell  occupies  Gallatin,  Tenn. 

Feb.  28.     Charlestown,  Va.,  occupied  by  Union  troops. 

March  2.     Gen.  Fred.  W.  Lander  died.     Gunboat  fight  at  Pittsburg,  Tenn. 

March  3.  Union  troops  occupy  Columbus,  Ky.  Gen.  Banks  occupies  Martinsburg. 
Engagement  at  New  Madrid,  Mo. 

March  5.     Beauregard  takes  command  of  the  Mississippi  army. 

March  6-8.     Battle  of  Pea  Ridge,  Ark. 

March  8.  Attack  on  Union  fleet  in  Chesapeake  Bay  by  rebel  iron  clad  steamer  Merri- 
mac;  frigate  Cumberland  sunk  and  Congress  surrendered.  Union  wooden  fleet  at  mercy 
of  the  Merrimac. 

March  9.  The  revolving  turreted  war-ship  Monitor  arrived  from  New  York;  engages 
and  defeats  the  Merrimac  and  saves  balance  of  Union  fleet.  Point  Pleasant,  Mo.,  taken 
by  Unionists. 

March  n.  Gen.  McClellan  relieved  of  chief  command;  Gen.  Halleck  assigned  to  the 
Mississippi  Department;  Gen.  Fremont  assigned  to  the  Mountain  Department. 

March  12.  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  occupied  by  Union  troops.  Winchester,  Va.,  occupied 
by  Gen.  Banks. 

March  14.     Battle  of  Newbern,  N.  C.     New  Madrid,  Mo.,  evacuated  by  the  rebels. 

March  16.     Rebels  defeated  at  Cumberland  Mountain. 

March  18.  Rebel  steamer  Nashville  escaped  from  Beaufort.  Rebels  evacuate  Acquia 
Creek. 

March  21.  Gen.  Butler  arrives  at  Ship  Island.  Gen.  Burnside  takes  possession  of 
Washington,  D.  C. 

March  22.     Reconnoissance  in  force  to  Cumberland  Gap. 

March  23.     Battle  at  Winchester,  Va.     Fort  Macon  invested. 

March  27.     Skirmish  near  Strasburg,  Va. 

March  28.   Battle  near  Santa  Fe,  N.  M.    Shipping  Point,  Va.,  occupied  by  Union  troops. 

April  i.     Gen.  Banks  at  Woodstock,  N.  C. 

April  2.     Unionists  occupy  Thoroughfare  Gap. 

April  3.     Appalachicola  possessed  by  Union  forces. 

April  6-7.  Battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing.  Rebel  army,  led  by  Gen.  Albert  Sidney  John- 
ston, made  furious  attack  on  Union  force;  fight  continued  twelve  hours,  night  closing  the 
scene;  rebels  captured  Union  camp;  Gen.  Johnston  killed;  Gen.  Grant  prepared  for  second 
day's  battle  and  began  the  attack.  Buell's  reinforcements  arrive;  rebel  army  defeated, 
driven  from  the  field  and  retreat  to  Corinth,  Miss.  Union  loss,  1,754  killed,  8,408  wounded, 
2,885  missing;  rebel  loss,  1,728  killed,  8,012  wounded,  957  missing.  Surrender  of  Island 
No.  10. 

April  10.     Bombardment  and  surrender  of  Fort  Pulaskl. 

April  ii.     Huntsville,  Ala.,  occupied  by  Gen.  Mitchel. 

April  12.     Engagement  at  Monterey,  Va. 

April  14.  Bombardment  of  Fort  Pillow. 

April  16.  Union  troops  left  Ship  Island  for  New  Orleans.  Engagement  at  Lee's 
Mills,  near  Yorktown. 

April  17.  Gen.  Banks  occupies  New  Market  and  Mount  Jackson,  Va.  Gen.  Reno's 
expedition  left  Newbern. 

April  18.  Rebels  repulsed  in  a  night  attack  upon  Union  troops  at  Yorktown.  Bom- 
bardment of  Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip,  below  New  Orleans. 

April  19.     Battle  at  Camden,  N.  C. 

April  24.  Dismal  Swamp  Canal  destroyed?  Union  fleets  run  past  Forts  Jackson  and 
St.  Philip;  the  Union  gunboat  Varuna  sunk.  Great  destruction  of  property  at  New  Or- 
leans by  the  rebels. 

April  25.     New  Orleans  evacuated  by  the  rebels.     Fort  Macon  surrendered. 

April  27.  The  Union  flag  raised  at  New  Orleans  by  order  of  Admiral  Farragut. 
Skirmishes  near  Newbern,  N.  C. 

April  28.    Forts  Jackson  and  St.  Philip  surrendered. 

April  29.  Rebels  routed  at  Bridgeport,  Ala. 

April  30.  Gen.  Halleck,  now  in  command,  moves  army  from  Pittsburg  Landing  to 
besiege  Corinth. 

759 


1862 —  Con  tin  ued. 

May  i.  Gen.  Butler  assumes  command  at  New  Orleans  and  occupies  the  city  with 
his  troops.  Gen.  Mitchel  possesses  Huntsville,  Ala. 

May  2.     Union  troops  at  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  captured  by  Morgan,  the  guerrilla. 

May  4.     Battle  of  Williamsburg,  Va.     Gloucester,  Va.,  taken. 

May  6.  Union  troops  occupy  Williamsburg.  President  Lincoln  visits  Fortress  Mon- 
roe. Rebels  burn  small  gunboat  on  York  River. 

May  7.     Battle  of  West  Point,  Va. 

May  8.    Attack  on  Sewell's  Point  by  the  Monitor  and  other  Union  gunboats. 

May  9.  Battle  at  Farmington,  Miss.  Gen.  Hunter  issues  his  emancipation  proclama- 
tion. Pensacola  evacuated  by  the  rebels.  Bombardment  at  Fort  Darling,  James  River. 

May  10.  Surrender  of  Norfolk.  Gosport  Navy  Yard  burned  by  the  rebels,  and  Craney 
Island  abandoned.  Gunboat  battle  at  Fort  Pillow,  on  the  Mississippi. 

May  ii.     The  rebels  destroyed  their  ironclad  Merrimac. 

May  13.  Gen.  McClelian's  advance  at  White  House,  Va.  Skirmish  near  Cumberland, 
Va. 

May  16.     U.  S.  transport  Oriental  wrecked. 

May  17.     Rebels  driven  across  the  Chickahominy  at  Bottom's  Bridge. 

May  19.     The  President  revokes  Gen.  Hunter's  emancipation  proclamation. 

May  23.  Part  of  Gen.  McClelian's  army,  crosses  the  •  Chickahominy.  Fierce  fight  at 
Front  Royal,  Va.  Rebels  defeated  at  Lewisville,  Va.  Rebels  driven  from  Mechanics- 
ville,  Va. 

May  24.     Gen.  Banks  retreats  to  Winchester,  and  next  day  to  the  Potomac. 

May  26.     Gen.  McClellan  takes  possession  of  Hanover  Court  House. 

May  28-29.  Rebels  retreat  from  Corinth,  Miss.  Gen.  Halleck's  siege  conducted  with 
great  caution.  Gens.  Grant,  Sherman,  Thomas  and  Pope  in  command  of  troops,  but  not 
permitted  to  attack.  Corinth  occupied  and  strongly  fortified  by  Union  forces. 

May  30.     Front  Royal  occupied  by  Union  troops. 

May  31.     Battle  of  Seven  Pines  and  Fair  Oaks.     Gen.  Pope  occupies  Corinth. 

June  i.  Continued  fighting  at  Seven  Pines.  Gen.  Fremont  drives  the  rebels  from 
Strasburg,  Va. 

June  3.     Union  troops  land  on  James  Island,  near  Charleston. 

June  4.     Rebels  burn  their  works  at  Fort  Pillow  and  leave. 

June  6.  Unionists  occupy  Memphis;  fierce  gunboat  fight  there.  Fremont  attacks 
the  rebels  at.  Harrisonburg. 

June  7.  Rebel  batteries  silenced  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  A  rebel  executed  for  tear- 
ing down  the  American  flag  at  New  Orleans. 

June  8.     Battle  of  Cross  Keys,  Va. 

June  9.     Battle  of  Port  Republic,  Va. 

June  10.     Battle  of  James  Island,  S.  C. 

June  13.  Rebels  cut  railroad  and  telegraph  at  White  House,  in  McClelian's  rear. 

June  17.     Battle  at  St.  Charles,  Ark.;  explosion  of  the  Union  gunboat  Mound  City. 

June  18.     Union  troops  occupy  Cumberland  Gap.     Skirmishing  before  Richmond. 

June  20.     Union  forces  occupy  Holly  Springs,  Miss. 

June  25.     Commencement  of  the  seven  days'  battle  before  Richmond. 

June  26.  The  rebels  destroy  their  gunboats  on  the  Mississippi.  Gen.  Pope  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  army  of  Virginia.  Battle  of  Mechanicsville. 

June  27.  Bombardment  of  Vicksburg.  Gen.  Fremont  relieved  of  his  command.  Bat- 
tles of  Games'  Hill  and  Golding's  Farm. 

June  28.     Battle  of  Chickahominy. 

June  29.     Battle  of  Savage's  Station. 

June  30.     Battle  of  White  Oak  Swamp.     Union  troops  occupy  Luray,  Va. 

July  i.  President  decides  to  call  for  300,000  volunteers.  Battle  of  Malvern  Hills,  and 
close  of  the  seven  days'  struggle.  Cavalry  engagement  near  Boonesville,  Miss. 

July  4.     Rebel  gunboat  captured  on  James  River. 

July  7.     Rebels  repulsed  at  Bayou  Cache,  Ark. 

July  ii.     Gen.  Halleck  appointed  commander-in-chief. 

July  13.     Rebels  capture  Murfreesboro,  Tenn. 

July  14.  Battle  at  Fayettesville,  Ark.  Gen.  Pope  takes  command  of  the  army  of 
Virginia. 

760 


1862—  Continued. 

June  15.  Rebel  gunboat  Arkansas  runs  through  the  Union  fleet  and  reaches  Vicksburg; 
has  a  fight  with  the  gunboat  Carondelet. 

July  17.     Rebels  take  Cynthiana,  Ky. 

July  18.     Battle  of  Memphis,  Mo. 

July  22.    Rebel  raid  into  Florence,  Ala. 

July  24.     Gen.  Halleck  goes  to  confer  with  Gen.  McClellan. 

July  25.     President's  proclamation  warning  the  rebels  of  the  Confiscation  Act. 

July  28.     Rebels  defeated  at  Moor's  Hill,  Mo. 

July  29.     Guerrillas  defeated  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky. 

Aug.  i.  Fight  at  Newark,  Mo.  Rebel  Government  declare  Gen.  Pope  and  his  offi- 
cers not  entitled  to  treatment  as  prisoners  of  war. 

Aug.  2.     Skirmish  at  Ozark,  Mo. 

Aug.  4.  Secretary  of  War  orders  a  draft  for  300,000  men.  Gen.  Butler  assesses  New 
Orleans  rebels  to  support  the  poon 

Aug.  5.  McClellan's  troops  occupy  Malvern  Hill.  Gen.  McCook  murdered  by  the 
rebels  while  wounded  and  defenceless.  Battle  of  Baton  Rouge. 

Aug.  6.     Gen.  Hooker  abandons  Malvern  Hill.     Rebel  ram  Arkansas  blown  up. 

Aug.  7.  Guerrilla  fight  at  Kirkville,  Mo.  Skirmish  near  Wolftown,  Va.  Rebel  ad- 
vance crosses  the  Rapidan. 

Aug.  8.  Writ  of  Habeas  Corpus  suspended,  and  orders  given  to  arrest  those  who  dis- 
courage enlistment.  No  more  passports  to  be  issued.  Skirmish  near  Orange  C.  H. 

Aug.  9.     Battle  of  Cedar  Mountain.     Guerrillas  defeated  at  Stockton,  Mo. 

Aug.  ii.  Independence,  Mo.,  taken  by  the  rebels.  A  skirmish  at  Cedar  Mountain. 
Guerrilla  fight  near  Williamsport,  Tenn. 

Aug.  13.  Steamboat  collision  on  the  Potomac,  80  soldiers  lost.  Drafting  ordered  to 
begin  Sept.  i. 

Aug.  16.  Rebels  attempt  to  cross  the  Rapidan,  but  are  driven  back.  Evacuation  of 
Harrison's  Landing  by  the  Array  of  the  Potomac.  Cols.  Corcoran,  Wilcox,  etc.,  reach 
Fortress  Monroe  from  Richmond  prison. 

Aug.  17.  McClellan's  advance  reaches  Hampton;  the  rear  guard  crosses  the  Chicka- 
hominy.  Gen.  Pope's  retreat  begun. 

Aug.  21.     Rebels  attempt  to  cross  the  Rappahannock. 

Aug.  22.  Grand  reception  of  Gen.  Corcoran  in  New  York.  Rebel  attack  on  Catlett's 
Station. 

Aug.  23.     General  battle  between  Gen.  Pope's  forces  and  the  rebels. 

Aug.  25.     Skirmish  at  Waterloo  Bridge,  Va.     Rebel  attack  on  Fort  Donelson. 

Aug.  26.  Rebels  get  possession  of  Manassas  Junction.  Fight  at  Haymarket,  Va. 
Union  gunboats  demolish  rebel  works  at  City  Point. 

Aug.  29.    Battle  of  Groveton,  Va. 

Aug.  30.  Second  battle  of  Bull  Run;  Union  troops  defeated,  and  retreat  at  night. 
Battle  near  Richmond,  Ky.  A  fight  at  Bolivar,  Tenn. 

Sept.  i.  Severe  battle  at  Chantilly,  Va.  Gens.  Kearney  and  Stevens  killed.  Gen. 
Burnside's  army  evacuate  Fredericksburg.  Union  troops  evacuate  Lexington,  Ky. ;  rebel 
attack  on  Louisville  expected;  great  excitement  in  Cincinnati.  Fight  at  Britton's  Lane, 
Tenn. 

Sept.  2.  Gen.  McClellan  assigned  to  command  the  forces  for  the  defense  of  Wash- 
ington. Fight  near  Fairfax  Court  House.  Engagement  at  Plymouth,  N.  C. 

Sept.  3.     Gen.  White  arrived  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

Sept.  4.    Rebel  steamer  Creto  ran  blockade  into  Mobile.    Skirmish  at  Cumberland  Gap. 

Sept.  5.     Rebels  cross  at  Point  of  Rocks,  and  begin  the  invasion  of  Maryland. 

Sept.  6.  Rebels  occupy  Frederick  City,  Md.  First  capture  by  the  pirate  Alabama,  the 
whaler  Ocmulgee.  Up  to  Dec.  12,  1863,  there  had  been  8  ships,  6  barks,  i  brig,  and  6 
schooners  destroyed  by  the  Alabama,  and  three  other  vessels  robbed  and  released. 

Sept.  7.  Union  advance  occupied  Bowling  Green,  Ky.  Gen.  Pope  relieved  of  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  Virginia;  Gen.  McClellan's  command  absorbs  this  army. 

Sept.  8.  McClellan's  army  at  Rockville,  Md.  Gen.  Lee  Issues  a  proclamation  to 
Maryland.  Fight  at  Pooleville,  Md.  Restrictions  on  travel  rescinded. 

Sept.  9.     Rebels  evacuate  Fredericksburg. 

761 


1862—  Continued. 

Sept.  10.  Levy  en  masse  in  Pennsylvania  to  repel  threatened  invasion.  Fight  at 
Gauley,  Va. 

Sept.  ii.  Union  troops  occupy  Newmarket,  Va.  Hagerstown,  Md.,  occupied  by  rebels. 
Sugar  Loaf  Mountain  occupied  by  Union  forces.  Bloomfield,  Mo.,  captured  by  rebels; 
also  Maysville,  Ky. 

Sept.  12.     Gen.  Hooker  occupied  Frederick  City,  Md.     Skirmish  at  Maryland  Heights. 

Sept.  13.  Rebels  demand  the  surrender  of  Mumfordsvilie,  Ky. ;  a  fight  there  next 
day.  A  charge  on  the  rebels  at  Middletown,  Md. 

Sept.  14.     Battle  of  South  Mountain.     Rebel  attack  on  Harper's  Ferry. 

Sept.  15.     Harper's  Ferry  surrendered.     Rebels  attempt  to  blockade  the  Ohio  River. 

Sept.  17.  Battle  of  Antietam.  Great  Union  victory.  Union  troops  evacuate  Cumber- 
land Gap.  Mumfordsvilie  surrendered  to  the  rebels.  Fight  at  St.  John's  Bluff,  Fla. 

Sept.  18.     Rebel  army  evacuate  Sharpsburg  and  recross  the  Potomac. 

Sept.  19.     Battle  of  luka;    Union  victory.     Rebels  leave  Harper's  Ferry. 

Sept.  22.  President  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation  issued.  Battle  with  In- 
dians at  Wood  Lake,  Minn. 

Sept.  24.    Convention  of  Loyal  Governors  at  Aitoona,  Pa.    Fight  at  Donaldsonville,  La. 

Sept.  27.    Augusta,  Ky.,  destroyed  by  the  rebels. 

Sept.  29.     Gen.  Nelson  shot  at  Cincinnati  by  Gen.  Davis. 

Oct.  i.  President  Lincoln  visits  McClellan's  army,  and  urges  an  immediate  movement 
across  the  Potomac.  Gen.  Pleasanton's  cavalry  crosses  at  Shepardstown.  Gen.  Buell's 
army  leaves  Louisville. 

Oct.  3.  Battle  of  Corinth.  An  expedition  up  the  St.  John's  River,  Fla.,  takes  the 
fort  on  St.  John's  Bluff.  Gen.  Morgan  concludes  his  retreat  from  Cumberland  Gap. 
Rebel?  evacuate  Frankfort,  Ky. 

Oct.  4.  After  two  days'  battle  complete  defeat  of  the  rebels  at  Corinth.  Gen.  Buell 
reaches  Bardstown. 

Oct.  5.  Union  forces  occupy  Galveston.  Rebel  army  retreating  from  Corinth  beaten 
at  Hatchie  River.  Rebels  routed  at  Fayetteville,  Ark. 

Oct.  6.     Gen.  McClellan  ordered  to  cross  the  Potomac  and  give  battle  to  the  enemy. 

Oct.  8.     Battle  of  Perryville,  Ky. 

Oct.  9.  Rosecrans  recalled  from  the  pursuit  of  Price  and  Van  Dorn.  Bragg's  rebels 
retreat  to  Harrisburgh,  Ky. 

Oct.  10.     Stuart's  rebel  cavalry  raid  into  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania. 

Oct.  ii.     Rebels  in  force  threaten  Nashville,  Tenn.     Skirmish  near  Lagrange,  Ark. 

Oct.  12.     Stuart's  cavalry  recross  the  Potomac. 

Oct.  13.     Gen.  Bragg  evacuates  Camp  Dick  Robinson. 

Oct.  15.     Drafting  in  Boston  and  Baltimore.     Fighting  near  Lexington,  Ky. 

Oct.  18.     The  rebel  Gen.  Morgan  occupies  Lexington,  Ky. 

Oct.  19.    Skirmish  near  Nashville. 

Oct.  20.     Morgan  captures  a  Union  wagon  train  near  Bardstown,  Ky. 

Oct.  21.    Attack  on  the  rebels  near  Nashville.     Rebels  leave  Western  Virginia. 

Oct.  22.  Bragg's  army  at  Cumberland  Gap.  Battle  at  Pocotaligo,  S.  C.  Rebel  salt 
works  in  Florida  destroyed.  Gunboat  reconnoissance  up  Broad  River,  S.  C. 

Oct.  23.  Rebels  defeated  at  Maysviile,  Ark. 

Oct.  24.  Gen.  Buell  deprived  of  the  command  and  Gen.  Rosecrans  put  at  the  head  of 
die  army  in  Kentucky. 

Oct.  25.     Skirmish  near  Manassas. 

Oct.  26.     Advance  of  McClellan's  army  begun. 

Oct.  27.     Battle  of  Labadieville,  La. 

Oct.  29.    Great  fire  at  Harper's  Ferry. 

Oct.  30.     Gen.  Mitchel  died  at  Port  Royal. 

Oct.  31.     Skirmish  at  Maysville,  Ky. 

Nov.  I.     Artillery  fight  at  Phillsmont,  Va. 

Nov.  2.     Union  troops  possess  Snicker's  Gap.    Gen.  Foster's  expedition  left  Newbern. 

Nov.  3.     Upperville,  Piedmont,-  and  Thorofare  Gap  in  Union  possession. 

Nov.  4.  Ashby's  Gap  occupied;  engagement  at  Markham,  Va.  Gen.  Grant's  army 
occupy  Lagrange,  Miss.  Salt  works  in  Georgia  destroyed. 

762 


1862—  Continued. 

Nov.  5.  Order  issued  for  the  removal  of  Gen.  McClellan.  Engagement  at  Chester 
Gap  and  New  Baltimore,  Va. 

Nov.  6.     McClellan's  advance  occupy  Warrenton,  Va. 

Nov.  7.  Gen.  McClellan  removed  from  command;  Gen.  Burnside  appointed.  Gen. 
Bayard  attacked  by  rebels  at  Rappahannock  Station.  Negro  troops  engaged  at  Port  Royal. 

Nov.  8.  Skirmish  at  Little  Washington,  Va.  Gen.  Bayard  holds  Rappahannock  bridge. 
Cavalry  skirmish  at  Gaines  Cross  Roads,  Va.  Galatin,  Tenn.,  reached  by  Rosecrans'  army. 

Nov.  9.     Rebels  routed  near  Moorfields,  Va.     Gen.  Butler's  sequestration  order  issued. 

Nov.  10.  Gen.  Bayard's  cavalry  dash  into  Fredericksburg.  Gen.  Rosecrans  arrives 
at  Nashville.  Great  Union  demonstration  at  Memphis. 

Nov.  12.     Gen.  Halleck  visits  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Nov.  13.  Skirmish  near  White  Sulphur  Springs,  Va.  Holly  Springs,  Miss.,  occupied 
by  Union  forces. 

Nov.  14.     Gen.  Stahel's  forces  pass  Snicker's  Gap. 

Nov.  15.    Artillery  fight  at  Fayetteville,  Va. 

Nov.  17.  Burnside's  headquarters  at  Catlett's  Station.  Artillery  skirmish  near  Fred- 
ericksburg. 

Nov.  18.  Burnside's  left  wing  advance  reaches  Falmouth,  opposite  Fredericksburg. 
Skirmish  at  Rural  Hill,  Tenn. 

Nov.  20.  Skirmish  at  Charlestown,  Va. 

Nov.  21.  Surrender  of  Fredericksburg  demanded,  and  notice  given  to  remove  non- 
combatants. 

Nov.  22.     General  order  for  the  release  of  all  State  prisoners. 

Nov.  25.     Raid  of  rebels  into  Poolville,  Md.  Rebels  attack  Newbern. 

Nov.  26.     President  Lincoln  visits  Burnside.     Gen.  Sherman's  forces  leave  Memphis. 

Nov.  28.     Battle  of  Cone  Hill,  Ark.     Burnside  visits  Washington. 

Nov.  28.  Rebel  cavalry  cross  the  Rappahannock  and  capture  two  companies  of  Union 
cavalry,  not  far  from  Fredericksburg. 

Nov.  29.  Union  expedition  a  few  days  before  invaded  Mob  Jack  Bay,  Va.,  and  de- 
stroyed rebel  salt  works.  Rebels  defeated  at  Frankfort,  W.  Va.;  108  captured. 

Dec.  i.     A  rebel  battery  captured  near  Suffolk,  Va. 

Dec.  1-3.    Rebels  in  Tennessee  and  Mississippi  retreating  before  Gen.  Grant's  army. 

Dec.  3.     Gen.  Geary  takes  possession  of  Winchester,  Va. 

Dec.  7.     Battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  Ark. 

Dec.  n.  Bombardment  of  Fredericksburg  commenced;  Union  troops  cross  the  river 
in  the  course  of  the  afternoon. 

Dec.  13.    Battle  of  Fredericksburg.     Great  Union  loss. 

Dec.  15.     Gen.  Burnside's  army  retreats  to  the  north  side  of  the  Rappahannock. 

Dec.  20.  Gen.  Foster  returns  to  Newbern,  after  defeating  the  rebels  in  four  battles, 
taking  Kinston  and  Goldsboro,  and  destroying  several  bridges  and  miles  of  the  track  of 
the  Washington  and  Weldon  Railroad. 

Dec.  21.  Skirmish  near, Nashville.  Fight  on  Wolf  River,  Tenn.  Rebels  repulsed,  los- 
ing 22  killed,  30  wounded  and  20  prisoners;  200  or  more  of  wounded  were  taken  off  by 
their  friends. 

Dec.  22.     Skirmish  at  Isle  of  Wight  Court  House,  Va.     Unionists  driven  off. 

Dec.  23.     Union  forces  take  possession  of  Winchester,  Va. 

Dec.  24.  Union  troops  destroy  a  section  of  the  Texas  railroad,  ten  miles  west  of  Vicks- 
burg,  burning  two  stations.  Skirmish  near  Mumfordsville,  Ky. ;  rebels  retreat. 

Dec.  25.    Skirmish  at  Bacon  Creek,  Ky. ;    Unionists  forced  to  retreat  with  loss  of  23. 

Dec.  26.  Gen.  Sherman's  expedition  disembarks  in  the  Yazoo.  Rosecrans  begins  to 
move  towards  Bragg.  Rebel  guerrilla  camp  in  Powell  County,  Ky.,  broken  up,  the  leader 
and  ii  others  taken. 

Dec.  27-28.  Sherman  marches  on  Vicksburg,  drove  the  rebels  from  their  first  and 
second  lines,  and  got  within  two  and  one-half  miles  of  the  city.  Elizabethtown,  Ky.,  cap- 
tured by  rebels  under  Morgan;  much  property  destroyed  and  stolen.  Rebel  cavalry  de- 
feated in  an  attack  on  Dumfries,  Va. 

Dec.  28.  Van  Buren,  Ark.,  captured  by  Gen.  Blunt  with  all  the  rebel  garrison,  ammu- 
nition, and  four  steamers  laden  with  supplies.  Trestle-work  at  Muldragh  Hill,  Va.,  cap- 
tured by  Morgan  and  destroyed.  Union  troops  evacuate  New  Madrid,  Mo.  Skirmish  near 

763 


1862—1863. 

Suffolk;  rebels  repulsed.  Rebel  camp  surprised  at  Elk  Fort,  Tenn.;  30  killed,  176  wounded, 
and  51  captured;  no  loss  on  the  Union  side.  Skirmish  near  Clinton,  La.;  Union  repulse. 

Dec.  29.     Gen.  Sherman  driven  back  from  Vicksburg,  with  heavy  loss. 

Dec.  30.  Gen.  Sherman  abandons  the  siege  of  Vicksburg.  Bridges  destroyed  on  the 
railroad  east  of  Knoxville  by  Carter's  expedition;  400  rebels  captured.  The  iron  steamer 
Monitor  foundered  off  Hatteras,  16  men  lost.  Battle  of  Parker's  Cross  Roads,  Tenn. 
Rebels  defeated  with  loss  of  1,000;  Union  loss  about  100. 

Dec.  31.  Beginning  of  the  battle  of  Stone  River;  ten  hours'  continuous  fighting.  Gen. 
McClernand  succeeds  Gen.  Sherman  at  Vicksburg,  and  Union  army  retires  to  Milliken's 
Bend. 

1863. 

Jan.  i.  President  Lincoln  issues  Emancipation  Proclamation.  Galveston,  Tex.,  cap- 
tured by  the  rebels  under  Magruder;  the  gunboat  Harriet  Lane  captured,  the  Westfield 
blown  up,  Commander  Renshaw  killed,  and  the  Union  garrison  of  300  captured. 

Jan.  2.  Three  days'  battle  of  Stone  River  ended  in  defeat  of  the  rebels;  Union  loss 
was  1,533  killed,  1,375  wounded;  rebel  loss  over  10,000,  of  whom  9,000  were  killed  or 
wounded. 

Jan.  3.  Rebel  camp  surprised  at  LaGrange,  Ark.,  a  few  wounded  and  captured.  Rebels 
attack  Moorfield,  Va.,  and  are  driven  off,  but  get  65  prisoners. 

Jan.  5.  Slight  reverse  to  Union  troops  in  Hardy  County,  Va.,  33  captured.  Rebel  fort 
on  Little  River,  N.  C.,  captured;  no  Union  loss. 

Jan.  8.  Fight  at  Springfield,  Mo.;  after  ten  hours  the  rebels  retreat.  Union  force 
from  Yorktown,  Va.,  make  a  raid  to  the  Pamunky  River,  destroy  the  ferry  boat,  sloops, 
a  steamer,  railroad  depot,  etc.,  and  return  without  loss.  Descent  upon  a  rebel  camp  near 
Ripley,  Tenn.,  8  killed,  20  wounded,  46  taken;  no  Union  loss. 

Jan.  9.  Col.  Ludlow  effects  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  by  which  20,000  men  are 
restored  to  the  Union  army. 

Jan.  10.     Skirmish  at  Catlett's  Station,  Va. 

Jan.  ii.  U.  S.  Steamer  Hatteras  sunk  off  Galveston  by  the  Alabama.  Capture  of 
Arkansas  Post  by  Gen.  McClernand;  Union  loss  nearly  1,000;  rebel  loss  over  5,000,  with 
all  their  arms  and  supplies.  Rebels  beaten  at  Hartsville,  Mo. 

Jan.  12.  A  brigantine  prize  to  the  rebel  privateer  Retribution,  retaken  from  the  prize 
crew  by  a  Yankee  woman,  wife  of  the  captain  of  the  brigantine,  who  made  the  rebels  drunk, 
put  them  in  irons,  and  brought  the  vessel  into  St.  Thomas.  Rebel  raid  upon  Holly  Springs, 
Miss. 

Jan.  13.  Gunboat  Major  Slidell  and  three  boats  with  wounded  troops  captured  by 
guerrillas  on  the  Cumberland  River,  the  wounded  men  robbed  and  all  but  one  of  the  boats 
burned. 

Jan.  14.  Rebel  gunboat  Cotton  in  Bayou  Teche,  La.,  destroyed;  Com.  Buchanan  of 
the  Union  expedition  killed.  Gunboat  Queen  of  the  West  captured  in  Red  River  by  the 
rebels. 

Jan.  15.  Mound  City,  Ark.,  burnt  to  clear  out  the  guerrillas.  Seventeen  of  a  party  of 
Union  couriers  captured  near  Helena,  Ark. 

Jan.  16.  U.  S.  Steamer  Columbia  stranded  at  Masonboro  Inlet;  her  officers  surren- 
dered to  the  rebels.  Duvall's  Bluff,  on  White  River,  Ark.,  taken  without  opposition.  Rebel 
pirate  Oreto  escaped  from  Mobile. 

Jan.  17.  Des  Arc,  Ark.,  taken  without  opposition.  Pollockville,  N.  C.,  taken;  rebels 
retreat. 

Jan.  19.  Reconnoissance  to  Burnt  Ordinary,  Va.,  and  daring  charge  of  12  Union 
cavalry  througH  100  rebels  to  recapture  prisoners. 

Jan.  20.     Army  of  the  Potomac  moves  down  the  Rappahannock. 

Jan.  21.  Rebel  camp  broken  up  near  Columbia,  Mo.  Gen.  Fitz  John  Porter  dismissed 
from  the  service. 

Jan.  22.  Gen.  Burnside's  second  attempt  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  foiled  by  a  heavy 
storm. 

Jan.  23.    Arkansas  Post  evacuated  after  destroying  the  fort. 

Jan.  25.     Organization  of  the  first  regiment  of  colored  volunteers  completed  at  Port 

764 


1863—  Continued. 

Royal.  Attack  by  rebels  on  the  railroad  near  Nashville;  they  were  repulsed.  Rebel  picket 
station  near  Kinston,  N.  C,  captured. 

Jan.  26.  Gen.  Hooker  succeeds  Gen.  Burnside  in  command  of  the  Potomac  army. 
Lower  batteries  at  Vicksburg  shelled  by  the  gunboat  Chillicothe.  Skirmish  at  Woodbury, 
Tenn;.  25  rebels  killed  and  100  captured. 

Jan.  27.  Rebels  driven  out  of  Bloomfield,  Mo.;  52  taken.  Bombardment  of  Fort  Mc- 
Allister, Ga.,  by  the  iron-clad  Montauk  and  other  boats;  the  fort  not  reduced.  Skirmish 
on  Bayou  Plaquemine,  La. 

Jan.  28.     A  steamer  and  300  rebels  captured  near  Van  Buren,  Mo. 

Jan.  29.  Gen.  Banks  promulgates  the  Emancipation  Proclamation  at  New  Orleans. 
A  fight  with  Indians  at  Bear  River,  Washington  Territory;  the  Indians  defeated  with  great 
loss.  Gen.  McClernand  lands  opposite  Vicksburg. 

Jan.  30.  Gunboat  Isaac  Smith  captured  in  Stone  River  by  rebels.  Guerrilla  camp  near 
Dyersburg,  Tenn.,  broken  up;  34  killed.  Fight  at  Deserted  House,  near  Suffolk,  Va. 

Jan.  31.  Attack  upon  the  Charleston  blockading  fleet  by  three  iron-clad  steamers  from 
the  harbor;  the  Mercedite  sunk.  Cavalry  skirmish  near  Nashville;  rebels  whipped  with 
loss  of  12  killed,  12  wounded,  and  300  prisoners.  Trouble  in  Morgan  county,  Indiana,  about 
arresting  deserters;  attack  on  U.  S.  troops;  the  deserters  were  held.  Union  troops  enter 
Shelbyville,  Ky. 

Feb.  i.  Second  attack  on  Fort  McAllister,  Ga. ;  the  fort  was  not  taken;  its  com- 
mander was  killed;  the  Union  vessels  were  not  injured.  Franklin,  Tenn.,  occupied  by 
Union  forces.  Rebel  attack  on  Island  No.  10;  they  seized  a  transport,  but  were  quickly 
put  to  flight  by  a  gunboat.  Rebel  camp  at  Middleton,  Tenn.,  broken  up;  100  prisoners 
taken. 

Feb.  2.     The  ram  Queen  of  the  West  runs  the  blockade  at  Vicksburg. 

Feb.  3.  Guerrillas  routed  at  Mingo  Swamp,  Mo. ;  9  killed  and  20  wounded.  Recon- 
noissance  into  eastern  Tennessee;  skirmishes  with  rebels.  Rebels  defeated  in  attack  on 
Fort  Donelson. 

Feb.  4.  Cavalry  dash  upon  Batesville,  Ark.;  rebels  driven  out  and  some  killed  or 
captured.  Ram  Fulton  disabled  by  a  rebel  battery  at  Cypress  Bend;  she  was  saved  by  our 
gunboats.  Skirmish  near  Lake  Providence,  La.;  30  rebels  killed. 

Feb.  5.  Skirmish  on  Bear  Creek,  Mo.;  rebels  routed.  Skirmish  near  Stafford's 
Store,  Va. 

Feb.  6.  Union  raid  upon  Middleburgh,  Va.;  several  rebels  taken.  Rebels  captured 
the  mailcoach  near  Winchester,  Va.,  but  it  is  retaken  the  same  day. 

Feb.  7.  A  squadron  of  Union  cavalry  .fall  into  an  ambush  near  Williamsburg,  Va.,  and 
lose  about  40  men.  Dawson,  a  guerrilla  leader,  and  several  men  taken  near  Dyersburgh, 
Tenn.  Rebel  Secretary  of  State  declares  Galveston  and  Sabine  Pass  open  to  commerce. 

Feb.  8.  Guerrillas  routed  near  Independence,  Mo.  Lebanon,  Tenn.,  occupied,  and 
600  rebels  captured  there.  Capture  of  three  rebel  transports  by  the  Queen  of  the  West,  in 
Red  River.  Circulation  of  "The  Chicago  Times"  suppressed. 

Feb.  9.  Fight  at  Old  River,  La.;  rebels  whipped,  with  loss  of  25  prisoners  and  n 
killed  or  wounded;  Union  loss  8.  Capture  of  the  rebel  Indian  Agency  at  Wachita,  Texas, 
by  loyal  Delawares  and  Shawnees. 

Feb.  12.  Skirmish  near  Smithfield,  Va.;  capture  and  recapture  of  a  few  men.  Skir- 
mish near  Bolivar,  Tenn.,  n  rebels  killed.  Gunboat  Indianola  runs  the  Vicksburg  bat- 
teries. 

Feb.  14.  Union  cavalry  surprised  at  Anandale,  Va. ;  15  killed  and  missing  and  several 
wounded.  Queen  of  the  West  gets  aground  near  Gordon's  Landing,  is  disabled  by  rebel 
cannon  and  abandoned. 

Feb.  15.  Cavalry  fight  near  Gainesville,  Tenn.;  rebels  beaten.  Rebels  attack  a  train 
near  Nolansville,  Tenn.,  but  were  driven  off  with  loss.  Fight  at  Arkadelphia,  Ark.;  rebels 
routed,  losing  26;  Union  loss,  14. 

Feb.  17.  Forage  train  captured  by  rebels  near  Romney,  Va.  Order  suppressing  "The 
Chicago  Times"  rescinded. 

Feb.  18.  Mortar  boats  open  fire  upon  Vicksburg.  Clifton,  Tenn.,  destroyed  by  Union 
troops.  Disloyal  State  Convention  at  Frankfort,  Ky.,  dispersed  by  military. 

Feb.  19.  Rebels  near  Cold  Water,  Miss.,  surprised  and  routed;  15  taken  and  9  killed 
or  wounded.  Hopefiekl,  Ark.,  opposite  Memphis,  a  guerrilla  nest,  burnt  by  order  of  Gen. 

765 


1863 — Continued, 

Hurlbut.  "The  Constitution,"  newspaper  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  sacked  by  soldiers  from  the 
hospital. 

Feb.  20.  Gunboat  reconnoissance  up  the  Rappahannock;  a  rebel  battery  silenced. 
Guerrilla  raid  upon  Shakertown,  Ky. ;  some  cars  destroyed. 

Feb.  22.  Union  scout  to  Florence  and  Tuscumbia,  Ala.;  cotton,  horses,  mules  and 
negroes  taken.  Yazoo  Pass  expedition  reaches  Moon  Lake. 

Feb.  23.  Fight  at  Greenville,  Miss.;  a  Union  major  killed.  Skirmish  near  Athens, 
Ky.  A  rebel  robbing  party  of  700'  operating  in  Eastern  Kentucky. 

Feb.  24.     Gunboat  Indianola  captured  near  Grand  Gulf,  Miss.,  by  four  rebel  steamers. 

Feb.  25.  Cavalry  fight  near  Hartwood  Church,,  Va.;  rebels  routed,  but  escape  across 
Kelby's  Ford.  Rebels  dispersed  at  Licktown,  Ky. 

Feb.  26.  Cavalry  skirmish  on  the  Strasburg  road;  Union  loss  200.  Cherokee  Na- 
tional Council  repeals  the  Ordinance  of  Secession,  abolishes  slavery,  disqualifies  disloyalists 
and  adjourns.  Guerrillas  capture  a  government  freight  train  near  Woodburn,  Tenn.,  take 
the  property  and  set  the  locomotive  off  under  full  steam  to  smash"  a  passenger  train,  but 
did  not  succeed. 

Feb.  27.  Skirmish  15  miles  from  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  rebels  routed,  with  loss  of  3  killed 
and  48  prisoners;  Union,  i  wounded. 

Feb.  28.  Rebel  iron-clad  Nashville  captured  in  Ogeeche  River,  while  beginning  her 
first  voyage. 

Mar.  i.  Union  dash  into  Bloomfield,  Mo.;  provost-marshal  and  20  prisoners  taken. 
Rebels  at  Aldia,  Va.,  capture  50  Union  cavalry.  Fight  near  Bradyville,  Tenn.;  Duke's  guer- 
rillas routed  with  heavy  loss. 

Mar.  2.  Sharp  contest  on  the  Salem  pike,  16  miles  from  Murfreesboro,  between  the 
regulars  of  Rosecrans'  army  and  a  large  force  from  Bragg's;  the  rebels  twice  beaten. 
Slight  cavalry  fight  near  Petersburg,  Tenn.;  rebels  routed,  with  12  killed  and  20  wounded. 
Thirty  of  Moseby's  guerrillas  taken  near  Aldie,  Va. 

Mar.  3.     Fort  McAllister,  Ga.,  again  bombarded  without  success. 

Mar.  4.  Rebels  routed  near  Chapel  Hill,  Tenn.;  12  killed  and  72  captured.  Skirmishes 
at  Skeet  and  Swan  Quarter,  N.  C.;  rebels  beaten,  28  killed;  Union  loss  18. 

Mar.  5.  Fight  at  Thompson's  Station,  near  Franklin,  Tenn. ;  "Unionists  defeated  and 
the  whole  force  captured. 

Mar.  6.     Gen.  Hunter  orders  the  drafting  of  negroes  in  the  Department  of  the  South. 

Mar.  7.  A  scouting  expedition  from  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  returned  with  several  rebel 
prisoners  and  much  property. 

Mar.  8.  Moseby  dashed  into  Fairfax  and  captured  Brig.-Gen.  Stoughton  and  30  men, 
with  all  their  arms  and  horses.  A  company  of  rebel  cavalry  captured  near  Newbern,  N.  C., 
by  the  43d  Massachusetts. 

Mar.  9.  Small  rebel  force  captured  below  Port  Hudson.  Skirmish  near  Bolivar, 
Tenn.;  18  guerrillas  taken.  Skirmish  at  Blackwater  Bridge,  Va.  Skirmish  on  Amite  River, 
La.;  rebels  dispersed. 

Mar.  10.  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  captured  by  the  ist  South  Carolina  (colored)  regiment 
Several  rebels  captured  at  Rutherford  Creek,  Tenn.  Attack  on  guerrillas  near  Covington, 
Tenn.;  25  killed  and  many  captured. 

Mar.  ii.     Guerrillas  repulsed  in  attack  upon  a  train  12  miles  from  Paris,  Ky. 

Mar.  12.  Reconnoissance  from  Franklin,  Tenn.,  returned,  having  driven  the  rebels, 
without  fighting,  beyond  Duck  River;  Union  loss  in  the  few  skirmishes,  0. 

Mar.  13.  Fort  Greenwood,  on  the  Tallahatchie,  Tenn.,  silenced  by  gunboats  but  not 
taken.  Skirmish  at  Berwick  City,  La.;  rebels  dispersed.  Signal  Station  at  Spanish  Wells, 
S.  C.,  surprised  and  burned  by  the  rebels;  9  prisoners  taken. 

Mar.  14.  Admiral  Farragut,  with  seven  of  his  fleet,  passed  Port  Hudson,  after  a  fierce 
engagement,  in  which  the  Mississippi  was  disabled  and  burned  by  order  of  the  Admiral. 
Newbern,  N.  C.,  attacked  by  rebels;  the  gunboats  came  up  and  dispersed  the  enemy. 
Reconnoitering  force  returned  to  Murfreesboro.  after  11  days'  work,  with  50  rebel  prisoners. 

Mar.  15.  "The  Jeffersonian"  newspaper  office  at  Richmond,  Ind.,  destroyed  by  Union 
soldiers. 

Mar.  17.  Attack  on  rebel  works  near  Franklin,  Va.;  our  troops  driven  off,  with  15 
killed  or  wounded.  Cavalry  fight  at  Kelly's  Ford,  Va.;  Fitzhugh  Lee  routed  and  pursued 
six  miles. 

766 


1863 — Continued. 

Mar.  18.     Skirmishing  at  Berwick  Bay,  La.;  10  rebels  killed  and  20  wounded. 

Mar.  19.  Steamer  Georgiana,  with  arms  for  the  rebels,  destroyed  off  Charleston. 
Skirmish  on  Duck  River,  Term. 

Mar.  20.  Admiral  Farragut's  boats  reach  the  canal  below  Vicksburg.  Battle  near 
Milton,  Tenn. ;  rebels  defeated,  losing  400  men. 

Mar.  21.  Fight  at  Cottage  Grove,  Tenn.;  rebels  defeated  with  heavy  loss.  Small  fight 
near  Seneca,  Va.;  loyalists  defeated.  Expedition  up  the  Bayous  returned  to  the  Yazoo, 
after  defeating  the  rebels  at  Deer  Creek  and  destroying  2,000  bales  of  cotton,  50,000  bushels 
of  corn  and  all  the  houses  on  the  route. 

Mar.  22.  Union  force  of  50  defeated  by  Quantrell  at  Blue  Spring,  Mo.,  with  loss  of  14. 
Mount  Sterling,  Ky.,  captured  by  guerrillas. 

Mar.  24.     Pontachoula,  La.,  taken  by  Union  troops. 

Mar.  25.  Union  ram  Lancaster  and  Switzerland  undertook  to  run  the  rebel  batteries 
at  Vicksburg;  Lancaster  sunk  and  Switzerland  disabled.  Brentwood,  Tenn.,  captured  and 
sacked  by  rebels;  they  were  pursued,  dispersed,  many  killed  and  their  plunder  retaken. 

Mar.  26.  Expedition  returned  to  Carthage,  Tenn.,  with  28  rebel  prisoners.  Gen. 
Burnside  takes  command  of  the  Department  of  the  Ohio. 

Mar.  27.  Fast  day  in  the  rebel  states.  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  burned  by  the  Union  troops. 
Steamer  Hartford  passed  the  rebel  batteries  at  Warrenton,  Miss. 

Mar.  28.  Gunboat  Diana  captured  by  the  rebels  at  Pattersonville,  La.  Coles  Island, 
S.  C,  taken  by  Union  troops.  Steamer  Sam  Gaty  plundered  by  guerrillas  at  Sibley,  Mo. 
Expeditionary  force  returned  to  Belle  Plain,  Va.,  having  foraged  along  Northern  Neck, 
destroying  ferries,  burned  a  schooner  and  taken  some  prisoners. 

Mar.  29.  Party  of  blockade  runners  taken  at  Poplar  Creek,  Md.  Sharp  fight  near 
Somerville,  Tenn.,  rebels  beaten  off;  Union  loss  40. 

Mar.  30.  Battle  near  Somerville,  Ky. ;  rebels  under  Pegram  routed  with  great  loss. 
Washington,  N.  C.,  attacked  by  Hill  and  Pettigrew;  gunboats  drove  them  out  of  range. 
Mount  Pleasant,  Va.,  taken  and  plundered  by  Jenkin's  rebels;  they  were  driven  off  with  a 
loss  of  52.  Gen.  McClernand  took  Richmond,  Miss.,  after  a  sharp  fight. 

Mar.  31.     Gen.  Herron  appointed  to  command  the  Army  of  the  Frontier. 

April  i.  Admiral  Farragut  fought  and  passed  the  Grand  Gulf  batteries  with  the  Hart- 
ford, Switzerland  and  Albatross,  without  serious  damage.  Fight  with  Moseby  near  Broad 
Run,  Va. 

April  2.  Women's  Bread  Riot  a.t  Richmond,  Va.  Skirmish  at  Woodbury,  Tenn.;  12 
rebels  killed  or  wounded  and  30  taken.  Admiral  Farragut  went  to  Red  River,  destroying 
rebel  boats.  Gunboat  St.  Clair  disabled  by  rebels  above  Fort  Donelson;  she  was  saved 
by  another  boat.  Battle  at  Snow  Hill,  Tenn.;  rebel  cavalry  routed,  with  50  killed  and 
wounded  and  60  prisoners;  Union  loss  3. 

April  3.  Arrest  of  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  at  Reading,  Pa.  Skirmishing  party 
returned  to  Fayetteville,  Ark.,  after  four  skirmishes,  in  which  2  rebel  captains  were  killed, 
i  wounded;  22  men  killed  and  7  wounded. 

April  4.  Unionists  repulsed  with  loss  of  5  men  in  attempt  to  capture  rebel  battery 
on  Pamlico  River,  N.  C.  Palmyra,  Tenn.,  burned  by  the  gunboat  Lexington. 

April  5.  Troops  sent  from  Newbern  to  rescue  Gen.  Foster,  besieged  in  Washington, 
N.  C.  Skirmish  on  Black  Bayou,  La. 

April  6.     Rebel  camp  at  Green  Hill,  Tenn.,  broken  up;  5  killed,  15  taken. 

April  7.  Bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter  by  Admiral  Dupont;  the  fleet  driven  off;  fort 
little  injured.  U.  S.  Gunboat  Barataria  lost  in  Amite  River,  La.  Successful  foray  into 
Gloucester  county,  Va. 

April  8.  Gunboat  George  Washington,  stranded  in  Broad  River,  S.  C.,  attacked  by 
rebels  and  blown  up. 

April  9.  Pascagoula,  Miss.,  taken  by  a  Union  force  from  Ship  Island,  but  abandoned 
same  day.  Fight  at  Blount's  Mills,  N.  C. ;  Unionists  driven  off  with  small  loss. 

April  10.  Battle  at  Franklin,  Tenn.;  Van  Dorn's  attack  repulsed;  Union  loss  about 
loo.  Rebels  routed  near  Germanlown,  Ky.  Skirmish  near  Waverly,  Tenn.;  21  Unionists 
taken  prisoners. 

April  ii.  Col.  Straight's  raiding  force  left  Nashville  for  Georgia.  Union  cavalry 
camp  near  Wrilliamsburg,  Va.,  broken  up  by  rebel  attack. 

767 


1862 —  Continued. 

April  12.  Iron-clad  fleet  leaves  Charleston  harbor.  Skirmish  near  Gloucester  Point, 
Va.  Lieut-Col.  Kimball  killed  by  Gen.  Corcoran. 

April  13.  Transport  Escort  ran  the  batteries  below  Washington,  N.  C.,  bringing  aid 
for  Gen.  Foster.  Skirmish  near  Suffolk,  Va. 

April  14.  Battle  at  Bayou  Teche,  La.;  rebels  defeated  and  their  three  gunboats — 
Diana,  Hart  and  Queen  of  the  West — destroyed;;  Union  loss  about  350;  rebel  much  larger. 
Gen.  Foster  escaped  from  Washington,  N.  C.,  by  running  the  rebel  blockade  in  the 
steamer  Escort.  Rebel  battery  on  Nausemond  River  silenced  by  gunboats. 

April  15.  Franklin,  La.,  occupied  by  Union  troops.  Rebels  raise  the  siege  of  Wash- 
ington, N.  C.  Fight  with  and  defeat  of  Indians  70  miles  south  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Fighting 
continued  on  the  Nansemond  River.  Dash  upon  Pikeville,  Ky. ;  17  rebel  officers  and  61 
privates  captured. 

April  16.  Admiral  Porter's  fleet  of  eight  gunboats  and  several  transports  ran  past  the 
Vicksburg  batteries,  losing  only  one  transport  and  no  men.  Fight  with  Indians  at  Medalia, 
Minn. 

April  17.  Skirmish  near  Suffolk,  Va.  Col.  Grierson's  famous  cavalry  raiding  force 
started  -  from  La  Grange,  Tenn.  Skirmish  at  Bear  Creek;  rebels  defeated.  Skirmish 
Vermilion  Bayou,  La.;  rebels  driven  off. 

April  18.  Reconnoitering  party  at  Sabine  Pass  captured  by  concealed  rebels;  Capt. 
McDermott,  of  gunboat  Cayuga,  killed.  Rebels  repulsed  in  an  attack  on  Fayetteville,  Ark. 

April  19.     Cavalry  skirmishing  near  Hernando,  Miss.,  with  varying  success. 

April  20.  Opelousas,  La.,  occupied  by  Union  forces.  Cavalry  skirmish  near  Helena, 
Ark.  Fight  at  Patterson,  Mo.;  no  decisive  results;  Union  loss  50.  Bute  a  la  Rose,  La., 
captured  by  Union  gunboats. 

April  21.     Skirmish  and  capture  of  a  few  rebels  near  Berryville,  Va. 

April  22.  Rebel  raid  on  Tompkinsville,  Ky. ;  court-house  burned.  Seven  loyal  cavalry- 
men, after  being  made  prisoners  in  Cedar  County,  Mo.,  stripped  and  shot  by  guerrillas. 
McMinnville,  Tenn.,  occupied  by  Union  troops.  Three  hundred  rebels  routed  near  Stras- 
burg,  Va.,  with  loss  of  40;  Union  loss  2. 

April  23.     Skirmish  at  Chuckatuck,  Va. 

April  24.  Tuscumbia,  Ala.,  occupied,  the  rebels  being  driven  out.  Rebels  defeated 
at  Weber  Falls,  Ark.  Skirmishing  near  Suffolk,  Va.  Unionists  defeated  at  Beverly,  Va. 

April  25.  Rebel  shore  batteries  silenced  at  Duck  River  Shoals,  Tennessee  River,  by 
gunboats;  25  rebels  killed  and  wounded.  Fight  at  Greenland  Gap,  Va.;  rebels  severely 
punished. 

April  26.  Thirty  rebel  cotton-gins  and  mills,  and  350,000  bushels  of  corn  destroyed  by 
a  raid  to  Deer  Creek,  Miss.  Cape  Girardeau,  Mo.,  attacked  by  Marmaduke's  rebels, 
who  were  defeated  with  great  loss. 

April  27.  Gen.  Hooker  begins  his  movement  on  Fredericksburg.  A  Texas  legion 
captured  near  Franklin,  Tenn. 

April  28.  Hooker  crosses  the  Rappahannock.  Marmaduke  overtaken  and  defeated 
near  Jackson,  Mo.  Skirmish  near  Mill  Spring,  Mo. 

April  29.  Fairmount,  Va.,  taken  by  the  rebels,  who  lost  about  100;  Union  loss  slight. 
Bombardment  of  Grand  Gulf,  Miss.,  by  Porter's  fleet;  rebel  works  greatly  damaged;  fleet 
considerably  injured;  20  killed  and  many  wounded. 

April  30.  Gen.  Grant's  army  lands  near  Port  Gibson,  Miss.  Rebel  battery  on  the 
Nansemond  River  silenced".  Fifty-two  Union  cavalry  captured  near  Spotsylvania,  Va.;  58 
others  cut  their  way  out. 

May  i.  Battle  of  Port  Gibson,  (beginning  of  Grant's  march  to  Vicksburg);  11,000 
rebels  defeated;  500  taken;  they  retreat  toward  Vicksburg.  Fight  at  Monticello,  Ky. ;  rebels 
driven.  Skirmish  near  Lagrange,  Ark.;  Unionists  defeated  with  loss  of  41.  Fight  at 
South  Quay  on  the  Nansemond;  rebels  defeated  with  great  loss;  Union  loss  41. 

May  2.  Battle  of  Chancellorsville  between  the  armies  of  Hooker  and  Lee;  Union  army, 
checked  after  a  fierce  fight;  Stonewall  Jackson  wounded.  Marmaduke's  rebels  driven  into 
Arkansas.  Col.  Grierson's  raiders  reached  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  after  15  days  of  work  on 
the  Mississippi;  they  defeated  the  rebels  several  times,  destroying  railroads,  bridges,  and 
captured  many  prisoners. 

May  3.  Col.  Straight's  Union  raiding  force  of  1,500  captured  near  Gadsen,  Ala.  Sec- 
ond day's  battle  of  Chancellorville;  Union  troops  repulsed;  heavy  loss  on  both  sides. 

768 


1863—  Continued. 

Moseby's  guerrillas  routed  near  Warrcnton  Junction,  Va.  The  colored  regiment  returned 
to  Beaufort  from  the  Cambahee  River  raid;  they  captured  800  slaves  and  destroyed  $2,000,- 
ooo  worth  of  rebel  property. 

May  4.  Battle  of  Chancellorville  continued;  Unionists  forced  back.  Capt.  Dwight 
murdered,  after  surrender,  by  rebels,  at  Washington,  La. 

May  5.  Vallandigham  arrested.  A  rebel  company  captured  near  Peltie's  Mills,  S.  C. ; 
no  Union  loss.  Fort  De  Russy,  Red  River,  occupied  by  Union  forces. 

May  6.  Hooker  retreats  safely  across  the  Rappahannock.  Alexandria,  Miss.,  occu- 
pied by  Union  troops.  Fight  near  Tupelo,  Miss.;  rebels  whipped  and  lose  90  prisoners. 

May  7.  Col.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  after  marching  around  Lee's  army,  arrived  at 
Gloucester  Point,  Va.  Reconnoissance  from  the  Peninsula  to  White  House;  some  prisoners 
retaken  from  the  rebels. 

May  8.     An  attack  upon  Port  Hudson  commenced. 

May  9.  Bombardment  of  Port  Hudson  continued;  no  reply.  Scouting  on  Stone 
River,  Tenn. ;  some  rebels  taken. 

May  10.  Stonewall  Jackson  died.  The  ship  West  Florida  ran  ashore  on  Galveston 
Island  by  the  Owasco  and  Kahtadin.  Port  Hudson  assault  renewed. 

May  II.  Fight  at  Greasy  Greek,  Ky. ;  Unionists  defeated  with  loss  of  25;  rebel  loss 
nearly  100.  Crystal  Springs,  Miss.,  burned  by  Union  cavalry. 

May  12.  Battle  of  Raymond,  Miss.;  McPherson  defeats  the  rebels  under  Gregg.  Rail- 
road bridge  destroyed  by  Unionists  at  Hammond  Station,  La.  Skirmish  and  rebels  de- 
feated near  Woodburn,  Ky.  Union  raid  upon  Linden,  Tenn. ;  court-house  burned. 

May  13.  Yazoo  City,  Miss.,  captured  by  gunboats;  rebels  escape;  $2,000,000  of  prop- 
erty destroyed.  Guerrillas  and  Indians  defeated  at  Pontachula,  Miss.;  their  camp  destroyed. 
Skirmish,  and  rebels  worsted  at  South  Union,  Ky. 

May  14.  Jackson,  Miss.,  captured  by  Gen.  Grant;  Gen.  Johnson  retreats  northward. 
Hammond  Station,  La.,  destroyed  by  Union  forces.  Skirmish,  and  rebel  cavalry  dispersed 
near  Fairfax  C.  H.,  Va. 

May  15  Grant  defeats  Pemberton  at  Edwards  Station,  Miss.  Rebel  Camp  Moore, 
La.,  captured  and  destroyed,  with  the  railroad  depot.  Corbin  and  Graw  executed  at  San- 
dusky,  O.,  for  recruting  within  Union  lines.  Sharp  cavalry  fighting  near  Suffolk. 

May  16.  Battle  of  Champion  Hill,  Miss.;  Grant  drives  Pemberton  to  Big  Black 
River.  Union  cavalry  company  captured  at  Charleston,  Va.;  retaken;  40  refbels  captured. 
Skirmish  and  18  rebels  taken  near  Cripple  Creek,  Tenn.  Union  cavalry  routed  with  loss 
near  Suffolk.  Skirmish  at  Berry's  Ferry,  Va.;  Union  prisoners  retaken  from  Moseby. 

May  17.  Battle  at  the  crossing  of  Big  Black,  Miss.;  Pemberton  restarts  toward  Vicks- 
burg,  after  great  loss.  Union  forces  under  Gen.  Sherman  destroy  railroads  and  march 
toward  Vicksburg. 

May  18.  Grant  invests  Vicksburg.  Haines  Bluff  abandoned  by  the  rebels  and  taken 
by  Admiral  Porter.  Skirmish  near  Sherwood,  Mo.;  Union  defeat. 

May  19.  Richmond,  Mo-,  captured  by  guerrillas;  Unionists  defeated.  Skirmish  near 
Winchester,  Va.;  a  few  rebels  killed  and  taken. 

May  20.  Fighting  in  front  of  Vicksburg.  Skirmishing  near  Fayetteville,  Va. ;  rebels 
defeated.  Fight  near  Fort  Gibson,  Ark.;  rebels  driven  off. 

May  21.     Vicksburg  fully  invested.     Rebel  camp  broken  up  near  Middleton,  Tenn. 

May  22.  Assault  upon  Vicksburg;  Grant  repulsed  after  a  heavy  fight.  Successful  raid 
into  Gloucester  county,  Va.  Reconoissance  to  Green  Swamp,  N.  C. ;  many  rebels  taken. 

May  24.  Austin,  Miss.,  burned  by  Union  forces.  Guerrillas  capture  a  wagon-train  at 
Shawnee  Creek,  Kan.  Gen.  Schofield  relieves  Gen.  Curtis  in  Department  of  the  West. 

May  25.     Rebels  defeated  at  Senatobia,  Miss.     Skirmish  at  Hartford,  Ky. 

May  26.  Scouting  near  McMinnville,  Tenn.;  skirmishing,  and  some  rebels  captured. 
A  raid  into  Alabama  started  from  Corinth,  Miss. 

May  27.  Gen.  Banks  assaults  Port  Hudson,  but  is  repulsed  with  heavy  loss;  distin- 
guished bravery  of  colored  troops.  Gunboat  Cincinnati  sunk  by  rebel  batteries  at  Vicks- 
burg. 

May  28.  Successful  cavalry  scout  returned  to  Hooker's  headquarters  after  eleven  days' 
work  along  the  Rappahannock,  destroying  many  sloops  and  boats  and  other  property,  and 
bringing  in  800  contrabands.  First  colored  regiment  from  the  North  left  Boston.  Skir- 

769 


1863 — Continued. 

mish  and  Union  defeat  near  Somerset,  Ky.  Skirmish  near  Doniphan,  Mo.;  Union  defeat, 
with  loss  of  80. 

May  29.     Skirmish  and  rebel  defeat  near  Thoroughfare  Gap. 

May  30.  Earthworks  and  mines  begun  by  Grant.  Rappahannock,  Va.,  taken  by  Union 
gunboats.  Rebels  capture  a  forage  train  near  Warrenton,  surprised;  22  prisoners  taken. 

May  31.  Raiders  return  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  after  destoying  seven  cotton  factories  and 
many  mills  and  shops,  the  bridge  at  Florence,  houses,  arms,  etc.,  bringing  in  100  prisoners 
and  600  cattle.  Fight  in  Lincoln  county,  Mo.;  militia  defeated  by  rebels.  Scout  near 
Monticello,  Ky. ;  16  rebels  taken.  Gunboat  Alert  accidentally  burned  at  Norfolk,  Va. 

June  i.  Blair's  reconnolssance  from  Vicksburg  returns,  having  been  successful.  Skir- 
mishing in  Howard  county.  Mo. 

June  2.  Three  thousand  rebel  prisoners  arrive  at  Indianapolis.  Gen.  Burnside  pro- 
hibits the  circulation  in  the  Department  of  the  Ohio  of  "The  New  York  World"  and  "The 
Chicago  Times."  Union  troops  evacuate  West  Point,  Va. 

June  3.  Indian  (rebel)  prisoners  arrive  in  New  York.  Mass  Convention  of  Peace 
Democrats  in  New  York.  Admiral  Foote  ordered  to  relieve  Admiral  Dupont  at  Charles- 
ton. Skirmish  near  Manchester,  Tenn.  Bombardment  of  Port  Hudson  continued. 

June  4.  The  President  revokes  Gen.  Burnside's  order  suppressing  "the  New  York 
World"  and  "The  Chicago  Times."  Rebel  guerrillas  defeated  near  Fairfax  Va.  Fighting 
at  Franklin  and  Triune,  Tenn.;  rebels  defeated  with  heavy  loss.  Gen.  Gilmore  goes  to 
relieve  Gen.  Hunter  of  command  of  Department  of  the  South.  Bluffton,  S.  C.,  burned  by 
Union  troops.  Fight  at  Satartia,  Miss.;  100  rebels  taken.  Simonsport,  La.,  destroyed  by 
Union  gunboats. 

June  5.  Guerrillas  routed  at  Liberty,  Tenn.  A  division  of  Hooker's  army  crosses 
the  Rappahannock  and  captures  96  prisoners.  Raid  to  Warwick  River,  Va. ;  rebel  boats 
destroyed. 

June  6.  Fight  at  Miliken's  Bend;  rebels  defeated  mainly  by  negro  troops;  this  fight 
occurred  opposite  and  during  the  siege  of  Vicksburg. 

June  8.  District  of  the  Frontier  set  off  and  given  to  Gen.  Blunt.  Two  rebel  spies 
shot  at  Franklin,  Tenn.  Reconnoissance  on  the  Chickahominy. 

June  9.  Meeting  of  editors  in  New  York  about  censorship  of  the  press.  Fight  at 
Beverly  Ford,  Va.,  with  Stuart's  cavalry;  Union  victory.  Explosion  in  Fort  Lyon,  near 
Alexandria;  30  men  killed.  Union  cavalry  returns  to  Winchester,  Va.,  with  several  pris- 
oners. More  of  Hooker's  army  cross  the  Rappahannock,  at  Kelly's  Ford,  without  opposi- 
tion. Skirmish  at  Triune,  Tenn.;  rebels  repulsed. 

June  10.  An  enrolling  officer  murdered  at  Manville,  Ind.  Fighting  near  Monticello, 
Ky. ;  rebels  defeated.  Rebels  repulsed  at  Lake  Providence  by  negro  troops. 

June  n.  Col.  Montgomery  leaves  Hilton  Head  with  his  colored  regiment  for  a  raid 
in  Georgia.  Preparations  in  Pennsylvania  to  repel  rebel  invasion.  Rebel  cavalry  cross 
the  Potomac  at  Poolesville,  but  are  driven  back.  Meeting  in  New  York  to  raise  colored 
troops.  Peace  Democratic  meeting  in  Brooklyn.  Vallandigham  nominated  for  governor 
of  Ohio.  Lee's  army  begins  to  move  up  the  Rappahannock.  Rebels  attack  Triune,  Tenn., 
and  are  driven  off.  Steamer  Maple  Leaf,  from  Fortress  Monroe,  seized  by  rebel  prisoners. 

June  12.  Union  gunboats  shell  the  shores  of  James  River.  Darien,  Ga.,  burned  by 
Unionists.  Union  cavalry  near  Port  Hudson  captured.  Skirmish  near  Middletown,  Va.; 
rebels  defeated.  Rebel  Cruiser  Clarence  captured  six  vessels  off  the  Chesapeake,  convert- 
ing one  (the  Tacony)  into  a  cruiser.  Gen.  Corcoran  leaves  Suffolk,  Va..  with  a  strong 
force.  Gen.  Hunter  relieved  from  command  of  Department  of  the  South.  Attack  upon 
Morris  Island  by  our  gunboats;  rebels  attack  our  troops  on  Folly  Island. 

June  13.  Rebels  plunder  a  railway  train  at  Elizabethtown,  Ky.  Skirmish  on  Slate 
Creek,  Ky.;  Union  defeat.  Lee  surrounds  Milroy  at  Winchester;  part  of  garrison  taken. 
Hooker's  army  in  rapid  march  toward  Maryland.  Skirmish  and  rebel  defeat  near  Bos- 
ton, Ky. 

June  14.  Gen.  Banks  attacks  Port  Hudson  and  is  repulsed.  English  and  Austrian 
consuls  sent  away  from  Richmond.  Rebel  raid  upon  Maysville,  Ky. 

June  15.  Lee  Marches  into  Maryland.  President  calls  for  100.000  men  to  repel  inva- 
sion. Immense  excitement  in  Pennsylvania.  The  Potomac  army  at  old  Bull  Run  battle- 
field. Enrollment  resisted  in  Boone  county,  Ind.  Rebels  who  attacked  Maysville  caught; 
their  plunder  and  100  prisoners  taken. 

770 


1863 — Continued. 

June  16.  Lee's  advance  north  of  Chambersburg.  Gen.  Milroy  arrives  at  Harper's 
Ferry;  rebel  attack  there  unsuccessful.  Skirmish  near  Aldia. 

June  17.  The  rebels  advance  at  'Westminster,  Haggerstown  and  Chambersburg.  New 
York  troops  start  for  Harrisburg.  Cavalry  fight  at  Thoroughfare  Gap.  Skirmish  on  the 
Blackwater.  Rioters  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  resist  enrollment;  they  are  put  down  by 
military.  Skirmish  near  Big  Westport,  Mo.  Rebel  iron-clad  Nashville  captured  in  War- 
saw Sound. 

June  18.  Seventeen  hundred  of  Milroy's  men  arrive  safely  at  Bedford,  Pa.  Rebels 
burn  canal  boats  at  Hancock,  Md.  Small  skirmish  with  Lee's  invaders  in  Maryland. 
Skirmishing  near  Aldia.  Union  defeat  near  Hernando,  Miss. 

June  19.     Rebel  cavalry  cross  the  Ohio  into  Harrison  county,  Ind. ;  50  of  them  captured. 

June  20.  Gen.  Schenck  suppresses  disloyal  papers  in  Baltimore.  Cavalry  fight  near 
New  Baltimore.  Vicksburg  bombarded. 

June  21.  Brilliant  cavalry  fight,  and  rebels  whipped  at  Aldia  Gap.  Skirmish  near  New 
Baltimore;  Unnionists  repulsed.  Skirmish  at  Low  Creek,  W.  Va. ;  rebels  beaten.  Rebels 
•defeated  at  Lafourche  Crossing,  La. 

June  22.    Skirmish  at  Frederick,  Md.;  rebels  driven  out. 

June  23.  Rebels  occupy  Chambersburg,  Pa.  Skirmish  near  Gettysburg.  Gunboat 
Sumpter  sunk  by  accident  off  Cape  Henry.  Union  raiding  force  from  East  Tennessee, 
where  they  made  great  havoc. 

June  24.  Gen.  Lee's  army  advances  to  Shippensburg  and  Haggerstown.  The  pirate 
Tacony  destroys  fishing  vessels  off  New  England  coast.  Union  raiding  force  returned 
from  Northern  Mississippi,  after  much  success.  Gen.  Rosecrans'  army  in  motion;  skir- 
mishes at  Guy's  Gap  and  Liberty  Like. 

June  25.     Rebels  near  Carlisle,  Pa.     Fight  at  Liberty  Gap;    the  rebels  routed. 

June  26.  Rebels  occupy  Gettysburg.  Unionists  evacuate  Carlisle.  Skirmish  at  South 
Anna,  Va.;  Gen.  W.  F.  Lee  captured.  Death  of  Admiral  Foote. 

June  27.  The  Potomac  army  northwest  of  Baltimore.  Cavalry  fight  at  Fairfax;  Union 
•defeat.  Rosecrans'  army  occupies  Manchester,  Tenn.,  after  slight  resistance;  also  Shelby- 
ville. 

June  28.  Gen.  Hooker  superseded  by  Gen.  Meade.  Rebels  occupy  York  and  threaten 
Harrisburg.  Rebels  capture  a  train  near  Rockville,  Md. ;  also  sutler's  stores  at  Annandale, 
Va.  Skirmish  at  Columbia  Bridge,  Pa.  Enrollment  in  Indiana  enforced  by  military. 
Rebels  defeated  at  Donaldsville,  La. 

June  29.     Rebels  driven  from  Decherd,  Tenn. 

June  30.  Mines  exploded  and  rebel  outworks  breached  at  Vicksburg.  Cavalry  fight  at 
Hanover. 

July  i.  Rebels  repulsed  in  attack  on  Carlisle,  La.  First  day's  battle  at  Gettysburg; 
rebel  advance  checked;  Gen.  Reynolds  killed.  Bragg  retreats  before  Rosecrans;  Tulla- 
homa  occupied  by  Union  advance. 

July  2.  Second  day  of  battle  of  Gettysburg;  no  especial  advantage  to  either  side;  rebel 
losses  very  heavy.  Skirmish  at  Bottom's  Bridge,  Va. 

July  3.  Final  battle  of  Gettysburg;  Pickett's  charge  and  defeat;  complete  Union  vic- 
tory. Lee  withdrew  at  night,  marching  back  toward  Virginia.  PemBerton  proposes  terms 
for  the  surrender  of  Vicksburg;  Grant  refuses  anything  short  of  unconditional  surrender. 

July  4.  Surrender  of  Vicksburg  and  Pemberton's  entire  army  of  35,000  men.  Lee's 
army  rapidly  retreating  to  the  Potomac.  Rebel  attack  on  Helena,  Ark.,  repulsed.  Morgan, 
the  guerrilla,  whipped  at  Green  River  Bridge,  Ky. 

July  5.     Vallandigham  arrives  at  Halifax.     Raid  from  Newbern  to  Warsaw,  N.  C. 

July  6.     John  Morgan's  rebels  invade  Indiana  and  capture  Corydon. 

July  7.  Two  steamboats  captured  by  rebels  at  Brandenburg,  Ky.  Bragg  retreats 
across  the  Tennesse,  destroying  the  Bridgeport  bridge. 

July  8.     Surrender  of  Port  Hudson;  the  Mississippi  opened. 

July  9.  Rebel  cavalry  defeated  at  Boonsboro,  Md.,  with  heavy  loss.  Raiding  party 
to  destroy  Lee's  communication  with  Richmond  return  to  Fortress  Monroe. 

July  10.  Gilmore  lands  on  Morris  Island,  taking  all  the  rebel  works  except  Forts 
Wagner  and  Gregg,  which  are  shelled  by  the  Monitors.  Union  forces  under  Sherman 
•occupy  Jackson,  Miss.  Rebels  defeated  at  Big  Creek,  Ark.  Cavalry  fight  on  the  old  An- 

771 


1863 —  Continued. 

tietam  field.     Lee  in  fortifications  opposite  Williamsport.     Morgan  burns  depot  at  Salem, 
Jnd. 

July  ii.     Morgan  burns  railroad  bridge  at  Vienna,  Ind. 

July  12.  Morgan  gets  into  Ohio.  Martial  law  in  Cincinnati,  Newport  and  Covington. 
Fight  at  Jackson,  Miss. 

July  13.  Great  Draft  Riot  in  New  York;  many  buildings  destroyed;  ''The  Tribune" 
office  assaulted;  Colored  Orphan  Asylum  burned;  several  negroes  killed.  Bragg  occupies 
Chattanooga.  Rebel  cavalry  defeated  at  Jackson,  Tenn.  Yazoo  City  taken  by  Union 
troops.  Union  defeat  at  Bayou  Lafouche,  La.;  210  taken  prisoners. 

July  14.  New  York  riot  continues;  military  called  out;  several  conflicts,  and  some 
rioters  killed;  Gov.  Seymour  issues  a  proclamation.  Lee  gets  his  army  safely  across  the 
Potomac;  Union  forces  capture  a  few  stragglers  at  Falling  Waters. 

July  15.  New  York  riot  continues;  cars  and  stages  stopped;  two  negroes  killed; 
military  attacked;  Col.  O'Brien  killed.  Cavalry  skirmish  near  Charleston,  Va.  Riots  in 
Troy  and  Boston.  Jeff.  Davis  calls  out  white  men  from  18  to  45  to  serve  three  years. 

July  16.  Last  days  of  the  New  York  riot;  a  great  many  rioters  killed.  Rebels  defeated 
near  Fort  Gibson,  Ark.  Rebel  dash  upon.  Hickman,  Ky.  Rebels  defeated  at  Elk  Creek, 
Indian  Territory. 

July  17.  Orders  given  to  enforce  the  draft  at  all  hazards.  Huntsville,  Ala.,  taken  by 
Union  troops.  Rebels  evacuate  Jackson,  Miss. 

July  18.  Gillmore  assaults  Fort  Wagner,  but  fails  to  take  it.  Rebels  defeated  at 
Wytheville,  Va.;  the  place  destroyed  and  the  Tennessee  and  Virginia  railroad  broken. 
Raid  from  Newbern  into  North  Carolina.  Four  hundred  rebels  captured  at  Rienzi,  Miss. 

July  19.     Fighting  with  Morgan  at  Buffington  Island;  300  of  his  men  taken. 

July  20.  Basil  Duke  and  a  portion  of  Morgan's  force  taken  near  Pomeroy,  O.;  Mor- 
gan escaped. 

•July  21.  Gen.  Joe  Johnston  retreats  to  Brandon,  Miss.  Union  raid  to  Tar  River  and 
Rocky  Mount,  N.  C. 

July  22.  Skirmish  near  Nolan's  Ferry  on  the  Potomac.  Skirmish  at  Chester  Gap,  Va. 
Brashear  City,  La.,  recaptured  by  Union  gunboats. 

July  23.     Engagement  at  Manassas  Gap,  Va.;  300  rebels  killed  or  wounded,  60  prisoners. 

July  24.     Skirmish  with  Morgan's  men  at  Washington,  Ohio. 

July  26.  John  Morgan  and  all  his  men  captured  near  New  Lisbon,  Ohio.  Rebels 
defeated  at  Lexington,  Tenn. 

July  27.     Rebels  drive  Union  forces  out  of  Richmond,  Ky. 

July  29.     Rebels  defeated  at  Paris,  Ky. 

July  30.  President  Lincoln  issued  an  order  for  retaliation  in  case  of  barbarous  treat- 
ment of  Union  soldiers. 

July  31.  Lee's  and  Meade's  armies  again  on  the  Rappahannock.  Rebels  take  Stan- 
ford, Ky.,  but  are  quickly  driven  out. 

Aug.  i.  Heavy  cavalry  fight  at  Kell's  Ford;  rebels  defeated.  Richardson's  rebel 
guerrillas  driven  from  West  Tennessee.  A  doleful  proclamation  issued  by  Jeff.  Davis. 

Aug.  2.     The  Enfans  Perdus,  of  New  Yrork,  capture  500  rebels  at  Folly  Island. 

Aug.  3. — Skirmish  near  Kelly's  Ford.  Gen.  Foster  goes  up  James  River  on  recon- 
noissance;  his  .boat  attacked  at  Dutch  Gap;  he  returns  safe. 

Aug.  4.  Skirmish  near  Brandy  Station.  Steamer  Ruth  accidentally  burned  below 
Cairo. 

Aug.  5.     Union  raid  upon  Woodville,  Miss.;  railroad  broken. 

Aug.  6.  Gen.  Sibley  reports  three  battles  and  defeat  of  the  hostile  Indians  in  Minne- 
sota. 

Aug.  10.     Admiral  Farragut  arrived  with  his  flagship  at  New  York. 

Aug.  12.  Robert  Toombs  publishes  a  letter  exposing  the  bankruptcy  of  the  Con- 
federacy. 

Aug.  14.  Some  Union  Signal  officers  captured  near  Warrenton,  Va.  Gillmore  tries 
the  range  of  his  heavy  guns  towafds  Sumpter. 

Aug.  15.  Union  cavalry  returns  to  Corinth,  Miss.,  with  250  prisoners  just  conscripted 
by  Forrest. 

Aug.  16.  Accidental  explosion  of  the  City  of  Madison,  ammunition  boat,  at  Vicksburg; 
about  150  men  killed. 

772 


1863 — Continued, 

Aug.  17.     Grand  bombardment  of  Sumpter  begun. 

Aug.  18.     Union  raid  in  North  Carolina;  30  rebels  killed  near  Pasquotank. 

Aug.  19.     Union  raid  upon  Granada,  Miss.;  great  destruction  of  railroad  property. 

Aug.  20.     Lawrence,  Kan.,  sacked  and  fired  by  Quantrell;  many  citizens  murdered. 

Aug.  21.  Quantrell's  murderers  pursued;  several  skirmishes.  Rosecrans'  advance 
begins  an  attack  on  Chattanooga.  Brig  Bainbridge  foundered;  only  one  man  saved. 

Aug.  22.  A  raid  to  Pocahontas,  Ark.;  100  rebels  captured,  including  Gen.  Jeff.  C. 
Thompson  and  staff. 

Aug.  23.  Shells  thrown  into  the  city  of  Charleston,  nearly  six  miles  range.  Gen.  Blunt 
crosses  Arkansas  River;  rebels  fall  back  without  fighting. 

Aug.  24.  Cavalry  skirmish  below  Fredericksburg.  Cavalry  skirmish  near  Fairfax. 
Squad  of  Union  cavalry  captured  at  Annandale. 

Aug.  25.  One  hundred  and  twenty-five  bodies  burned  at  Lawrence,  the  victims  of 
Quantrell's  massacre;  41  of  Quantrell's  men  killed  to  this  date.  Rebels  under  Price  and 
Marmaduke  defeated  at  Bayou  Metiare,  Ark. 

Aug.  26.  Union  expedition  to  Bottom's  Bridge,  Va.;  rebels  defeated  and  bridge  de- 
stroyed. 

Aug.  27.  John  B.  Floyd  died  at  Abingdon,  Va.  An  army  train  captured  near  Philippi, 
W.  Va.,  by  rebels. 

Aug.  28.     Five  deserters  shot  in  Potomac  army. 

Aug.  30.     Rosecrans'  army  crosses  the  Tennessee  near  Chattanooga. 

Aug.  31.  About  this  time  guerrillas  swarmed  in  all  Western  Tennesse  and  down  the 
Mississippi  on  both  sides  to  Baton  Rouge.  Fort  Smith,  Ark.,  taken  by  Gen.  Blunt. 

Sept.  i.  Union  expedition  in  West  Virginia  under  Gen.  Averil;  return  after  general 
success.  Rebel  raid  upon  Brownville,  Tenn.;  the  place  plundered. 

Sept.  2.  Gunboats  Satelite  and  Reliance,  lately  taken  by  the  rebels,  destroyed  by  a 
Union  force.  Kingston,  Tenn.,  taken  by  Burnside. 

Sept.  4.     Burnside  occupies  Knoxville. 

Sept.  5.     Skirmish  near  Moorfield,  W.  Va.;  no  loss.     Woman's  bread  riot  in  Mobile. 

Sept.  6.  Rebels  evacuate  Morris  Island;  Forts  Wagner  and  Gregg  fall  into  our  pos- 
session; 150  rebels  killed  and  wounded. 

Sept.  7.  Gen.  Burnside  tenders  his  resignation,  which  is  not  accepted.  A  magazine 
exploded  by  Union  shells  in  Fort  Moultrie. 

Sept.  8.     Skirmish  at  Bath,  Va.     Rebels  defeated  near  Arkadelphia.  Ark. 

Sept.  9.  Cumberland  Gap  taken  from  the  rebels  by  Gen.  Shackelford.  Union  defeat 
at  Tilford,  Tenn.;  300  captured. 

Sept.  10.  Gen.  Rosecrans  arrives  at  Chattanooga;  Archbishop  Purcell  celebrates  mass 
in  the  cathedral.  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  taken  by  Union  troops  without  a  fight. 

Sept.  12.  Union  cavalry  raid  into  Mississippi.  Sabine  Pass  expedition  returns  to  New 
Orleans,  having  utterly  failed;  two  of  its  small  gunboats  destroyed.  . 

Sept.  13.  Cavalry  fight  beyond  Culpepper;  40  rebels  and  2  guns  taken;  Gen.  Pleasanton 
advances  to  the  Rapidan.  Small  rebel  raid  across  the  Potomac  to  capture  horses.  Rebel 
works  at  Grant's  Pass,  near  Mobile,  shelled. 

Sept.  14.     Arkansas  being  rapidly  cleared  of  rebels  by  Gen.  Blunt. 

Sept.  15.     The  President  suspends  the  writ  of  Habeas  Corpus. 

Sept.   16.     Skirmish  along  Rosecrans'  lines;    little  damage. 

Sept.  17.     Cavalry  fight  at  Raccoon  Ford;  Union  repulse. 

Sept.   18.     White's  cavalry  routed  at  Warrenton,  Va. 

Sept.   19.     Beginning  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

Sept.  20.  Battle  of  Chickamauga  rages  furiously;  Union  army  defeated.  Fight  at 
Zollicoffer,  Tenn. 

Sept.  21.  Rosecrans  at  night  withdraws  with  part  of  army  from  Chickamauga  to  Chat- 
tanooga. Gen.  Thomas  holds  his  position  at  Chickamauga  against  Bragg  and  withdraws 
his  army  in  safety  to  Chattanooga.  Meade's  cavalry  possess  Madison  C.  H.  Rebels  seize 
a  steam-tug  at  Southwest  Pass,  but  are  caught  and  the  boat  recovered. 

Sept.  22.  Great  cavalry  fight  and  Union  victory  near  Madison  C.  H.  Rebel  cavalry 
cross  the  Potomac  near  Rockville,  but  are  driven  back. 

Sept.  23.  Meade's  army  reaches  the  Rapidan.  Twelve  hundred  rebel  prisoners,  taken  at 
Cumberland  Gap,  arrive  in  Louisville. 


1863 —  C  en  tin  ucd. 

Sept.  25.  Moseby  breaks  the  railroad  near  Fairfax.  Rebels  driven  out  of  Donaldson- 
ville,  La. 

Sept.  27.     Steamer  Robert  Campbell  burned  by  rebels  at  Milliken's  Bend;  25  lives  lost 

Sept.  28.     Rebels  attack  Burnside's  right  wing  near  Knoxville,  but  are  repulsed. 

Sept.  29.  Gen.  Hooker  arrives  in  Cincinnati.  Two  Union  regiments  defeated  above 
Port  Hudson,  La. 

Sept.  30.  Delegation  from  Missouri  visits  the  President  to  ask  a  change  of  com- 
mander in  the  Western  Department.  Rebel  cavalry  repulsed  in  trying  to  cross  the  Ten- 
nessee near  Harrison's  Landing. 

Oct.  I.     Frequent  skirmishes  with  guerrillas  south  of  the  Potomac. 

Oct.  2.  Battle  of  Anderson's  Cross  Roads,  Ky. ;  rebel  cavalry  whipped.  Explosion 
of  an  ammunition  train  near  Bridgeport,  Tenn.  Gen.  Gillmore  moves  his  headquarters  to 
Folly  Island.  Gen.  Sherman  reaches  Memphis  with  I5th  Army  Corps  from  Vicksburg. 

Oct.  3.  Fight  at  McMinnville,  Tenn.  Greek  fire  thrown  into  Charleston.  Guerrillas 
active  near  Glasgow,  Ky. 

Oct.  4.  Four  steamers  burned  at  St.  Louis  by  rebel  incediaries.  Expedition  from 
Fortress  Monroe  to  break  up  guerrilla  bands.  Rebels  attempt  to  destroy  Shelbyville,  Tenn. 

Oct.  5.  Rebels  destroy  a  large  railroad  bridge  south  of  Murfreesboro.  The  rebels 
bombard  Chattanooga  from  Lookout  Mountain.  Cavalry  fight  near  New  Albany,  Ala. 
Rebels  repulsed  in  an  attack  on  Murfreesboro. 

Oct.  6.  Rebels  whipped  near  Shelbyville,  Tenn.  Skirmish  at  Como,  Tenn.  Rebels 
attempt  to  destroy  the  New  Ironsides  with  a  torpedo;  they  fail;  their  men  taken. 

Oct.  7.  Some  of  our  cavalry  ambuscaded  near  Harper's  Ferry  5y  Imboden.  Part  of 
Gen.  Blunt's  escort  whipped  by  the  rebels  near  Fort  Scott;  all  who  surrendered  were  mur- 
dered. Rebel  steamers  destroyed  on  Red  River. 

Oct.  8.  Fight  near  Farmingham,  Ky. ;  rebels  defeated.  Fight  at  Salem,  Miss.;  rebels 
driven  off. 

Oct.  9.  Rebels  make  great  efforts  to  cut  Rosecrans'  communications,  but  fail.  The 
overland  Texas  expedition,  from  New  Orleans,  reaches  Vermillionville. 

Oct.  10.  Skirmish  near  Madison  C.  H.,  Va.  Fight  at  Blue  Springs,  near  Knoxville. 
Union  raiding  expedition  under  Col.  S.  H.  Mix,  leave  Newbern,  N.  C. ;  return  in  a  few 
days  entirely  successful. 

Oct.  ii.  Much  fighting  along  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad;  rebels  generally 
defeated. 

Oct.  12.  Skirmishing  along  our  lines  on  the  Rappahannock;  Gen.  Meade  withdraws 
all  his  army  to  the  north  bank.  Skirmish  at  Blackwater,  Mo.  Fight  at  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  Va. 

Oct.  13.  Skirmish  at  Arrow  Rock,  Mo.  Brisk  fight  from  Catlett's  Station  to  Manassas. 
Rebels  under  Shelby,  in  Missouri,  defeated  by  Gen.  Brown.  Skirmish  on  the  Big  Black, 
below  Vicksburg. 

Oct.   14.     Fight  at  Bristow  Station;    rebels  defeated;    450  taken  prisoners. 

Oct.   15.     Skirmishing  on  the  Bull  Run  battle-field. 

Oct.  16.     Rebel  raid  upon  Brownsville,  Mo. 

Oct.  17.  President  Lincoln  calls  for  300,000  men.  Active  volunteering  for  the  Union 
army  in  Arkansas. 

Oct.  18.     Skirmishing  near  Stone  Bridge  and  Manassas  Junction. 

Oct.  19.  Lee  recrosses  the  Rappahannock  and  marches  southward.  Secret  meetings 
in  New  Orleans  to  revive  the  rebel  State  Government. 

Oct.  20.  Gen.  Rosecrans,  in  command  at  Chattanooga,  relieved;  Gen.  Grant  takes 
command.  Gen.  Blunt  relieved  of  Army  of  the  Frontier,  Gen.  McNeil  taking  his  place. 
Kilpatrick's  cavalry  on  a  raid  toward  Warrenton. 

Oct.  21.  Fight  near  Philadelphia,  East  Tennessee.  Fight  at  Cherokee  Station,  near 
Corinth,  Miss.;  rebels  defeated. 

Oct.  22.  Skirmishes  at  Columbia  and  Kingston  Spring,  Tenn.  Gen.  AverilFs  Union 
cavalry  near  Covington,  Va. 

Oct.  23.  Rebel  raid  upon  Da'nville,  Tenn.  Fighting  at  Beverly  Ford,  on  the  Rappa- 
hannock. Unionists  land  at  Bay  St.  Louis,  Miss.,  and  recapture  some  prisoners. 

Oct.  24.     Guerrillas  driven  out  of  Southern  Missouri. 

Oct.  25.     Whole  of  1st  Alabama  cavalry  said  to  have  been  captured  near  Tolanda.  Miss. 

774      - 


1863 — Continued. 

Oct.  26.  Grant  starts  his  movement  to  relieve  Chattanooga.  Gen.  Hooker's  force 
crosses  the  Tenneessee  river,  nar  Bridgeport. 

Oct.  27.  Gen.  Hazen,  with  1,800  men  in  boats,  floats  by  rebel  pickets  on  Lookout 
Mountain  and  seizes  Brown's  Ferry.  Rebel  forces  move  to  retake  ferry.  Hooker  defeats 
the  rebels  at  Brown's  Ferry.  Arkadelphia,  Ark.,  occupied  by  Union  forces  about  this  date. 

Oct.  29.  Union  prisoners  from  Richmond,  in  a  state  of  starvation,  arrive  at  Annapolis; 
some  die  on  the  trip  from  Fortress  Monroe.  Sixty  rebels  taken  near  Columbia,  Tenn. 

Oct.  30.  Charleston,  Mo.,  robbed  by  guerrillas.  Guerrillas  routed  near  Piney  Fac- 
tory, Tenn.  Burnside's  forces  cross  the  river  at  Knoxville  and  occupy  London  Heights. 
Heavy  bombardment  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

Oct.  31.  Banks'  expedition  lands  at  Brazos  Island.  Plot  in  Ohio  to  overthrow  the 
Government  comes  to  light.  Rebel  cavalry  repulsed  at  Warrenton.  Gen.  Hooker  wins  an 
important  victory  at  Shell  Mound,  Tenn.  Fight  at  Leiper's  Ferry,  Tenn. 

Nov.  I.  Union  raid  in  northern  Alabama;  they  reach  Florence.  Skirmish  near  Wash- 
ington, N.  C.  Collision  on  Opelousas  Railroad;  16  soldiers  killed  and  65  wounded. 

Nov.  2.  Rebels  capture  two  trains  and  destroy  railroad  near  Mayfield,  Ky.  Rebels 
routed  at  Roan  Springs,  Tenn.  Unsuccessful  attempt  upon  Sumpter  by  a  boat  expedition. 

Nov.  3.  Rebel  cavalry  defeated  near  Columbia,  Tenn.  Rebels  attempt  to  capture 
Gen.  Sherman  at  Colliersville,  Tenn.,  and  are  defeated.  Rebel  Brig.-Gen.  Geary  captured. 
Gen.  Washburne's  advance  attacked. 

Nov.  4.  Banks'  expedition  take  peaceable  possession  of  Brownsville,  Texas.,  on  the 
Rio  Grande. 

Nov.  5.  Rebels  continue  to  shell  Chattanooga.  Skirmish  at  Motley's  Ford,  East  Ten- 
nessee. Union  camp  at  Rodgersville,  East  Tennessee,  surprised,  and  4  guns  and  nearly  800 
men  taken. 

Nov.  6.  Guerrillas  plunder  in  Blandville,  Ky.  Much  excitement  about  the  starvation 
of  Union  prisoners  at  Richmond. 

Nov.  7.  Meade's  army  begins  an  advance;  sharp  fighting  at  Kelly's  Ford  and  Rappa- 
hannock  Station;  the  rebels  driven  across  the  river.  Rebels  break  up  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  railroad  near  Salisbury.  Rebels  defeated  at  Lewisburg,  W.  Va. 

Nov.  8.  Meade  advances,  the  rebels  retiring  toward  Gordonsville.  Successful  recon- 
noissance  returns  from  Showan  River,  N.  C.  Banks'  expedition  in  possession  of  Brazos, 
Blenville  and  Point  Isabel. 

Nov.  9.  Skirmish  near  Culpepper;  Meade's  army  in  line  of  battle  all  day;  Lee  declines 
to  fight.  Rebel  dash  upon  Bayou  Sara.  La.  Fight  on  the  Little  Tennessee;  a  rebel  regi- 
ment repulsed,  with  50  killed  and  40  prisoners. 

Nov.  10.  Skirmishing  near  Culpepper.  Rebels  concentrate  along  the  south  bank  oi 
the  Rappidan.  Supposed  conspiracy  in  Canada  to  set  free  rebel  prisoners  on  Johnson's 
Island. 

Nov.  n.     Charleston  and  Fort  Sumpter  regularly  shelled  day  by  day. 

Nov.  12.     Union  meeting  held  in  Arkansas;  rebellion  dying  out. 

Nov.  13.     Rebel  foray  across  the  Potomac  at  Edward's  Ferry. 

Nov.  14.  Longstreet  crosses  the  Tennessee  and  attacks  Burnside,  who  retires  toward 
his  works  at  Knoxville.  Banks  captures  Corpus  Cristi  Pass.  Gen.  Sherman,  in  advance 
of  his  troops,  reaches  Chattanooga. 

Nov.  15.  Reconoissance  and  skirmish  on  the  Rapidan.  Skirmish  near  Holston,  Tenn.; 
Burnside  falls  back  to  Lenoir. 

Nov.  16.  Gen.  Sherman's  corps  forms  a  junction  with  Thomas  at  Chattanooga.  Fight- 
ing near  Mount  Jackson,  Va.  Burnside  falls  back  to  Bell's  Station. 

Nov.  17.  Seabrook  Island  occupied  by  Gillmore.  Charleston  again  shelled.  Burnside 
reaches  Knoxville. 

Nov.  18.  Skirmish  at  Germania  Ford,  Va.  Capture  of  Mus.tang  Island  by  Gen. 
Banks. 

Nov.   19.     Gettysburg  Cemetery  dedicated.     Fighting  at  Knoxville. 

Nov.  20.  Moseby's  guerrillas  in  Union  uniforms  attempt  to  capture  our  forces  at 
Bealton,  Va. ;  the  trick  discovered  in  time. 

Nov.  21.     Skirmishing  along  Burnside's  and  Longstreet's  lines. 

Nov.   22.     A   portion   of   Knoxville   burned;   the    city   closely   invested   by    Longstreet. 

775 


1863—  Continued. 

Successful  scouting  by  negro  troops  at  Pocotaligo,  S.  C. ;  a  grandson  of  John  C.  Calhoun 
killed. 

Nov.  2.3.  Gen.  Sherman's  troops  reach  Chattanooga.  Reconnoissance  in  force  by 
Gen.  Thomas  late  in  the  evening;  rebels  driven  back.  Guerrillas  whipped  in  Loudon 
county,  Va.  Gen.  Sherman  crosses  Tennessee  River  above  Chattanooga  at  night. 

Nov.  24.  Storming  and  capture  of  Lookout  Mountain;  Hooker's  "fight  above  the 
clouds";  defeat  of  Bragg.  Sherman  attacks  Missionary  Ridge.  Skirmish  near  Knoxville. 

Nov.  25.  Capture  of  Missionary  Ridge;  Bragg's  army  routed  and  driven  back  toward 
Ringgold.  Colored  troops  doing  good  service  in  North  Carolina.  Rebel  cavalry  repulsed 
at  Kingston,  Tenn. 

Nov.  26.  Bragg's  army  pursued  by  our  victorious  troops.  Meade's  army  crosses  the 
Rapidan  with  no  serious  opposition.  Sherman  starts  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville. 

Nov.  27.  Brisk  skirmishing  between  Meade  and  Lee;  heavy  fighting  on  the  left. 
Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry  whipped  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.  Moseby  captures  part  of  one  of 
Meade's  trains. 

Nov.  28.  John  Morgan  and  six  of  his  officers  escape  from  the  Ohio  penitentiary.  A 
rebel  battery  discovered,  built  behind  the  Moultrie  House  while  they  kept  a  hospital  flag 
flying  from  the  roof. 

Nov.  29.  Siege  of  Charleston  progresses  regularly.  Longstreet  attacks  Knoxville, 
and  is  repulsed  after  heavy  fighting. 

Dec.  i.  Meade's  army  recrosses  the  Rapidan  without  fighting  Lee,  greatly  to  the 
disappointment  of  the  public.  Gen.  Hooker  retires  from  Ringgold,  and  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  again  concentrates  at  Chattanooga. 

Dec.  2.     Bragg  superseded  by  Hardee  in  command  of  the  rebel  army  in  Georgia. 

Dec.  3.     Union  cavalry  make  a  foray  toward  Canton,  Miss. 

Dec.  4.     Longstreet  abandons  the  siege  of  Knoxville  and  marches  toward  Virginia. 

Dec.  6.  Chesapeake,  steamer,  seized  by  rebel  pirates  on  board;  engineer  shot  and 
crew  landed  at  St.  Johns.  Weehawken,  the  Monitor,  founders  at  Charleston  Harbor,  with 
all  on  board. 

Dec.  7.     Jefferson  Davis  issues  his  annual  message.     U.  S.  Congress  reassembles. 

Dec.  8.     President  Lincoln  issues  his  message  and  Proclamation  of  Amnesty. 

Dec.  n.     Fort  Sumpter  vigorously  bombarded  and  partly  set  on  fire. 
Dec.    14.     Bean    Station,    Va.,    Longstreet    attacks    Union    cavalry    under    Shackelford. 
Rebels  lose  800  killed  and  wounded;  Union  loss  200. 

Dec.  16.     Averill  destroys  fifteen  miles  of  Virginia  and  Tennesse  railroad. 

Dec.  17.  Sangster's  rebel  cavalry  attack  Meade's  communication  and  are  repulsed. 
Chesapeake  recaptured  in  Sambro  Harbor  by  the  Ella  and  Annie.  All  crew  but  three 
escape. 

Dec.  18.  Col.  Philips,  with  Indian  brigade,  beats  and  scatters  QuantrelFs  force  near 
Fort  Gibson,  killing  50. 

Dec.  19.     Fort  Gibson,  Ark.,  attacked  by  Standthwaite  with  1,600  men;  attack  repulsed. 

Dec.  22.  Gen.  Corcoran  killed  by  a  fall  from  his  horse.  An  expedition  from  Beaufort 
starts  inland  under  Gen.  Seymour.  An  expedition  of  one  white  and  three  colored  regi- 
ments starts  for  Red  River  from  Port  Hudson,  under  Gen.  Ullman. 

Dec.  23.  Union  raid  on  Luray.  Large  quantities  of  leather,  bac^ri,  etc.,  captured. 
Ferry  boat  at  Memphis  attacked  by  guerrillas,  who  killed  the  captain.  The  boat  escaped. 

Dec.  24.  Choctaw  Indians  and  their  chief  abandon  the  rebel  cause.  Christmas  Eve 
salue  of  shotted  guns  at  rebels  at  Charleston.  Reeves,  with  150  guerrillas,  surprise  Cen- 
terville,  Mo.,  and  captures  garrison  of  50  men,  3d  M.  S.  M.  Legareville,  S.  C.  attacked 
by  rebels,  who  are  driven  off. 

Dec.  25.  Pulaski,  Tenn.,  50  of  Forrest's  guerrillas  captured  by  Gen.  Dodge.  Gen. 
Sullivan's  expedition  from  Harper's  Ferry  returns  with  100  prisoners  and  100  horses.  Gen. 
Banks  establishes  Department  of  the  Frontier  on  the  Rio  Grande.  British  bark  Circassian 
seized  in  North  River  by  U.  S.  Marshal.  Gunboat  Marblehead  attacked  at  St.  John's 
Island  by  rebels  on  shore  with  battery,  and  were  repulsed;  loss,  3  killed,  5  wounded. 

Dec.  26.  Dr.  Segar,  Mr.  Perez  and  Mr.  Carter  sent  to  Fort  Lafayette  for  smuggling 
arms  to  rebels.  Dictator,  turreted  iron-clad,  launched  in  New  York; 

Dec.    28.     At    Charleston,    Tenn.,    rebel    Gen.    Wheeler,    with    1,500   men,    attack    Col. 

776 


1863—1864. 

Liebert  and  supply  train;  captures  the  latter;  Col.  Long  re-enforces  Liebert  and  rebels  are 
beaten,  losing  121  prisoners. 

Dec.  29.  Wheeler  captures  and  conscripts  all  stragglers.  Part  of  Union  train  captured 
by  rebels  at  Williamsport. 

Dec.  30.     Great  naval  expedition  leaves  New  Orleans,  supposed  for  Mobile. 

Dec.  31.  Seizure  of  large  quantity  of  Confederate  money  in  New  York  and  arrest  of 
printers.  McChesney's  expedition  meets  rebels  near  Washington,  N.  C.,  routs  them,  kills 
Lieutenant  and  five  men,  captures  one  cannon  and  ten  men. 

1864. 

Jan.  i.  Gov.  Bramlette  of  Kentucky  orders  five  rebel  sympathizers  to  be  arrested  for 
every  loyal  citizen  taken  by  guerrillas.  A  small  force  of  Union  pickets  are  driven  in  at 
Winchester. 

Jan.  2.  Major  Anthony  and  Lieutenant  Davis,  rebels,  sent  to  Fort  Warren  for  15 
years  for  recruiting  within  the  Union  lines.  Rebel  attack  on  Union  train  at  Moorfield  and 
Allegheny  Junction;  13  rebels  killed  and  20  wounded.  Union  guard,  one  company,  at  Pat- 
terson's Creek,  captured  by  500  rebel  cavalry;  next  day  are  retaken  and  cavalry  routed. 

Jan.  3.  Rebel  Sam  Jones  captures  300  Union  troops  at  Jonesville,  Va.,  killing  and 
wounding  60  of  them. 

Jan.  4.     Gen.  Grierson  is  pursuing  Forrest  south  of  Cold  Water. 

Jan.  6.  Kirby  Smith  placed  in  command  of  all  rebel  forces  (15,000)  west  of  Mississippi 
river.  Marmaduke  and  Price  are  at  Arkadelphia  and  Little  Rock,  with  7,000  men,  mostly 
cavalry. 

Jan.  8.  A  loyal  mass  meeting  held  at  New  Orleans  to  consider  formation  of  a  Free 
State  Government.  Fitzhugh  Lee  surrounds  and  is  beaten  from  Pittsburgh,  Va. 

Jan.  9.     Rebel  cavalry  conscripted  every  man  in   Cleveland,  Tenn. 

Jan.  10.  Sharp  cavalry  fight  at  Strawberry  Plains.  Rebels  repulsed  with  serious  loss. 
Rebel  Lieutenant  and  squad  of  men  desert  to  our  lines  from  Price's  army.  Cole's  battalion 
of  Maryland  cavalry  attacked  in  Virginia  by  Moseby,  with  400  rebels,  who  are  defeated 
with  loss  of  four  officers  and  man}'  men. 

Jan.  II.  Longstreet  is  fortifying  at  BulFs  Gap,  Tenn.;  his  force  34,000  infantry  and 
12,000  cavalry.  Gunboat  Iron  Age  aground  under  rebel  fire  at  Wilmington  harbor. 

Jan.  12.  Gen.  Marston  makes  an  extensive  raid  in  Virginia,  capturing  much  grain 
and  pork  and  other  rebel  property,  and  taking  25  prisoners,  many  horses,  mules,  sheep,  etc. 
Part  of  McCook's  cavalry  fight  with  8th  and  nth  Texas,  at  Mossy  Creek,  Tenn.,  killing  14 
arid  capturing  41. 

Jan.  14.  Two  hundred  rebels  attempt  to  capture  small  cavaJry  force  at  Three  Mile  Sta- 
tion, Va.,  and  are  repulsed.  Rebel  Gen.  Vance  captures  Union  supply  trains  near  Tems- 
ville;  is  pursued  by  Gen.  Palmer,  who  takes  him  and  officers  prisoners,  recaptures  train, 
150  horses,  arms,  etc.  Union  soldier  found  hanging  at  Smith  Mills,  Va.,  placarded.  Hung 
by  order  of  Gen.  Wild  in  retaliation.  Sturgis'  cavalry  drove  rebel  videttes  out  of  Bain- 
bridge,  but  fall  back,  enemy  being  in  strong  force  beyond. 

Jan.  17.  Scout  reports  3,000  rebels  at  Point  Pelee,  Canada,  preparing  for  a  dash  on 
Johnson's  Island.  Desperate  attack  on  our  lines  near  Bainbridge,  Tenn.  Rebels  ultimately 
defeated,  losing  heavily.  Union  army  fell  back  to  Strawberry  Plains. 

Jan.  18.     Fifteen  rebels  attack  Union  pickets  at  Flint  Hill,  Va.,  and  are  badly  beaten. 

Jan.  19.  Attempt  to  burn  Jefferson  Davis'  house  at  Richmond.  Sturgis'  forces  fall 
back  to  within  five  miles  of  Knoxville. 

Jan.  20.  Gen.  Woodbury  takes  an  expedition  to  Ponta  Rosa  to  cut  off  rebel  cattle  sup- 
plies from  Florida. 

Jan.  23.  Union  foray  at  Brandon  Farms  on  James  River,  captures  22  rebels,  7  signal 
men,  99  negroes;  destroys  24,000  pounds  pork;  captures  sloop,  schooner,  etc.,  without  losing 
a  man.  Union  raid  to  Lake  Phelps,  N.  C. ;  200,000  pounds  pork,  tobacco,  cotton,  horses, 
mules,  etc.,  captured  or  destroyed. 

Jan.  24.  Gen.  Rhoddy  driven  across  the  Tennessee  by  Union  forces;  loses  his  train, 
20  mule  teams,  200  beeves,  600  sheep  and  100  horses.  Four  rebel  gunboats  make  reconnois- 
sance  on  James. 

Jan.  25.     Major  Burroughs,  guerrilla  chief,  shot  while  escaping  from  Fortress  Monroe. 

777 


1864 —  Continued. 

Several  hospital  buildings  and  large  quantity  of  stores  burned  at  Camp  Winder,  near 
Richmond.  Corinth  evacuated  by  Union  forces,  and  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad 
abandoned  from  Lagrange  to  Memphis. 

Jan.  26.  Athens,  Tenn.,  taken  by  rebel  Gen.  Rhoddy.  Tazewell  attacked  by  400  rebel 
cavalry,  who  are  repulsed  by  garrison.  Johnson's  brigade  of  Rhoddy's  force  crossed  Ten- 
nessee River  at  Bainbridge;  are  repulsed  at  Alton;  rebel  loss  15  and  many  wounded;  Union 
loss  10  wounded. 

Jan.  27.  Col.  Borne  attacks  and  destroys  camp  of  Rebel  Home  Guards,  and  captures 
many  prisoners.  Sturgis  gains  decisive  victory  at  Sevierville,  over  rebel  cavalry;  65  rebels 
killed  and  wounded;  100  prisoners  and  2  guns  taken. 

Jan.  28.  A  large  meeting  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  restore  State  Government.  Gen. 
Palmer  reconnoiters  to  Tunnel  Hill,  drove  in  rebel  pickets,  captures  company  of  cavalry; 
32  rebels  killed.  Rebel  salt  works  destroyed  near  St.  Andrews'  Bay. 

Jan.  29.  Sturgis  drives  videttes  out  of  Danville,  Tenn.  Rebel  attempt  to  capture 
Cumberland  Gap  with  three  cavalry  brigades  repulsed  by  Col.  Love. 

Jan.  30.  Union  supply  train  captured  near  Petersburg  by  rebels.  Union  loss  80;  rebel 
loss  100. 

Jan.  31.  Over  7.300  deserters  from  Bragg  since  Oct.  20.  Hood's  army  retires  from 
Ringgold  and  Dalton. 

Feb.  I.  Rebel  column  in  NewT  Creek  Valley  repulsed  and  driven  two  miles.  Draft  of 
500.000  men,  on  March  10,  ordered  by  the  President.  Union  outposts  at  Bachelor's  Creek, 
near  Newbern,  attacked  by  15,000  rebels  and  captured  after  severe  fight. 

Feb.  2.  Gen.  Scammon  and  staff  captured  by  rebels  on  S.  S.  Levi.  Union  re-enforce- 
ments arrive  at  Newbern,  and  rebels  are  driven  back  to  Kinston.  Rebels  capture  and  blow 
up  S.  S.  Underwriter  at  Newbern,  N.  C.  Union  guard  at  Patterson  Creek  Bridge  captured 
after  brisk  fight  by  500  rebels,  who  are  beaten  next  day  by  re-enforcements  and  prisoners 
rescued. 

Feb.  3.  Smith's  cavalry  expedition  leaves  Corinth  for  interior  of  Mississippi  and  Ala- 
bama. Sherman,  with  25,000  men,  crosses  Big  Black  and  advances  to  Bolton;  slight  skir- 
mishing. Union  killed  12,  wounded  35;  rebel  loss  much  larger.  Lee's  rebel  cavalry  fleeing 
to  Canton. 

Feb.  4.  Early's  cavalry  driven  out  of  Moorfield,  and  hotly  pursued  by  Mulligan's  cav- 
alry. Rebel  battery  at  Clinton,  Miss.,  driven  off  with  loss;  Union  killed  15,  wounded  30. 
Winslow's  cavalry  at  Canton  capture  many  prisoners  and  one  gun. 

Feb.  5.  Early  retreats  towards  Shenandoah  Valley,  pursued  by  Gen.  Kelley.  Part  of 
Sherman's  expedition  attacked  on  Yazoo  by  3,000  rebels,  who  are,  after  a  sharp  fight,  routed. 
An  important  expedition  leaves  Port  Royal,  landing  at  Jacksonville,  Fla.,  under  Gen.  Sey- 
mour. Sherman's  expedition  reaches  Pearl  River.  Rebels  still  retreating.  Gen.  Loring 
crosses  Pearl  River,  joins  Gen.  French  and  reireats  to  Meridian. 

Feb.  6.  Gen.  Butler's  forces  marched  from  Yorktown  to  Bottom's  Bridge.  Recon- 
noissance  in  force  by  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  towards  Orange  Court  House,  main  force 
crossed  the  Rapidan. 

Feb.  7.  McPherson's  Corps  crosses  Big  Black  River;  Hurlbut's  Corps  crossed  five 
miles  above  McPherson,  an  expedition  up  the  Yazoo  co-operating.  Quallatown,  N.  C., 
surprised  and  rebel  Thomas  and  his  Indians  dispersed;  215  killed  and  wounded.  Rebels 
still  demonstrating  against  Newbern. 

Feb.  8.     Rebel  army  is  encamped  round  Tunnel  Hill,  Dalton  and  Rome. 

Feb.  9.  One  thousand  and  twenty-five  bales  of  cotton,  worth  $700,000,  burned  at 
Wilmington.  Rebels  fled  from  Jacksonville  after  burning  a  steamboat  and  270  bales  of 
cotton.  Gen.  Gillmore  captured  100  prisoners,  8  guns  and  much  property,  without  losing 
a  man. 

Feb.  10.     Col.  Streight  and  100  other  officers  escape  from  Libby  Prison  by  tunneling. 

Feb.  n.  Train  on  Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad,  10  miles  west  of  Harper's  Ferry, 
robbed  by  guerrillas.  Gens.  Grierson  and  Smith  set  out  on  an  extensive  raid  through 
Mississippi,  with  three  brigades. 

Feb.  12.     Moseby  attacks  pickets  at  Manassas.     Gen.  Smith's  expedition  reaches  Okona. 

Feb.  13.  Gov.  Bramlette  issues  proclamation  for  protection  of  fugitive  slaves;  the 
rebellion  of  their  masters  barring  claims  of  ownership. 

Feb.   14.     Capt.   Marshall,  4Oth  Massachusetts,  surprised   Gainsville,   Fla.     Is  attacked 

778 


- -Continued. 

by  large  force  of  rebels,  and  routed  them,  with  loss  of  100;  Union  loss  none;  rebel  loss  40. 
Rebel  Col.  Ferguson  surprised  in  Wayne  county,  W.  Va.,  losing  60  prisoners,  arms,  horses, 
supplies  and  ammunition,  and  releasing  500  Union  prisoners.  A  company  of  ist  Mississsippi 
Colored  regiment  surprised  near  Grand  Lake  by  guerrillas  in  Union  dress;  all  killed  but 
two;  some  shot  after  surrender.  Sherman'  expedition  occupies  Meridian;  destroys  the 
State  Arsenal  and  great  quantities  of  supplies  and  ammunition.  Smith's  expedition  destroys 
a  vast  quantity  of  rebel  corn  at  Egypt,  Miss. 

Feb.  14-21.  Sherman's  expedition,  while  at  Meridian,  sends  out  detachments  which 
devastate  Enterprise,  Marion,  Quitman,  Hillsboro,  Canton,  Lake  Station,  Decatur,  Bolton 
and  Lauderdale  Springs,  destroying  immense  quantities  of  stores  of  all  kinds. 

Feb.  14.  Cattle  depot  at  Waterproof,  La.,  garrison  of  400  negroes,  attacked  by  rebel 
infantry,  cavalry  and  artillery,  who  are  repulsed  three  times,  and  retire. 

Feb.  18.  Sherman's  army  arrives  at  Quitman,  Ga.,  without  opposition.  Housatonic, 
slooo-of-war,  sunk  at  Port  Royal  by  rebel  torpedo  boat.  Gen.  Seymour's  expedition  (4.500 
infantry,  400  cavalry  and  20  guns)  leaves  Jacksonville  and  reach  Baldwin  and  fortifies. 

Feb.  20.  Longstreet  retreats  from  Strawberry  Plains  via  Bull's  Gap.  Major  Cole 
surprises  Moseby  at  Piedmont,  taking  3  officers  and  14  men.  Seymour's  expedition  reaches 
Sanderson,  advances  six  miles  beyond,  is  attacked  by  15,000  rebels,  falls  back  two  miles  to 
Olustee,  and  here  forced,  after  terrible  slaughter,  to  retreat.  Two  negro  regiments,  54th 
Masssachusetts  and  1st  North  Carolina,  cover  the  retreat  and  save  the  army;  Union  loss 
1,500  and  many  guns;  rebel  loss  2.000.  Rev.  Dr.  Cox,  chaplain  25th  Regiment,  Corps 
D'Afrique,  about  this  date  taken  from  his  house  near  Donaldsonville,  La.,  and  hanged  by 
guerrillas.  Smith's  expedition  moves  on  West  Point,  where  Forrest,  Lee,  Chalmers  and 
R noddy  attack  them;  Smith  falls  back  slowly,  with  severe  fighting. 

Feb.  21.  Gen.  Palmer  occupies  Ringgold.  Smith's  forces  still  falling  back  toward 
Memphis.  Forrest  again  attacks  and  continues  fighting  until  the  23d,  when  he  is  repulsed 
with  great  loss  and  retreats. 

Feb.  22.  Moseby  defeats  150  Union  cavalry  near  Dranesville;  8  killed,  7  wounded,  75 
missing;  28  of  Moseby's  men  captured  at  Warrenton  by  Major  Cole.  Strong  Union  column 
advances  from  Chattanooga  toward  Tunnel  Hill.  Rebel  train  destroyed  near  Poplar  Bluffs, 
Mo.  Louisiana  State  election;  Michael  Hahn  elected  Governor  of  Louisiana  by  6,830  votes, 
against  Fellows  2,720,  and  B.  F.  Flanders  1,847. 

Feb.  26.  Grierson's  and  Smith's  forces  return  to  Memphis;  results  of  expedition  are 
200  rebel  prisoners,  1,500  negroes,  300  bales  of  cotton,  2,000  hides,  and  40  miles  of  Mobile 
and  Ohio  railroad  destroyed.  Tunnel  Hill  occupied  by  column  from  Chattanooga,  after 
heavy  skirmishing.  Fire  opened  upon  Fort  Powell  by  Farragut. 

Feb.  27.  Col.  Jourdan  makes  another  dash  into  Jones  and  Onslow  counties,  N.  C. ; 
captures  three  prisoners  and  destroys  stores  and  ammunition.  Sherman's  expedition  re- 
turns to  Vicksburg  after  22  days'  raid,  devastating  many  towns,  burning  bridges,  seizing 
or  destroying  vast  quantities  of  stores,  liberating  10,000  negroes,  taking  up  many  miles  of 
railroad  tracks,  and  taking  600  prisoners;  Union  loss,  170  killed  and  wounded. 

Feb.  28.  Col.  Richardson,  notorious  guerrilla,  captured  near  Cumberland  River.  Sey- 
mour's retreating  army  reaches  Baldwin,  which  it  evacuates,  burning  stores.  Gen.  Kii- 
patrick,  with  5,000  picked  men,  leaves  Culpepper  for  raid  on  Richmond;  crosses  the  Rapidan 
at  Ely's  Ford,  surprising  rebel  pickets  at  Spottsylvania  Court  House,  and  capturing  15  men 
and  2  officers. 

Feb.  29.  Kilpatrick's  expedition  passed  through  Louisa  Court  House,  to  Pamunkey 
Bridge,  destroying  as  he  went.  A  force  is  sent  by  Butler  to  re-enforce  him.  Expedition 
of  Custer's  cavalry  crosses  the  Rapidan  and  Rivanna,  destroys  an  artillery  camp,  burns 
caissons,  etc.,  and  recrosses  Rivanna  bridge,  burning  it.  Rebel  cavalry  charged  and  scat- 
tered at  Burton's  Ford  and  Stannardsville  roads,  an'd  Custer  safely  returns  with  60  prisoners, 
horses,  etc.  Rebels  in  force  attack  Newbern,  N.  C.  Garrison  ultimately  relieved  by  re- 
enforcements. 

March  I.  Rebel  Government  Salt  Works  at  St.  Marks,  Fla.,  destroyed  by  expedition 
from  gunboat  Tahoma.  Gen.  Thomas,  re-enforced,  marching  against  Dalton,  from  Tun- 
nel Hill. 

March  2.  Re-enforcements  reaching  Gen.  Seymour  at  Jacksonville.  Ferguson,  of 
Forrest's  cavalry,  makes  dash  into  Marysville,  Tenn.,  murders  an  old  man  in  cold  blood 
and  burns  his  farm. 

779 


1864 — Continued. 

March  3.  Kilpatrick's  expedition  moves  to  Williamsburg  to  rest.  Many  prisoners  and 
stores  captured  and  destroyed  during  this  raid. 

March  4.  Col.  Dahlgren  murdered.  Kilpatrick  returns  within  Union  lines,  having 
destroyed  large  portion  of  Virginia  Central  railroad  and  penetrated  to  outer  fortifications 
of  Richmond;  loss  150  men,  including  Col.  Dahlgren. 

March  5.  Rebel  cavalry  still  scouring  country  east  of  Knoxville.  Gen.  Custer,  with 
500  men,  crosses  Ely's  Ford,  drives  rebel  pickets  and  scouts  several  miles  without  opposi- 
tion. Rebel  cavalry,  in  force,  attack  93  of  3d  Tenn.  at  Panther  Springs,  Union  loss,  2 
killed,  8  wounded,  22  prisoners.  Rebel,  30  killed  and  wounded.  Battle  in  Yazoo  City,  be- 
tween nth.  111.  and  8th  La.,  and  4  rebel  brigades.  Rebels  defeated  with  considerable  loss, 
Union  killed,  6;  wounded,  20. 

March  6.  Gunboat  Peterhoff  sunk  off  Wilmington.  23  Union  soldiers  captured  from 
Gen.  Foster's  command,  hung  by  rebels  at  Kinston — one  was  adrummer  boy  15  years  old. 
Sherman's  main  army  at  Jackson,  commencing  to  cross  Pearl  River. 

March  7.  Thomas's  advance  withdrawn  from  Tunnel  Hill  to  Ringgokl.  C.  L.  Valland- 
igham  advises  rioting  in  retaliation.  Sherman's  Cavalry  enter  Brandon,  after  skirmishing, 
and  camp  2  miles  east. 

March  8.  Rebel  cavalry  driven  from  camp  near  Carrolton.  Grain  mills  and  stores 
burned.  New  York  carries  soldiers  vote  amendment  bill  by  popular  election,  by  over 
90,000  majority. 

March  9.  Sherman  at  Millsboro.  Forty  of  30th  Pa.  cavalry  captured  by  guerillas  at 
Bristow  Station,  Va. 

March  10.  Suffolk,  Va.,  captured  by  Union  forces.  Rebel  loss,  25;  Union  loss,  10.  A 
naval  expedition  from  Brashear  City  captures  camp,  arms,  flag  on  Atchafalaya  River.  Pilat- 
ka  occupied  by  Union  forces.  Red  River  expe'dition  embarks  at  Vicksburg. 

March  12.     Gen.  Grant  appointed  Commander-in-Chief  of  armies  of  the  United  States. 

March  13.     Indianola  evacuated  by  our  troops.     Gen.  Smith's  army  at  Semmesport. 

March   14.     Fort  DeRussy  captured. 

March  15.  President  calls  for  200,000  men.  Rebel  plot  to  assassinate  President  Lin- 
coln. Sherman  repulses  rebels  near  Chunky  Creek. 

March  15.  Gov.  Bramlette  remonstrates  against  employment  of  slaves.  Battle  near 
Fort  Pillow,  rebels  defeated,  loss,  50  killed  and  wounded.  Arkansas  votes  herself  ,a  free 
State.  Gens.  Smith  and  Banks  at  Alexandria,  rebels  retreat  to  Shreveport  and  burn  2 
steamers  with  3,000  bales  cotton. 

March  17.     Fort  DeRussy  blown  up. 

March  19.     Rebel  attack  on  Fort  Royal  fails. 

March  21.  Gen.  Mower  captures  rebel  camp  at  Henderson's  Hill,  228  prisoners,  guns, 
etc.  Rebel  raid  on  Magnolia.  Gen.  Mower  captures  200  rebels,  with  four  guns  and  cais- 
sons, at  Natchitoches.  Banks  captures  306  rebels  near  Alexandria. 

March  24.     Unitm  City,  Mo.,  and  garrison,  attacked  by  Forrest. 

March  25.     Owen  Lovejoy  died,  aged  53. 

March  26.  Forrest  sacks  Paducah,  Ky.,  but  repulsed  from  fort  by  Col.  Hicks,  with 
white  and  colored  troops  four  times,  and  finally  retires.  Union  loss,  12  killed,  40  wounded. 
Rebel  loss,  150  to  300  killed  and  wounded.  Franklin,  La.,  evacuated  by  our  forces.  Col. 
Clayton  destroys  bridge  at  Longview,  Ark.,  captures  370  men,  35  wagons,  300  horses,  and 
$60,000  Confederate  money.  Sherman's  army  moves  to  Canton  and  encamps. 

March  28.  Louisiana  State  Convention  to  revise  Constitution  meets  at  New  Orleans. 
Battle  of  Cane  River.  Rebels  defeated. 

March  30.  Natchitoches  captured  by  Gen.  Lee.  Battle  of  Monticello.  Copperhead 
riot  at  Charleston  and  Mattoon,  111. 

March  31.     Rebels  defeated  at  Crump's  Hill  (Piney  Woods). 

April  i.  S.  S.  Maple  Leaf  blown  up  by  torpedo  at  St.  John's  River.  Rebel  Ram  Ten- 
nessee sunk  near  Grant's  pass. 

April  2.  Shelby  defeated  by  Steele  near  Camdon.  Grierson's  cavalry  engages  Forrest 
near  Summerville,  and  falls  back. 

April  4.  Col.  Gooding  engages  Harrison's  guerillas  at  Campti,  and  withdraws  with  loss. 
Marmaduke  defeated  by  Steele  on  Little  Mo.  New  York  Metropolitan  Sanitary  Fair 
opened. 

April  5.     Banks'  Texas  expedition  at  Grand  Ecore. 

780 


1864 —  Continued, 

April  6.  Fort  Halleck,  Columbus,  Ky.,  attacked  by  rebel  Gen.  Buford,  surrender  re- 
fused by  Col.  Lawrence.  Maryland  Constitutional  Convention  on  Slavery  met. 

April  8.  Battle  of  Pleasant  Hill.  Stoneman  defeated.  Gen.  Franklin's  command  of 
Bank's  expedition  defeated  at  Mansfield,  La.,  losing  24  guns  and  nearly  2,000  men,  and 
falling  back  to  Grand  Ecore.  Gen.  Smith,  next  day,  relieved  Franklin  and  defeated  rebels 
at  Grand  Ecore,  and  captured  36  guns  and  2,000  prisoners.  Shelbyville  entered  by  40  guer- 
rillas. 

April  10.     Cape  Lookout  Lighthouse  seized  by  40  rebels. 

April   ii.     Banks  retires  to   Grand  Ecore. 

April  12.  Capture  of  Fort  Pillow  and  murder  of  garrison.  Admiral  Porter's  Red  River 
expedition  attacked  by  2,000  rebels  on  shore,  who  are  beaten  off.  Horrible  murder  of  a 
farmer  by  guerrillas  at  Osage  River. 

April  13.  New  York  Soldiers  Voting  Bill  passed  New  York  Senate.  Yeas,  29;  nays, 
none. 

April  14.  Gunboat  expedition  from  Butler's  army  capture  stores  and  prisoners  at 
Smithfield,  Va. 

April  15.     Chenango,  gunboat,  exploded. 

April  16.     Gunboat  Eastpor.t,  sunk  by  snag  above  Grand  Ecore. 

April  18.  Rebel  attack  upon  Fort  Wessell,  gunboat  Southfield  sunk.  Com.  Flusser 
killed  and  most  of  the  crew  drowned.  Ram  also  destroys  the  gunboat  Bombshell.  Balti- 
more Sanitary  Fair  opened. 

April  19.  Guerrillas  driven  from  Burksville.  Transports  and  gunboats  aground  above 
Grand  Ecore. 

April  20.     Plymouth,  N.  C.,  surrendered  to  rebels  by  Gen.  Wessells  after  severe  loss. 

April  21.  North  Carolina  Salt  Works,  worth  $100,000,  near  Wilmington,  destroyed. 

April  22.     Forrest  moving  towards  Alabama,  followed  by  Grierson. 

April  23.  Rebels  capture  and  kill  pickets  at  Nickajack.  N.  Y.  Metropolitan  Sanitary 
Fair  closed.  Sword  voted  to  Grant  by  30,291,  against  14,509  for  McClellan.  Gunboat  Pet- 
rel burned  by  Wirt  Adams'  cavalry. 

April  24.     Battle  at  Cane  River.      Rebel  loss,  1,000  men  and  9  guns. 

April  25.  Train  of  240  wagons  and  4  regiments  escorting,  captured  by  6,000  rebels 
near  Pine  Bluffs,  Ark. 

April  28.     Little  Washington,  N.  C.,  evacuated  by  Union  troops. 

May  3.  Grant's  army  moves  across  the  Rapidan,  towards  Chancellorsville  and  the 
Wilderness. 

May  5.  Lee  desperately  attacks  right,  left,  and  center  with  indecisive  results,  Grant's 
army  remaining  in  position  with  headquarters  in  advance  of  the  Wilderness. 

May  6.  Lee  resumes  attack  at  dawn,  and  continues  all  day,  but  finally  withdrawing,  our 
troops  holding  their  old  formation.  Loss,  this  and  previous  day,  about  15,000  men  on  each 
side.  Gunboat  Com.  Jones  blown  up  by  torpedo  on  James  River. 

May  7.  Lee  moved  to  his  second  line  on  the  North  Anna.  A  severe  battle  at  Todd's 
Tavern,  between  Custer's  and  rebel  cavalry.  Loss,  250  each  side.  Lee  made  several  at- 
tacks during  the  day,  falling  back  after  each;  part  of  our  army  reaching  Fredericksburg. 
Tazewell  Salt  Works  destroyed  by  Averill.  Tunnel  Hill,  Ga.,  taken  by  Gen.  Thomas. 
Railroad  from  Petersburg  to  Richmond  cut  off. 

May  8.  Pursuit  of  Lee  continued,  with  continual  fighting,  Hancock  and  Burnside 
camping  20  miles  from  Wilderness  battle-field. 

May  9.  Severe  fighting  with  great  mutual  loss,  Hancock  finally  withdrawing  and  Lee 
holding  Spottsylvania  and  the  region  north. 

May  9.  Battle  of  Cloyd  Mountain.  Rebels  lose  3  guns  and  many  prisoners.  U.  S. 
Transport  H.  A.  Wood,  blown  up  by  torpedo  near  Jacksonville,  Fla.  Sheridan's  cavalry 
destroy  rebel  station  at  Beaver  Dam,  with  cars,  immense  stores,  etc.,  and  recapturing  378 
Union  prisoners.  Gen.  Sedgwick  killed  by  sharpshooters. 

May  10.  Battle  of  Spottsylvania.  Grant's  whole  line  assaults,  part  of  6th  Corps  car- 
ries enemies  works,  captures  1,000  prisoners  and  several  guns,  and  withdraws  with  them. 
Loss  on  this  day,  10,000  on  each  side.  Thos.  Butler  King  died.  Crooke  attacked  rebels 
near  Newbern,  burned  bridge,  captured  7  guns  and  many  prisoners.  Averill  whips  Gen. 
Sam  Jones  at  Wytheville,  and  destroys  railroad  from  Blacksburg  to  Christiansburg.  Yazoo 
City  captured  by  Gen.  McArthur. 

781 


1864 — Continued. 

May  ii.  Sheridan's  whole  command  get  between  ist  and  2d  rebel  line  at  Richmond, 
and  withdraw  after  destroying  Ashland  Station,  etc.  Butler  entrenches  at  Bermuda  Hun- 
dred. Grant  telegraphs  the  President:  "I  propose  to  fight  it  out  on  this  line,  if  it  takes 
all  summer." 

May  12.     Rebel  position  at  Dalton  carried  and  held  by  Sherman. 

May  13.  Lee  fell  slightly  back  to  new  defenses.  McPherson  captured  9  trains  with 
rebel  military  stores  from  Dalton. 

May  14.  Dalton,  Ga.,  occupied  by  4th  Corps.  Butler  at  Drury's  Bluff.  Army  in  Va. 
Gen.  Smith  carries  rebel's  front  line.  n.-i/.  Hancock  carries  but  relinquishes  first  line 
of  rebel  intrenchments.  Union  loss  1,200. 

May  15.  Battle  of  Resaca,  Ga.  At  night  rebels  evacuate  the  town.  Battle  of  Newmar- 
ket, Sigel  defeated.  Rocky-faced  Ridge  taken  by  Sherman. 

May  16.  Attempt  to  seize  California  steamer  Ocean  Queen.  Gen.  Johnston  in  re- 
treat to  Atlanta.  Admiral  Porter's  fleet  above  Alexandria  Falls.  La.,  released  by  Lieut. - 
Col.  Bailey's  dam. 

May  17.     South  Carolina  Union  Convention  meet  at  Beaufort. 

May  18,  Ewell  attacks  Union  baggage  train  in  rear  of  Grant's  right  flank,  but  is 
finally  repulsed. 

May  19.  Blackiston's  Island  Lighthouse  destroyed  by  rebels.  19-24.  Grant  placed  his 
whole  army  across  the  North  Anna  and  approached  the  South  Anna. 

May  20.  Torpedoes  explode  at  Bachelor  Creek,  many  New  York  soldiers  killed  and 
wounded.  Sherman  in  possession  of  Kingston  and  Rome,  Ga.  Rebels  attack  Ames' 
Division  of  Butler's  army.  Heavy  loss  on  both  sides. 

May  23.     U.  S.  Tugboat  Columbine  captured  on  St.  John's  River,  Florida,  by  rebels. 

May  24.  Rebels  destroy  bridge  over  North  Anna.  Sheridan  destroys  Danville  Rail- 
road near  Richmond.  Fitzhugh  Lee  repulsed  at  Wnson's  Wharf  by  negroes  under  Gen. 
Wild.  Sherman  flanks  Johnston  at  Altoona,  Ga. 

May  25.  Battle  near  Dallas,  Ga.  Hooker  drives  rebels  2  miles.  Union  loss,  1,500; 
rebel,  about  same.  Gen.  Birney  ascends  the  Ashepoo  River.  S.  S.  Boston  grounds  and  is 
abandoned. 

May  26.  Grant's  army  moves  towards  Hanovertown.  Louisiana  State  Convention 
abolishes  slavery. 

May  27.  Eight  steamers  and  several  river  craft  burned  at  New  Orleans  Levee,  by  in- 
cendiaries. Lee  evacuates  position  on  South  Anna,  and  retreats  towards  Richmond.  Sher- 
idan captures  and  holds  Hanovertown  and  Ferry. 

May  28.  Longstreet  attacks  Sherman  at  Dallas,  and  is  driven  towards  Marietta. 
Rebel  loss,  2,500  killed  and  wounded,  and  300  prisoners.  Union  loss,  300. 

May  29.     Grant's  army  crosses  the  Pamunkey. 

May  30.  Trains  of  refugees  burned  near  Salem,  Ark. ;  80  men  and  several  women 
killed.  Lee  attacks  Grant  north  of  Chickahominy,  is  repulsed;  Hancock  drives  him  out  of 
intrenched  line  of  rifle  pits  and  holds  it. 

May  31.  Grant's  and  Lee's  armies  confronting  each  other  from  Hanover  Court  House 
to  Cold  Harbor. 

June  i.  Expedition  from  Memphis  under  Gen.  Sturgis  defeated,  with  loss  of  wagon 
train,  artillery  and  ammunition.  Rebel  attacks  at  Cold  Harbor  repulsed.  Rebels  twice  at- 
tack Butler,  and  are  repulsed. 

June  2.     Schofield  and  Hooker  at  Marietta.  Ga.     Cavalry  take  Allatoona  Pass. 

June  3.     Battle  of  Cold  Harbor. 

June  4.  Rebel  night  attack  upon  Hancock  repulsed.  Grant's  cavalry  defeated  Hamp- 
ton's cavalry  at  Howes'  Store. 

June  5.  Rebel  attack  on  left  (Hancock's)  repulsed.  Sherman  forces  Johnson  to  evac- 
uate his  lines  in  the  night.  Marmadukc,  with  3,000  men,  defeated  at  Columbia,  Ark.  Bat- 
tle of  Piedmont,  Va.  Rebel  loss,  1,500  prisoners,  3,000  stand  of  arms,  3  guns  and  stores, 
and  a  large  number  of  killed  and  wounded. 

June  6.  Rebel  midnight  attack  on  Burnside  repulsed.  Sherman's  headquarters  at 
Acworth,  Allatoona  Pass  made  base  of  supplies. 

June  7.  The  9th  Corps,  on  Grant's  right,  attacked  briskly,  and  rebels  driven  back. 
Morgan,  with  3,000  men,  commence  a  raid  into  Kentucky.  Philadelphia  Sanitary  Fair 
opens. 

782 


1864 — Continued. 

June  8.  Paris,  Ky.,  taken  by  a  portion  of  Morgan's  forces.  Sherman's  whole  army 
moves  forward  toward  the  Kenesaw  range.  McPherson  occupies  Big  Shanty,  and  rebels 
fall  back  with  left  on  Lost  Mountain  and  right  on  Kenesaw.  Blair  reinforces  Sherman  with 
9,000  men.  Gillmore's  raid  on  Richmond  fortifications. 

June  9.     Gen.  Burbridge  defeats  rebels  at  Mt.  Sterling,  Ky. 

June  10.  Gen.  Sturgis  defeated  by  Forest  at  Pontotoc,  Miss.,  raid  against  railroads  a 
failure.  Frankfort,  Ky.,  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  1,200  rebels.  Lexington,  Ky.,  robbed 
by  Morgan.  Rebel  guerrillas  repulsed  at  Princton,  Ky.  Gen.  Hunter,  with  Crook  and 
Averill,  moves  from  Staunton,  Va.,  after  destroying  over  three  million  dollars  worth  of 
rebel  property. 

June  ii.     Surrender  of  Cynthiana,  Ky.,  to  Morgan.     Battle  of  Trevillian  Station;  rebels 
badly  beaten  by  Sheridan. 

June  12.  Gen.  Burbridge  defeats  and  scatters  Morgan  at  Cynthiana,  with  great  loss. 
Grant  crosses  the  Chickahominy. 

June  13.     Sheridan  recrosses  the  North  Anna. 

June  14.  Grant's  army  crosses  to  south  of  the  James.  Sherman's  entrenchment  in 
front  of  Kenesaw,  and  Pine  Mountains  10  miles  long.  Rebel  Gen.  Polk  killed  by  cannon 
fire  on  Pine  Mountain. 

June  15.  Battle  of  Baylor's  Farm,  Va.;  16  rebel  guns  and  300  prisoners  taken.  Sher- 
man advances  line  and  captures  many  prisoners. 

June  17.  Burnside  captures  6  guns  and  400  prisoners.  Rebels  abandon  their  intrench- 
ments  in  front  of  Bermuda  Hundred,  and  Butler  takes  railroad  between  Richmond  and 
Petersburg. 

June  18.  Grant  assaults  rebel  works  and  fails.  Loss,  in  four  days,  over  10,000.  Rebels 
place  50  Union  officers  under  fire  at  Charleston. 

June  19.  Beauregard  re-occupies  Bermuda  Hundred  and  repairs  railroad.  The  pirate 
Alabama,  Capt.  Semmes,  sunk  off  Cherbourg  by  the  U.  S.  S.  Kearsage,  Capt.  John  A.  Win- 
slow.  Semmes  aided  to  escape  by  a  British  yacht. 

June  20.     Fitzhugh  Lee  and  Hampton  repulsed  at  White  House,  Va. 

June  21.  Foster  crosses  James  River  and  intrenches  between  Aiken's  Landing  and 
Four  Mile  Creek.  Second  Corps  attacks  Davis'  Farm  unsuccessfully.  Rebels  assault 
Sherman  right  under  Hooker  and  are  repulsed,  losing  heavily.  Slemmons'  Rebel  Cavalry 
defeated  at  Pine  Bluffs. 

June  22.  Battle  on  Weldon  Road,  Barlow  flanked,  and  losing  about  2,000  prisoners,  4 
guns,  and  some  flags.  Wilson  and  Kautz  capture  2  rebel  trains  at  Ford's  Station. 

June  23.  Shelby  destroys  U.  S.  gunboat  Queen  City.  Unsuccessful  attack  on  Weldon 
railroad.  Union  loss  heavy.  Kautz  destroys  railroad  junction  at  Burksville. 

June  24.  Pillow  attacks  and  beaten  off  from  Lafayette,  £a.,  with  much  loss.  Rebels 
attack  and  are  beaten  by  Sheridan  at  White  House.  Wilson  and  Kautz  moved  on  to  de- 
stroy 18  miles  of  Danville  Railroad.  Battle  of  Staunton  Bridge,  Wilson  and  Kautz  re- 
pulsed. 

June  25.     Night  attack  on  Burnside's  front  repulsed.     Sheridan  rejoined  Grant. 

June  26.     Rebel  force  (800)  all  killed  or  captured  by  expedition  from  Fort  Smith,  Ark. 

June  27.  Sherman  makes  attack  on  Kenesaw  Mountain  with  McPherson  and  Thomas' 
armies  line  of  attack  10  miles  long.  Attack  unsuccessful,  loss,  2.500  men.  Gen.  Carr  de- 
feats Shelby  near  St.  Charles,  Mo.,  capturing  200  prisoners  and  guns  recently  captured 
Queen  City.  Union  loss,  200  killed  and  wounded.  Rebel  loss,  killed  and  wounded,  500. 

June  28.  Gen.  Carrington  reports  particulars  of  Northwestern  conspiracy.  Sherman 
begins  again  to  flank  Johston  at  Kenesaw  Mountain.  Battle  of  Stoney  Creek.  At  night 
Wilson  and  Kautz  retreat  to  Reams. 

June  29.  Battle  of  Ream's  Station.  Kautz  and  Wilson  defeated  and  retreat  in  confu- 
sion. Union  loss  over  1,000. 

June  30.  Kautz's  force  reaches  Grant's  lines  terribly  exhausted.  Johnston  evacuates 
Kenessw  Mountain.  Salmon  P.  Chase  resigned. 

July  i.  Wilson's  main  force  reaches  Grant's  lines,  having  lost  all  their  guns,  ambu- 
lance and  wagon  trains,  wounded  and  sick.  Gen.  Foster  attacks  Seabrook,  Johns  and 
James  Islands.  Rebel  fort  captured  on  James  Island.  Col.  Hoyt  and  137  men  captured  at 
Johnston's  Island.  W.  P.  Fessenden  accepts  Secretaryship  of  Treasury. 

July  2.     McPherson  at  night  commences  flank  movement  against  Kenesaw  Mountain. 

783 


1864 — Continued. 

Gen.  Johnson  discovers  the  movement  and  abandons  Kenesaw  and  Marietta.  Sherman 
pursues.  Ewell  invades  Shenandoah  Valley  with  three  columns.  Martinsburg  evacuated. 

July  3.  Sigel  falls  back  to  Harper's  Ferry.  Winchester  taken  by  rebels,  and  travel  on 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad  stopped.  Sherman  occupies  Marietta. 

July  4.  Sherman  fights  Battle  of  Smyrna.  Gen.  Noyer  loses  leg.  Moseby's  Cavalry 
crossed  the  Potomac  at  Point  of  Rocks.  Mulligan  evacuates  Bolivar  Heights  and  Harper's 
Ferry.  Sigel,  Stahel,  and  Mulligan  fortify  and  hold  Maryland  Heights. 

July  5.  Elliott's  marine  colored  brigade  attacked  by  rebels  near  Port  Hudson;  beat 
them  off.  Loss,  150  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  Sherman  reaches  Chattahoochie  River, 
finds  enemy  entrenched  on  both  sides. 

July  6.     Hagerstown  evacuated  by  Union  forces. 

July  7.  Gen.  Wallace's  reconnoissance  repulsed  near  Middletown;  Hagerstown  again 
plundered.  Johnston  returns  across  the  Chattahoochie.  Rebel  raid  hold  Harper's 
Ferry. 

July  8.  Gen.  Wallace  evacuates  and  rebels  rob  Frederick.  Parkville,  Mo.,  sacked  by 
150  Bushwhackers. 

July  9.  Battle  of  Monocacy.  Wallace  defeated,  losing  over  1,000.  Rebels  capture 
Westminster.  Couch  re-occupies  Hagerstown,  and  Hunter  Frederick,  Md. 

July  10.  Rebels  plunder  Darnestown  and  Reistertown,  and  tear  up  Northern  Central 
Railroad  at  Cockeysville  and  Texas.  A  portion  of  them  enter  and  rob  Rockville,  Md.;  the 
main  body  moving  toward  Washington.  Gen.  Rosseau  leaves  Decatur,  with  2,700  men,  on 
a  raiding  expedition  in  Hood's  rear.  Johnston  retreats  to  fortifications  around  Atlanta. 

July  ii.  Magnolia  station  and  trains  captured.  Gen.  Franklin  captured  in  one  of  the 
cars,  but  escapes  next  day.  Rebel  salt  works  at  Tampa  Bay  destroyed.  Rebel  stores,  tor- 
pedoes, etc.,  destroyed  at  Dutch  Gap. 

July  12.  Rebel  raid  7  miles  from  Washington.  Rebels  driven  from  before  Fort 
Stevens,  Washington,  with  considerable  loss.  Five  rebel  cotton  factories  destroyed  at  Ross- 
wells. 

July  13.  Rebel  raiders  cross  into  Virginia,  in  full  retreat,  with  their  plunder.  This 
and  two  following  days,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith  and  Gen.  Mower  with  two  divisions  of  Army  of 
Tennessee  just  returned  from  Texas,  defeat  Forrest  in  continuous  battle,  driving  him  from 
Pontotoc  to  Tupelo,  and  killing  over  2,000.  Union  loss,  300.  •  Rosseau  defeats  5,000  rebels 
under  Clanton,  near  Coosce  "River,  Ga. 

July  15.  Rebels  take  5,000  cattle  and  1,000  horses  from  Montgomery  Co.,  and  drove 
them  into  Virginia. 

July  16.  Sherman's  army  completed  crossing  the  Chattahoochie  in  pursuit  of  John- 
ston. 

July  17.  Col.  Jacquess  and  Mr.  Gilmore  visit  Jeff.  Davis  at  Richmond.  Wirt  Adams 
defeated  at  Grand  Gulf,  with  very  heavy  loss. 

July  18-20.  Crook  defeated  at  Island  Ford  by  Breckenridge;  loss,  300.  Gen.  Duffie 
defeated  at  Ashby's  Gap,  losing  200.  Gen.  Crook  badly  whips  Early  at  Snicker's  Gap,  cap- 
turing 300  wagons  with  grain,  and  many  prisoners.  Battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  near  At- 
lanta. Rebels  repulsed.  Union  loss,  1,713;  Rebel  loss,  much  heavier,  including  3  gen- 
erals. Averill  attacked  and  defeated  Early  and  his  5,000  men  near  Winchester,  Va.,  killing 
and  wounding  300,  captures  4  guns  and  200  prisoners.  Early  re-enforced  and  repulsed 
Union  troops.  Rebel  camp,  flag  stores,  etc.,  captured  at  Gonzales,  Texas. 

July  21.     Henderson,  Ky.,  attacked  by  rebels  700  strong. 

July  22.  Hood  again  assaults  Sherman's  lines  round  Atlanta  with  great  vigor.  Gen. 
McPherson  killed.  Gen.  Logan  assumes  command  of  army  of  Tennessee  and  gains  a 
great  victory. 

July  23-24.  Averhill  defeated  at  Winchester;  fell  back,  concentrating  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  Steamer  Clara  Bell  burned  by  Guerrillas  at  Carrolton  Landing. 

July  26.  Gen.  Ed.  McCook  destroys  Macon  and  Western  Railroad,  Ga.,  and  500 
wagons;  captures  500  prisoners;  is  overtaken  by  rebels  and  defeated,  losing  all  of  his  pris- 
oners and  over  1,000  of  his  own  men. 

July  28.     Rebel  stores  at  Winton,  Mason's  Mill,  and  Coleraine,  destroyed. 

July  30.  Mine  exploded  under  portion  of  rebel  works  at  Petersburg.  Two  assaults 
made,  but  attack  finally  abandoned  with  loss  of  over  4,000.  Chambersburg  robbed  and 
burned  by  rebels. 

784 


1864—  Continued. 

Aug.  I.  Bradley  Johnson  and  McCausland  defeated  at  Cumberland,  losing  part  of  their 
plunder  from  Pennsylvania. 

Aug.  2.  Col.  Stout,  with  500  men,  posted  to  intercept  retreat  of  McCausland  and  John- 
son, is  captured  by  them,  losing  90  men. 

Aug.  4.     Bradley  Johnson  and  McCausland  defeated  at  New  Creek. 

Aug.  5.     Farragut's  great  victory  at  Mobile  Bay. 

Aug.  6.  Schofield's  Twenty-third  Corps  of  Sherman's  army  unsuccessfully  attacks  rebel 
lines  before  Atlanta,  losing  over  500  men. 

Aug.  7.  Gen.  Sheridan  assumed  command  of  Middle  Military  Division.  Battle  of  Moor- 
field.  Combined  forces  of  McCausland,  Johnson,  Gillmore,  and  McNeil  totally  defeated  by 
Averill. 

Aug.  8.  Fort  Gaines,  Mobile  Bay,  surrendered.  .  Entire  rebel  force  evacuate  Mary- 
land side  of  the  Potomac.  Gen.  Burris  returns  to  New  Madrid  after  a  17  days'  scout  in  S. 
E.  Mo.  and  N.  E.  Ark.  Result,  50  rebels  killed,  40  wounded,  57  prisoners;  horses,  arms, 
etc.,  captured. 

Aug.  9.  Gen.  Butler  commences  Dutch  Gap  Canal.  Explosion  of  an  ordnance  boat 
at  City  Point. 

Aug.  10.  Sheridan's  advance  reach  Berryville.  Atlanta  bombarded  by  Sherman's 
forces. 

Aug.  ii.     Battle  of  Sulphur  Springs  Bridge. 

Aug.  12.     Northern  frontier  of  New  York  threatened  by  invasion  from  Canada. 

Aug.  13.  Moseby  attacks  Sheridan's  supply  train  near  Snicker's  Gap.  Rebel  cavalry 
captured  5  steamers,  with  Government  cattle,  at  Shawneetown,  111. 

Aug.  14.  Battle  of  Strawberry  Plains.  Tenth  Corps  take  rebel  line  of  breastworks,  4 
guns  and  100  prisoners.  Dalton  attacked  by  Wheeler  with  5,000  men;  defended  by  Siebold 
with  400  men. 

Aug.  15.  Gen.  Steadman  re-enforces  Dalton,  and  rebels  are  driven  out  of  town  in  con- 
fusion. Kilpatrick  cuts  R.  R.  at  West  Point,  Ga.,  also  Road  at  Fairburn,  and  burned  depot. 
Tenth  Corps  threaten  Malvern  Hill,  Va. 

Aug.  16.     Battle  of  Deep  Run. 

Aug.  18.     Battle  of  Six  Mile  Station,  on  Weldon  Railroad. 

Aug.  19.  Rebels  attack  at  Six  Mile  Station,  taking  1,500  prisoners.  Total  Union  loss, 
3.000.  Martinsburg  looted  by  rebels. 

Aug.  20.     Guerrillas  raid  on  Woodburn  and  set  fire  to  depot. 

Aug.  21.  Rebels  attack  Union  position  on  Weldon  Road,  and  after  great  loss  withdraw. 
Union  loss  about  600.  Battle  of  Summit  Point.  Early  driven  two  miles.  Memphis  en- 
tered by  Forrest  with  9  regiments  and  4  guns;  took  250  prisoners.  Union  force  arriving 
Forrest  left;  was  overtaken  near  Lanes',  and  severely  punished  in  a  two  hours'  battle. 

Aug.  22.  Rebel  force  on  Weldon  Road  withdrawn  from  front  of  5th  and  9th  Corps,  and 
intrenches  3  miles  from  Petersburg.  Rebel  Johnson's  force  whipped  at  Canton,  Ky.,  by 
Col.  Johnson,  and  himself  killed. 

Aug.  23.  Rebels  fallen  back  to  their  lines  2  miles  from  Petersburg.  Fort  Morgan  sur- 
rendered. Shelby  captures  nearly  all  54th  111.  near  Duvall's  Bluff. 

Aug.  24.     Clinton,  Miss.,  taken  by  Gens.  Herron  and  Lee. 

Aug.  25.  Torbert  encounters  Early's  forces  at  Leetown.  He  falls  back  to  near  Shep- 
ardstown.  Battle  of  Reams  Station.  Hancock  abandons  Reams,  having  lost  i.ooo  killed 
and  wounded,  2,000  prisoners  and  9  guns.  Rebels  killed  and  wounded,  1,500.  Sherman  com- 
mences at  night  his  great  flank  movement  to  the  right  and  rear  of  Atlanta. 

Aug.  26.  Kilpatrick  destroyed  14  miles  of  Macon  Railroad,  and  stores,  capturing  6 
guns,  4  flags,  and  200  prisoners;  afterwards  forced  to  abandon  most  of  his  captures.  Rebels 
fall  back  from  Sheridan's  front  toward  Smithfield.  At  night  Sherman  continues  to  with- 
draw from  his  entrenchments  in  front  of  Atlanta. 

Aug.  28.     Early  driven  through  Smithfield. 

Aug.  30.  Sherman  seizes  the  West  Point  R.  R.  and  interposed  his  whole  army  between 
Atlanta  and  part  of  Hood's  army  intrenched  at  Jonesboro,  Scofield  holds  east  part  facing 
Atlanta. 

Sept.  i.  Rebels  driven  from  Jonesboro  to  Lovejoy's  Station,  losing  i.ocn  pris°"C'-s  a^d 
10  guns.  Hood  explodes  his  magazines  at  night  and  evacuates  Atlanta.'  G^n.  Rousseau 
•drives  10,000  rebels,  near  Murfreesboro  Pike,  three  miles. 

785 


1864 — Con  tin  ued. 

Sept.  2.  Rebels  before  Petersburg  cheered  McClellan's  nomination.  Atlanta  occupied 
at  daylight  by  Gen.  Slocum — Harde  found  to  have  retreated  from  Lovejoy  Station  and  is 
pursued.  Sherman  receives  news  from  Slocum  of  capture  of  Atlanta.  Army  jubilant. 

Sept.  3.  Milroy  attacks  3,000  rebel  cavalry  near  Murfreesboro,  and  drives  them  towards 
Triune.  Sheridan's  army  again  moves  forward  from  Charlestown.  Battle  of  Darkesville 
and  Perryville.  Rebels  were  repulsed,  losing  70  prisoners.  Union  loss,,  300.  Moseby 
captured  an  ambulance  train  which  had  left  the  field.  President  Lincoln  and  Gen.  Grant 
telegraph  thanks  to  Sherman  and  his  army. 

Sept.  4.  John  Morgan's  forces  routed,  and  Alorgan  killed  by  Gen.  Gillen  at  Greenville, 
Tenn.  Killed,  100;  prisoners,  75;  including  Morgan's  staff. 

Sept.  6.     Battle  of  Matamoros. 

Sept.  7.  Dibbel's  Rebel  Brigade  surprised  at  Readyville  by  230  of  9th  Pa.  Cavalry,  los- 
ing 130  prisoners. 

Sept.  8.     Rebel  Col.  Jessie  and  100  men  captured  near  Ghent,  Ky. 

Sept.  9.     Sherman's  army  concentrated  at  Atlanta. 

Sept.  10.  Grant  drives  picket  line  across  Plank  Road,  and  advances  his  permanent  line 
half  a  mile.  Steamer  Fawn  burned  by  rebels  on  Dismal  Swamp  Canal. 

Sept.  14.  Price,  with  about  io,,ooo  men,  crossed  White  Fiver,  en  route  for  Missouri. 
Gov.  Brown  of  Georgia  withdraws  15,000  Ga.  militia  from  Hood's  Army,  for  avowed  pur- 
pose of  caring  for  crops. 

Sept.  16.  2,500  cattle,  the  I3th  Pa.  Regiment,  with  arms,  wagons  and  camp,  captured 
at  Sycamore  Church. 

Sept.  18.     Averill  drives  rebels  out  of  Martins-burg. 

Sept.  19.  Battle  of  Winchester.  Sheridan  captures  5,000  prisoners,  5  guns,  all  the 
wounded,  and  sends  Early  "Whirling  up  the  Valley."  Battle  at  Powder  Mill.  Early  loses 
1,100  prisoners  and  16  guns.  Torbert's  cavalry  defeats  Wickham  at  Luray,  capturing  some 
prisoners. 

Sept.  23.     Price  occupies  Bloomfield,  Mo. 

Sept.  26.  Early  retreats  to  Brown's  Gap  in  the  Blue  Ridge.  Merritt  and  Powell  at- 
tempt to  carry  the  Gap,  but  are  repulsed.  Battle  at  Pilot  Knob.  Davis,  Confederate  Presi- 
dent, with  Gen.  Hood  at  Palmetto  Station,  Ga. 

Sept.  27.  Gen.  Ewing  arrives  at  Rolla,  after  being  surrounded  at  Harrison  by  Price's 
forces.  Gen.  Grant  warns  Sherman  of  impending  movement  against  him. 

Sept.  28.  Battle  at  Newmarket  Heights.  Rebel  night  attack  on  Hancock's  front,  on 
Jerusalem  Plank  Road  repulsed. 

Sept.  30.  Warren  captures  rebel  first  line  of  works  at  Preble's  Farm,  capturing  50 
men  and  one  gun.  Rebels  retired  half  a  mile  back  to  strong  position,  and  repulsed  our  at- 
tack thereon,  capturing  1,500  prisoners,  and  killed  and  wounded  500.  The  loth  and  i8th 
Corps  concentrated  at  Newport  Heights,  furiously  attacked  by  rebels,  and  swept  back  with 
terrible  loss  three  times,  losing  1,000,  beside  200  prisoners  and  2  flags. 

Oct.  i.     Hood  crossing  Chattahoochie  River  to  rear  of  Sherman. 

Oct.  2.  Rebels  in  front  of  Warren  fell  back  to  their  main  lines,  from  Petersburg  lead 
works  to  Southside  Road. 

Oct.  3.  Lieut.  Meigs  murdered  by  Guerrillas  in  Shenandoah  Valley.  Sherman's  forces 
crossed  the  Chattahoochie  with  15  days'  rations,  moving  towards  Marietta.  Gen.  Thomas 
ordered  to  Chattanooga  after  Forrest,  and  Gen.  Corse  to  Rome. 

Oct.  5.  Hood  captured  small  garrison  at  Big  Shanty  and  Ackworth,  and  burned  7  miles 
of  railroaS;  Allatoona  attacked  by  Gen.  French — re-enforced  and  successfully  defended  by 
Gen.  Carse  with  troops  taken  by  R.  R.  from  Rome. 

Oct.  6.  Sheridan  began  to  move  back  from  Waynesboro.  Gen.  Lee  captures  Clinton, 
La.,  and  30  prisoners. 

Oct.  7.  Battle  at  Darleytown  Road  and  Newmarket  Heights.  Rebel  loss,  i.ooo;  Union, 
500.  Pirate  Florida  captured  at  Bahia,  Bay  of  San  Salvador,  by  U.  S.  S.  Wachusett,  Com- 
mander Collins.  Taken  to  offing  and  sunk.  All  on  board  sent  to  U.  S. 

Oct.  8.  Rebels  at  Woodville  attacked  by  expedition  from  Gen.  Dana,  killing  40,  and 
capturing  3  guns  and  56  men. 

Oct.  ir.  Rebel  Gen.  Buford,  with  1,200  cavalry,  crosses  Cumberland  River,  Tenn.,  at 
Harpeth  Shoals.  Col.  Weaver,  with  90  colored  troops,  attacked  by  200  rebels  near  Fort 
Nelson,  Tenn.  Defeats  them  and  killed  and  wounded  27. 

786 


1864 — Continued. 

Oct.  12.  Longstreet  attacks  Sheridan  near  Strasburg.  No  material  advantage  gained 
in  a  three  hours'  battle.  Gen.  Hood  demands  surrender  of  Resaca,  Ga.  Col.  Weaver  de- 
clines. Gen.  Watkins  re-inforces  post  from  Calhoun. 

Oct.  13.  Resaca  re-inforced  at  2  a.  in.  by  Gen.  Raum  by  R.  R.  from  Kingston,  and  held 
against  Hood. 

Oct.  14.  Sherman  arrives  at  Resaca  and  goes  in  pursuit  of  Hood  through  Snake  Creek 
gap. 

Oct.  19.  Battle  of  Cedar  Creek.  Sheridan's  arrival  changes  defeat  into  a  great  vic- 
tory. Rebels  lose  50  guns,  etc. 

Oct.  20.     Early  retreats  at  night  to  Mount  Jackson. 

Oct.  22.  Pleasanton  defeats  Price  at  the  Little  Blue,  and  forces  him  to  the  Big  Blue 
River. 

Oct.  23.  Shelby  drove  our  forces  under  Curtis  from  Westport,  and  was  then  attacked 
and  defeated  by  Pleasanton. 

Oct.  25.  Gen.  Sterling  Price  defeated  at  Fort  Scott  Road,  losing  camp  equipage,  20 
wagons  of  plunder,  I  gun,  and  cattle. 

Oct.  26.  Price  driven  from  Mine  Creek,  Va.,  by  Pleasanton,  and  loses  1,000  prisoners 
and  1,500  stand  of  arms.,  Marmaduke  and  Cabell  captured. 

Oct.  27.  Grant  attacks  Southside  Railway  and  fails.  Union  loss,  3,000;  rebel,  1,500. 
Price  forced  to  retreat  from  Marais  des  Cygnes. 

Oct.  28.  Gillen  repulses  Vaughn,  capturing  200  prisoners  and  McClurg's  battery,  cais- 
sons, etc.  Price  again  defeated  at  Newtonia,  more  wagons  destroyed  and  loses  250  men. 
Rebel  Ram  Albermarle  destroyed  by  Lt.  W.  B.  Gushing  with  a  torpedo  boat  on  Roanoke 
River,  attack  made  at  night.  Gushing  and  party  escape  by  swimming. 

Oct.  28-30.  Rhoddy's  cavalry  attacked  Col.  Morgan's  colored  troops  at  Decatur,  Ala., 
and  lose  400  prisoners  and  many  killed  and  wounded.  Union  loss,  100. 

Nov.  5.  Rebels  unsuccessfully  attack  Fort  Sedgwick  on  Jerusalem  Plank  Road.  Union 
lo'ss,  70;  rebel  loss,  120.  Gen.  Butler  assumes  command  of  troops  in  New  York,  arriving 
and  to  arrive  "to  meet  existing  emergencies."  Johnsonville  shelled,  and  3  tinclads  and  7 
transports  destroyed  by  Forrest  on  the  Tennessee. 

Nov.  6.  Rebels  attack  Mott's  and  Gibson's  pickets;  capture  30  and  a  mile  of  intrench- 
ments,  but  are  driven  out  and  lose  47  prisoners.  Several  such  attacks  and  repulses  at  this 
time. 

Nov.  8.  President  Lincoln  re-elected,  and  Andrew  Johnson  elected  Vice-President. 
Hon.  Reuben  E.  Fenton  elected  Governor  of  New  York  State  over  Seymour.  Gen. 
McClellan  resigns  his  commission  in  the  U.  S.  Army.  Sheridan  created  Maj.-Gen.  of 
Regular  Army.  Sherman's  army  concentrating  on  Atlanta;  Thomas'  going  north  from 
Georgia. 

Nov.  9.  Sheridan  moved  all  his  army  back  to  Newton  from  Cedar  Creek.  Atlanta 
outposts  attacked  unsuccessfully  by  Iverson.  Sherman  issues  his  Marching  Order  for  his 
advance  through  Georgia. 

Nov.  10.  •  Rebels  engage  2d  Corps  pickets  all  night,  without  success,  in  this  and  two 
succeeding  nights.  Rebel  plot  to  seize  Pacific  Mail  steamers  at  Panama  discovered. 

Nov.  ii.  U.  S.  S.  Tulip  destroyed  by  boiler  explosion  off  Ragged  Point.  49  officers 
and  men  killed  (all  of  crew  but  10). 

Nov.  12.     About  10,000  prisoners  exchanged  near  Fort  Pulaski. 

Nov.  12-16.  Several  unimportant  skirmishes  between  Sheridan  and  Early.  Lomax, 
rebel  General,  defeated  near  Ninevah,  Va.,  by  Powell,  losing  150  and  Merritt  about  200  pris- 
oners on  reconnoissance  from  Cedar  Creek.  Sherman  left  Kingston,  Ga..  for  Atlanta. 

Nov.  13.  Battle  of  Bull's  Gap.  Gen.  Gillem  defeated  with  loss  of  baggage  train  and 
all  his  artillery. 

Nov.  14.     Sherman's  army,  60,000  strong,  concentrate  at  Atlanta,  Howard  commanding 
right  wing — Slocum's  left  wing,  Kilpatrick  the  cavalry.     R.  R.  in  every  direction  burned. 
Nov.  15.     Slocum  leaves  Atlanta,  marching  eastward.     Howard  leaves  marching  south- 
west, Kilpatrick  on  right. 

Nov.  16.  Sherman  leaves  Atlanta  joining  Slocum.  Howard  drives  Gen.  Iverson  at 
Rough  and  Ready. 

Nov.  17.  Slocum  burned  railroad  depot  at  Social  Circle.  Sherman's  right  wing  of 
cavalry  advances  on  Jonesboro  aricl  McDonough,  driving  out  Wheeler  and  Cobb.  Coving- 

787 


1864 — Continued. 

ton  partly  burned  by  Slocum's  division.  Part  of  Butler's  picket  line  captured,  at  night,  near 
Chester  Station,  Va. 

Nov.  18.  Macon  Railroad  cut  by  Slocum  at  Forsyth.  Georgia  Legislature  fled  from 
Milledgeville. 

Nov.  19.  Ocmulgee  River  bridged  by  Howard.  Madison  captured  by  Sherman;  de- 
pots, etc.,,  burned. 

Nov.  20.  Gen.  Gillem's  retreating  force  arrives  at  Knoxville,  Tenn.  Howard  crosses 
the  Ocmulgee.  Battle  fought  and  the  Georgia  Central  Railroad  destroyed  at  Griswoldville. 
Sherman  crossed  the  Oconee,  arriving  at  Greensboro.  Killpatrick  enters  Milledgeville. 

Nov.  21.  Thomas'  army  at  Pulaski.  Rebels  badly  whipped  at  Liberty,  La.;  losing 
3  guns  and  200  prisoners.  Sherman's  cavalry  resisted  by  Wheeler  at  Gordon,  but  drove 
him  out  and  occupy  town. 

Nov.  22.  Hood's  advance  20  "miles  south  of  Pulaski,  Tenn.  Thomas  falls  back  towards 
Franklin.  Sherman  reconnoiters  towards  Rood's  Hill,  where  rebels  are  found  in  force. 
Rest  of  Early's  army  at  Mt.  Jackson  and  Newmarket.  Slocum  occupies  Miiledgeville. 

Nov.  23.  Battle  at  Griswoldville,  Ga.,  by  Howard's  wing — Sherman  at  Milledgeville, 
capital  of  Georgia. 

Nov.  24.  Potomac,  James,  and  Valley  armies  celebrate  Thanksgiving  with  aid  of  thou- 
sands of  turkeys  and  other  delicacies  from  New  York. 

Nov.  25.  Thomas  fallen  back  to  Franklin.  Rebel  attempt  to  burn  New  York.  15 
hotels,  Barnum's  and  shipping  fired. 

Nov.  26-29.     Decatur,  Ala.,  besieged  by  Beauregard  who  is  repulsed,  losing  500  men. 

Nov.  27.  Steamer  Greyhound  burned  on  James  River;  Gen.  Butler  on  board  but  es- 
caped. 

Nov.  28.     Roser  captures  Fort  Kelly,  at  New  Creek,  with  guns  and  prisoners. 

Nov.  30.  Battle  of  Franklin.  Hood  repulsed  with  loss  of  5,000  men,  guns,  flags,  etc., 
and  1,000  prisoners.  Union  loss,  1,500.  Thomas  resumes  his  march  to  Nashville  where  he 
halts  and  fortifies.  Attorney-General  Bates  resigned.  Roger  A.  Pryor  captured  in  front 
of  Petersburg.  Battle  of  Grahamsville,  S.  C. 

Dec.  i.  Blockade  of  Norfolk,  Fernandina  and  Pensacola  ceased.  Gen.  Banks  resumes 
command  Department  of  the  Gulf.  Stoney  Creek  Station  captured  by  Gen.  Gregg.  2 
guns,  190  prisoners,  depot  burned,  etc. 

Dec.  3.  Portions  of  Hood's  army  crosses  the  Tennessee,  between  Florence  and  De- 
catur, Ala.  Sherman  reaches  Millen,  Ga.  Gens.  Wheeler  and  Killpatrick's  cavalry  fight  near 
Augusta. 

Dec.  4.  Marritt's  expedition  in  London  Valley  returns  with  2,000  cattle  and  1,000 
sheep.  The  Valley  stripped  of  stock  and  forage. 

Dec.  5.  Blockhouses  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  unsuccessfully  attacked  by  rebels.  Brig 
Lizzie  Freeman  captured  b}r  pirates  off  Warwick  River.  Passengers  robbed,  one  murdered. 
Sherman  at  Oguchee  church  50  miles  from  Savannah.  Hardee  retires  as  Sherman  ad- 
vances. 

Dec.  6.     Hood  skirmishes  5  miles  from  Nashville 

Dec.  7.     Detroit  threatened  by  Canadian  raid. 

Dec.  8.  Rebels  establish  a  battery  on  Cumberland  river.  Gunboats  fail  to  dislodge  it. 
Sherman  8  miles  from  Savannah. 

Dec.  9.  Gen.  Warren  reaches  Belifield  Station,  on  the  Meherrin  River,  40  miles  from 
Petersburg,  and  destroys  the  rebel  works  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  the  depot. 
4,000  rebels,  under  Gen.  Lyon,  cross  the  Cumberland  River,  20  miles  abo^e  Fort  Donnelson. 
Reconncftssance  of  Gen.  Miles  to  Hatcher's  Run,  on  the  right  of  the  rebel  forces  defending 
Petersburg.  He  captures  the  rebel  works  and  holds  them  during  th^  night.  A  recon- 
noitering  expedition,  under  Col.  Frencle,  leaves  Plymouth,  N.  C. 

Dec.  10.  Gen.  Warren  commences  starting  homeward,  and  in  the  evening  reaches  Sus- 
sex Court  House.  Destroyed,  during  the  trip,  over  20  miles  of  the  Weldon  Railroad,  all 
the  stations  and  depots  along  the  line  of  march,  numerous  mills,  barns,  and  dwellings.  En- 
tire loss  in  the  expedition  about  40  killed  and  wounded  and  a  few  missing.  Sherman  reaches 
Bloomingdale.  Gen.  Miles  returns  to  his  camp.  The  rebels  attack  him.  but  are  repulsed. 
The  gunboat  Otsego  sunk  by  a  rebel  torpedo  in  the  Roanoke  River. 

Dec.  12.  Skirmishing  between  the  national  and  rebel  forces  before  Nashville.  The 
rebels  falf  back  to  their  main  line.  Expedition  under  Gen.  Burbridge  starts  from  Bean's 

788 


1864 — Continued. 

Station,  East  Tennessee.  Fight  at  Kingston,  East  Tennessee.  The  rebel  Col.  Morgan  and 
85  of  his  men  captured.  Kilpatrick  communicates  with  ship  of  blockading  squadron  below 
Fort  McAllister,  Ga.,  and  informs  the  navy  of  Sherman's  arrival  before  Savannah. 

Dec.  13.  The  rebels  before  Nashville  re-occupy  their  advance  works.  Gen.  Burbridge 
Dandelion  of  the  navy,  and  at  11:50  p.  in.  writes  to  Secretary  Stanton.  The  Dandelion 
took  Gen.  Sherman  to  Warsaw  Sound,  where  he  met  Admiral  Dahlgren. 

Dec.  13.  The  rebels  before  Nashville  re-occupy  their  advance  works.  Gen.  Burbridge 
routs  the  rebel  brigade  under  Basil  Duke  at  Kingsport,  East  Tenn.  Rebel  loss  150  men 
and  the  train.  Gen.  Hazen's  division  of  the  isth  Corps  captures  Fort  McAllister,  com- 
manding tlie  entrance  of  the  Ogeechee  River,  15  miles  southwest  of  Savannah.  Sherman's 
report  on  his  great  march.  "Not  a  wagon  lost  on  the  trip."  200  miles  of  railroad  de- 
stroyed. Total  loss  during  the  march  about  1,000.  Departure  from  Hampton  Roads  of 
land  and  naval  forces  under  Gen.  Butler  and  Admiral  Porter.  A  raiding  expedition  under 
Gen.  Robinson  leaves  New  Orleans  for  Alabama.  The  St.  Albans  robbers  released  by  the 
Canadian'Judge  Coursol. 

Dec.  14.  Order  of  Gen.  Dix.  Rebels  on  the  Canadian  frontier  detected  in  acts  of  in- 
dendiarism,  robbery  or  murder,  are  to  be  pursued  into  Canada,  and  if  captured,  sent  to 
headquarters  in  New  York.  Gen.  Thomas  assumes  the  offensive.  Capture  of  Bristol  by 
Gen.  Burbridge.  300  rebels  captured. 

Dec.  15.  Great  victory  of  Gen.  Thomas  near  Nashville.  All  the  rebel  earthworks, 
except  those  on  the  extreme  right,  taken.  The  rebels,  on  their  left,  driven  8  miles.  Their 
less.  17  cannon  and  1,500  prisoners.  The  St.  Albans  raiders  ordered  by  the  attorney  general 
of  Canada  to  be  re-arrested.  Raid  of  Gen.  Stoneman  in  southwest  Virginia.  Surprise  and 
capture  of  Glade  Spring,  13  miles  from  Abingdon.  Defeat  of  Forrest  near  Murfreesboro. 
Loss,  1,500  killed  and  wounded.  Raiding  expedition  of  Gen.  Granger  into  Alabama  starts 
from  East  Pensacola,  Fla. 

Dec.  16.  Another  battle  near  Nashville.  Hood  completely  routed.  Prisoners  and  can- 
non captured  on  every  part  of  the  field.  Hood's  loss  before  Nashville,  13,189  prisoners, 
2,207  'deserters,  30  guns,  7,000  small  arms.  An  entire  rebel  division  (Ed.  Johnson's)  cap- 
tured. Union  loss  about  6,500  ;total  loss  of  the  rebels  about  23,000.  Gen.  Sherman's  army 
receive  their  first  mail  from  home. 

Dec.  17.  Capture  of  Wythcville.  The  rebel  army  of  Hood  driven  through  and  beyond 
Franklin;  1,500  wounded  rebels  captured  in  the  hospital  at  Franklin.  New  order  of  Gen. 
Dix  concerning  the  rebel  raiders  in  Canada.  Officers,  in  cas$  of  marauding  expeditions, 
to  report  to  his  headquarters.  Resolutions  introduced  into  the  rebel  House  of  Represent- 
atives to  send  peace  commissioners  to  Washington.  Gen.  McCook  routs  the  rebel  raiders 
in  Kentucky,  under  Gen.  Lyon,  at  Ashbyvilie,  McLean  Co.  Sherman  demands  surrender 
of  Savannah. 

Dec.  18.  Order  of  Secretary  Seward,  requiring  persons  coming  into  the  United  States 
to  be  furnished  with  passports,  except  emigrant  passengers  coming  in  by  sea.  Hood's  army 
driven  as  far 'as  Spring  Hill,  30  miles  from  Nashville.  The  rebel  Gen.  Quarles  captured. 
The  rebel  raiders  in  Kentucky  defeated  at  Hopkinsville.  All  their  cannon  captured.  Gen. 
Hardee  refused  to  surrender  Savannah. 

Dec.  19.  A  call  and  draft  for  300,000  men.  All  soldiers  fit  for  duty  ordered  to  join  their 
regiments.  Hood  driven  to  Duck  River.  9,000  rebels  captured  from  Dec.  15  to  Dec.  19, 
and  61  (out  of  66)  pieces  of  artillery. 

Dec.  20.  Dispatch  from  Governor  General  of  Canada  announcing  the  re-arrest  of  one 
of  the  St.  Alban's  raiders.  Rewards  offered  for  their  apprehension.  Evacuation  of  Savan- 
nah by  Hardee.  The  navy  yard  burned  and  the  rebel  iron  clad  blown  up.  The  salt  works 
of  Saltville,  Va.,  captured  by  Gen.  Stoneman. 

Dec.  21.  Occupation  of  Savannah  by  Gen.  Slocum.  Captures,  800  prisoners,  150  pieces 
of  artillery,  33,000  bales  of  cotton,  and  3  steamers.  Madison  Court  House,  Va..  occupied  by 
'  Gens.  Torbert  and  Powell.  Gen.  Grierson  starts  for  Memphis  for  a  raid  on  the  Mobile  and 
Ohio  Railroad. 

Dec.  22.     Gen.  Sherman  entered  Savannah  with  large  portion  of  army. 

Dec.  23.     Fight  near  Gordonsville,  Va. 

Dec.  24.  The  fleet  of  Admiral  Porter  before  Fort  Fisher.  Furious  attack  on  the 
Fort. 

789 


1864—1865. 

Dec.  25.  Attack  on  Fort  Fisher  renewed.  Three  brigades  of  Union  infantry  landed 
three  and  one-half  miles  above  the  fort.  They  are  repulsed  and  re-embark. 

Dec.  26.  Ensign  Blume  cuts  loose  and  takes  out  from  Galveston  fiarbor  the  blockade- 
running  schooner  Sallie.  The  blockade-runner  Julia,  with  450  bales  of  cotton,  captured  by 
the  gunboat  Accacia.  A  dispatch  from  Hood  reports  his  army  south  of  the  Tennessee. 

Dec.  28.     Hood's  rear  guard  crosses  the  Tennessee  River  at  Bainbridge. 

s  1865. 

Jan.  i.  Explosion  of  the  bulkhead  of  the  Dutch  Gap  Canal.  Loss  of  the  U  .S.  sloop-of- 
war  San  Jacinto  off  the  coast  of  Florida. 

Jan.  5.  Gen.  Grierson  arrives  at  Vicksburg,  having  destroyed  on  his  raid  70  miles  of 
the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad,  and  30  miles  of  the  Mississippi  Central,  and  captured  600 
prisoners  and  1,000  contrabands. 

Jan.  6.  A  railroad  train  captured  by  guerrillas  near  Lebanon  Junction.  Bands  of  guer- 
rillas roaming  through  Northwestern  Kentucky,  occupy  Owensboro,  Hawesville,  Daven- 
port, and  Henderson. 

Jan.  7.  Attack  by  1,600  Indians,  on  Julesburg,  Colorado  Territory;  19  soldiers  and  citi- 
zens killed,  and  much  property  robbed  and  destroyed.  The  Indians  driven  off  by  100  of  our 
soldiers. 

Jan.  8.  Butler  removed  from  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  James.  Ord  tempor- 
arily assumes  the  position.  Francis  P.  Blair,  Sen.,  departs  from  Washington  on  a  second 
peace  mission.  Arrival  of  many  transports  with  a  large  number  of  troops,  at  Beaufort,  N. 
C.  The  steamer  Venango  captured  and  burned  by  guerrillas  near  Skipwith  Landing,  on  the 
Mississippi. 

Jan.   10.     Gen.  Sherman  begins  his  movement  into  South  Carolina. 

Jan.  ii.  Meeting  in  New  York,  to  furnish  aid  to  the  people  of  Savannah.  Beverly,  W. 
Va.,  captured  by  a  detachment  of  Early's  rebel  army.  About  200  Union  soldiers  captured. 
F.  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  arrives  in  Richmond.  Secretary  Stanton,  Quarter  Master  General  Meigs 
and  Adjutant  General  Townserid  visit  the  army  at  Savannah,  Ga. 

Jan.  13.  More  than  fifty  gunboats  appear  off  Fort  Fisher  and  shell  the  woods.  Second 
attack  upon  the  fort. 

Jan.  14.  The  i7th  and  part  of  isth  corps  of  Sherman's  army  proceed,  on  transports, 
to  Beaufort,  S.  C. 

Jan.  15.  Capture  of  Fort  Fisher.  2,500  prisoners  and  72  guns  taken.  All  the  rebel 
earthworks,  south  of  the  fort  on  Federal  Point,  captured.  Union  loss,  691.  The  rebel 
works  at  Pocotaligo  occupied  by  Blair. 

Jan.  16.  F.  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  returns  to  Washington.  Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell,  N.  C., 
evacuated  by  the  rebels,  and  blown  up.  The  rebels  also  blpw  up  the  pirate  steamers  Talla- 
hassee and  Chickamauga.  Part  of  i5th  Corps  crosses  Savannah  River  to  march  to  Pocot- 
aligo. 

Jan.  17.  The  monitor-  Patapsco  sunk  off  Charleston  by  a  rebel  torpedo.  About  60  of 
the  officers  and  crew  drowned.  Military  Convention  of  the  Adjutant  Generals  of  the  loyal 
States,  at  Columbia. 

Jan.  18.  Two  blockade-runners  captured  by  Admiral  Porter.  200  of  Forrest's  cavalry 
defeated  10  miles  from  Columbus,  Ky. 

Jan.  20.     F  .P.  Blair  leaves  Washington  again  for  Richmond. 

Jan.  24.  Four  rebel  iron-clad  vessels  in  the  James  River  pass  Fort  Brady.  One  of 
them  blown  up  and  destroyed,  and  another  disabled.  General  holiday  in  Louisiana,  to 
celebrate  the  abolition -of  slavery  in  Louisiana,  Maryland,  Tennessee  and  Missouri. 

Jan.  25.  Meeting  at  Savannah  to  thank  New  York  and  Boston  for  the  supplies  of 
food  and  clothing.  Address  by  the  mayor.  Gen.  Lee  issues  a  call  for  arms. 

Jan.  26.  Debate  in  the  rebel  House  of  Representatives  on  enlisting  negroes.  Gunboat 
Dai-Ching  destroyed  in  the  Columbia  River. 

Jan.  27.     Return  of  F.  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  from  his  peace  commission  to  Richmond. 

Jan.  28.     Rebel  House  of  Representatives  passes  a  bill  for  employment  of  negroes. 

Jan.  30.  The  rebel  Vice-President,  Alex.  H.  Stephens,  Senator  R.  M.  T.  Hunter,  and 
Judge  Campbell,  come  as  peace  commissioners  within  Grant's  lines.  The  left  wing  of 
Sherman's  army,  under  Slocum,  arrives  at  Sister's  Ferry,  on  the  Savannah  River,  50  miles 
above  Savannah. 

790 


1865 — Continued. 

Jan.  31.  Lee  approved  by  the  Senate  of  the  Confederate  Congress,  as  General-in-Chief 
o.r  the  armies  of  the  Confederate  States. 

Feb.  i.  The  rebel  commissioners,  Stephens,  Hunter,  and  Campbell,  arrive  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  Secretary  Seward  leaves  Washington  to  meet  them.  Sherman's  army  marches 
promptly  to  concentrate  at  Blackville  on  South  Carolina  R.  R. 

Feb.  2.  President  Lincoln  arrives  at  Fortress  Monroe  to  meet  the  rebel  commissioners. 
Rebel  dash  into  Midway,  'Ky.  Peace  conference  at  Fortress  Monroe,  between  President 
Lincoln  and  Secretary  Seward  on  the  one  Hand,  and  the  rebel  commisisoners  on  the  other. 
The  rebel  commissioners  return  to  Richmond,  President  Lincoln  and  Secretary  Seward  to 
Annapolis.  Gold  in  Richmond  at  4,400  per  cent  premium. 

Feb.  4.  The  Governor-General  of  Canada  signs  the  Canadian  Alien  Bill,  to  prevent 
rebel  raids  across  the  border.  Lieut.  Cushing,  with  4  boats  and  50  men,  take  possession 
of  All  Saints,  on  Little  River,  S.  C.,  capturing  a  large  amount  of  cotton. 

P"eb.  5.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  in  motion.  The  5th  Corps  advances  6  miles  to  Row- 
anty  Creek.  The  rebels  driven  from  their  rifle-pits.  Two  divisions  of  the  2nd  Corps  ad- 
vance to  Hatcher's  Run.  Severe  engagement  at  both  places.  Repulse  of  the  rebels. 

Feb.  6.  Severe  engagement  of  the  5th  Corps  and  Gregg's  cavalry  with  the  rebels.  The 
5th  Corps  holds  its  ground  and  maintains  its  connection  with  the  2nd.  Casualties  in  the 
5th  Corps,  during  the  two  days,  about  500;  in  the  second,  250.  Hatcher's  Run  is  made  the 
line  of  defense  for  the  left  flank.  Two  blockade-running  schooners  in  Galveston  harbor, 
boarded,  captured,  and  run  out  to  the  blockading  fleet  by  Acting  Ensign  G.  H.  Franch. 

Feb.  7.  Attack  of  the  rebels  upon  a  portion  of  the  5th  Corps,  and  the  cavalry  repulsed. 
Union  loss  slight.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  drives  the  rebels  from  Blackville,  S.  C.,  a  railroad 
station  between  Branchville  and  Augusta.  Sherman's  foragers  capture  the  R.  R.  at  Mid- 
way. 

Feb.  8.  Occupation  of  Branchville,  S.  C.  Lieut.  Cushing,  with  15  men,  captured  Shal- 
lotte,  N.  C.,  garrisoned  by  100  rebels. 

Feb.  II.  Movement  towards  Wilmington.  Gen.  Terry  a  reconnoissance  in  force.  The 
rebels  driven  from  their  lines  and  into  their  main  works.  Rebel  loss  about  100.  Union 
casualties  about  60.  Union  troops  gain  two  miles  of  ground.  Cavalry  engagement  at 
Aiken,  S.  C.,  between  Kilpatrick  and  Wheeler.  Kilpatrick  takes  possession  of  the  town. 

Feb.  15.  Destruction  of  Charlotte  Iron  Furnace,  on  Water  Lick  Creek,  by  300  picked 
men  of  the  ist  and  6th  Regiments  of  Michigan  cavalry. 

Feb.  17.  Occupation  of  Columbia,  S.  C.,  by  Gen.  Sherman.  The  city  on  fire  when 
soldiers  enter.  Great  destruction  of  cotton  and  buildings.  Confederate  officers  leave  let- 
ters to  Gen.  Sherman  requesting  protection  to  their  families  which  was  done.  Evacuation 
of  Charleston  by  the  rebels.  The  upper  part  of  the  city  fired.  Two  rebel  iron-clads  blown 
up. 

Feb.  18.  Occupation  of  Charleston  by  the  Union  forces;  200  pieces  of  artillery  and  a 
large  supply  of  ammunition  captured. 

Feb.  19.  Capture  of  Fort  Anderson,  N.  C.,  by  Schofield  and  Porter.  Union  loss,  killed 
and  wounded,'  about  30.  Sherman  in  Winnsboro,  S.  C. 

Feb.  20.  Gen.  Cox  routs  the  rebels  four  miles  from  Wilmington,  N.  C.  The  rebel 
House  of  Representatives  passes  a  bill  to  arm  the  negroes.  Repulse  of  a  rebel  attack  on 
Fort  Myers,  Florida. 

Feb.  21.  Maj.  Generals  Crook  and  Kelley  surrounded  and  captured  by  a  party  of  rebel 
cavalry  at  Cumberland,  Md.  Evacuation  of  Wilmington  by  the  rebels. 

Feb.  22.  Occupation  of  Wilmington  by  the  Union  troop's.  Large  quantities  of  supplies 
captured.  700.  prisoners  and  30  guns  captured  in  Fort  Anderson  and  Wilmington  to- 
gether. , 

Feb.  23.  Occupation  of  Georgetown  and  Fort  White,  S.  C.,  by  the  Union  forces.  Fif- 
teen pieces  of  artillery  captured. 

Feb.  25.     Johnson  assumes  command  as  successor  to  Beauregard. 

Feb.  27.     Sheridan  starts  on  a  new  movement. 

March  i.     Gen.  Baily  starts  on  a  cavalry  raid  from  Baton  Rouge. 

March  2.  Sheridan  captures  nearly  the  whole  force  of  Early,  consisting  of  1,800  men, 
between  Charlottesville  and  Staunton. 

March  3.  Skirmish  between  Sherman's  cavalry  and  that  of  Wade  Hampton.  The 
rebel  Col.  Aiken  killed.  Occupation  of  Charlottesville,  Va.,  by  Sheridan. 

791 


1865 —  Con  tin  ued. 

March  4.  Re-inauguration  of  President  Lincoln.  U.  S.  transport  steamer  Thorn 
blown  up  by  a  torpedo  in  Cape  Fear  River. 

March  6.  Expedition  up  the  Rappahannock.  Capture  of  400  prisoners  and  95  tons  of 
tobacco  at  Fredericksburg.  Extensive  contraband  trade  broken  up. 

March  8.  Sherman  at  Laural  Hill,  N.  C.  The  rebel  Senate  passes  the  negro  enlistment 
Bill.  Engagement  between  Cox  and  Bragg  four  miles  from  Kinston,  N.  C.  Bragg  cap- 
tures a  large  number  of  prisoners  and  three  pieces  of  artillery,  but  is  ultimately  driven 
back.  Fighting  continues  to  March  10. 

March  9.  A  transport,  with  2,000  Union  troops,  enters  Mobile  Bay  through  Grant's 
Pass. 

March  10.  Gen.  Sheridan  at  Columbia,  Fluvanna  Co.,  Va.,  50  miles  west  of  Richmond. 
He  reports  having  destroyed  all  the  locks  for  a  considerable  distance  on  the  James  River 
Canal,  an  immense  number  of  bridges,  many  miles  of  Railroad,  mills,  factories,  and  vast 
quantities  of  merchandise;  also  having  captured  12  canal  boats,  14  pieces  of  artillery,  and  an 
abundance  of  provisions.  Desperate  attempt  of  Bragg  to  break  the  national  lines  at  Kin- 
ston, N.  C.  The  rebels  lose  1,200  killed  and  wounded,  and  400  prisoners.  Two  thousand 
rebels  captured  from  March  8  to  10.  The  entire  Union  losses  about  1,000.  Gen.  Lee 
urges  the  work  of  raising  and  organizing  negro  troops.  Gen.  Stoneman.  with  4,000  men, 
starts  on  a  cavalry  raid  from  Knoxville.  Engagement  between  the  cavalry  forces  of  Wade 
Hampton  and  Kilpatrick  near  Fayetville,  N.  C.  Nearly  all  the  members  of  Kilpatrick's 
staff  captured.  The  rebels  finally  beaten  back  and  most  of  the  officers  re-captured.  Gen. 
Grant  issues  an  order  forbidding  all  trade  with  points  within  the  rebel  lines  in  Virginia, 
North  Carolina,  South  Carolina,  and  Georgia. 

March  11.  Sheridan  at  Beaver  Mills  Aqueduct,  20  miles  north  of  Richmond.  Hoke's 
division  of  rebels  repulsed  at  Kinston.  Loss  over  2,000.  Union  loss,  300.  21  Union  ves- 
sels in  sight  of  Mobile.  Sherman  arrives  at  Fayetteville.  Reports  having  captured  at 
Columbia,  S.  C.,  43  pieces  of  artillery;  at  Cheraw,  S.  C.,  25  pieces  and  3,600  barrels  of  gun- 
powder; at  Fayetteville,  N.  C.,  20  pieces,  and  large  quantities  of  ammunition. 

March  12.  Gen.  Schofield  having  been  transferred  with  his  Army  Corps  by  R.  R.  and 
sea  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  to  North  Carolina  to  co-operate  with  Sherman,  occupies  Kin- 
ston. The  rebels  throw  many  pieces  of  artillery  into  the  river  and  burn  the  ram  Netise. 
Gen.  Stoneman  at  Wytheville,  Chriansburg,  and  Salem,  Va. 

March  13.  Sheridan  tears  up  the  railroad  between  Richmond  and  Hanover.  Message 
from  Jeff.  Davis  to  the  Rebel  Congress.  Reports  having  attempted  the  initiation  of  nego- 
tiations by  a  conference  between  Grant  and  Lee,  but  that  this  was  declined  by  Grant. 

March  15.  Fight  at  Brandenburg,  Ky.,  between  a  small  Union  garrison  and  a  party 
of  rebels.  Sheridan  reporets  having  rendered  useless  the  James  River  Canal  as  far  as 
Goochland.  The  rebel  House  of  Representatives  passes  the  bill  (38  to  32)  suspending  the 
habeas  corpus  writ. 

March  16.  Lieut-Commander  Eastman  destroys  3  rebel  schooners  in  Mattox  Creek, 
Va. ;  large  stocks  of  tobacco,  guns,  ammunition  captured.  Fight  at  Averysborough,  N.  C. 
(20  miles  north  of  Fayetteville — between  a  portion  of  Sherman's  army  and  the  rebels  under 
Hardee.  Union  loss,  74  killed,  477  wounded;  rebel  loss,  327  killed  and  wounded,  273  pris- 
oners. 

March  17.  Gen.  Canby's  movement  against  Mobile  commences.  Portions  of  the  I3th 
and  23rd  Corps  in  motion.  Gen.  Wilson  leaves  Nashville  with  15,000  men  on  a  cavalry 
expedition  into  Central  Alabama  and  Georgia. 

March  18.  Gen.  Sheridan's  advance  reaches  White  House,  on  the  Pamunkey  River. 
His  entire  loss  during  this  raid,  50  men  and  2  officers. 

March  19.  Occupation  of  Goldsborough,  N.  C.,  by  Sherman.  Engagement  at  Benton- 
ville,  N.  C.,  between  Sherman  and  Johnston.  Repulse  of  the  rebels.  Union  loss,  1,646; 
rebel  loss,  167  dead,  1,625  prisoners.  The  rebel  schooner,  Anna  Dale,  in  Matagorda  Bay, 
cut  loose  from  under  two  rebel  batteries  and  burned. 

March  20.     Gen.  Steele's  forces  leave  Pensacola,  Fla. 

March  21.  Occupation  of  Goldsborough,  N.  C.,  by  Gen.  Schofield.  Junction  of  the 
armies  under  Sherman,  Terry,  and  Schofield.  The  rebels  flanked  and  overpowered  at 
Mount  Olive,  N.  C.  Roddy's  division  of  Forrest's  cavalry  routed  by  Gen.  Wilson's  forces 
at  Marion  and  Plantersville.  The'  confederates  abandon  all  their  cavalry. 

792 


1865 —  Continued. 

March  22.  A  band  of  guerrillas  routed  30  miles  west  of  Paducah.  The  rebel  leader, 
McDougal,  killed. 

March  25.  Capture  of  the  Union  Fort  Stedman,  and  500  men,  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
by  three  divisions  of  rebels  under  Gordon.  They  are  driven  out  again  by  Gen.  Hart- 
ranft,  with  a  loss  of  1.758  prisoners,  and  total  loss  of  2,500.  Total  Union  loss  about  1,500. 
Assault  on  the  rebel  lines  by  the  2nd  and  6th  Corps.  The  first  line  of  the  rebel  works  cap- 
tured and  held.  Engagement  between  the  Union  cavalry  and  the  6th  and  8th  Alabama  cav- 
alry at  Mitchell's  Creek.  The  rebel  Gen.  Canton,  with  275  men,  captured. 

March  26.     Sheridan's  cavalry  reaches  City  Point,  Va. 

March  27.  Gen.  Getty's  division  of  the  6th  Corps  attacked  by  400  rebel  sharpshooters. 
Repulse  of  the  rebels.  Sheridan's  cavalry  takes  position  in  Gregg's  old  cavalry  camp  on 
the  left  and  rear  of  Grant's  army.  Portions  of  the  24th  and  25th  Corps  cross  the  James  to 
join  Meade's  army.  Boone,  N.  C.,  captured  by  Gen.  Stoneman's  cavalry  force.  Invest- 
ment of  Spanish  Fort,  one  of  the  principal  defences  of  Mobile. 

March  28.     Attack  on  the  defences  of  Mobile. 

March  29.  Grant's  army  in  motion.  Sheridan's  command  makes  a  detour  to  Dinwid- 
die  Court  House.  Occupation  of  the  town.  Further  advance  on  the  Boydton  Road.  Two 
Corps  of  the  infantry  (2nd  and  5th)  thrown  across  Hatcher's  Run,  the  former  on  the  Vaughn 
Road,  the  second  on  the  Halifax  Road.  Battle  of  Quaker  Road,  in  the  vicinity  of  Gravelly 
Run,  between  Bushrod  Johnson's  division,  and  the  5th  Corps  of  the  Union  troops.  With- 
drawal of  th,e  rebels  to  their  original  position.  Loss  on  each  side  about  500.  The  Union 
iron-clad,  Milwaukee,  blown  up  by  a  rebel  torpedo.  The  confederate  ram,  Stonewall,  or- 
dered to  leave  the  port  of  Lisbon.  The  U.  S.  war-steamer,  Niagara,  fired  upon  by  the 
Portuguese  authorities. 

March  30.  Sheridan  connects  his  right  with  Warren's  left  near  the  Boydton  Plank-road. 
Gen.  Devin's  brigade  drives  back  the  rebel  cavalry,  but  is  in  turn  driven  back  by  the 
enemy's  infantry.  The  Union  cavalry  retires  to  Dinwiddie. 

March  31.  Engagement  of  the  5th  and  2nd  Corps  with  the  rebels  near  Boydton  Plank- 
road.  The  Union  army  driven  back  from  its  advanced  position.  Union  losses  from  2,500 
to  3,000.  Confederate  losses  not  so  severe. 

April  i.  Battle  of  Five  Forks.  Sheridan  put  in  command  of  all  the  cavalry  and  the 
5th  Corps  of  infantry.  Desperate  fighting  all  day  and  until  half-past  seven  P.  M.  The 
Confederates  lose  4,000  prisoners,  6  cannon,  several  thousand  muskets,  and  20  or  30  flags. 
Total  loss  of  the  enemy  about  7,000.  Union  loss  about  3,000.  The  rebel  worxs  occupied 
by  the  Union  forces.  The  Southside  Railroad  occupied  and  destroyed.  Grant  closing 
around  the  works  of  the  line  immediately  enveloping  Petersburg. 

April  2.  Grant  advances  upon  Petersburg.  Battle  opened  at  half-past  five  A.  M.  by 
the  6th  Corps  in  front  of  the  Union  Forts  Welch  and  Foster.  The  rebel  forts  carried  by 
daylight.  The  Southside  Railroad  broken  by  Gen.  Seymour.  Success  of  the  24th  Corps. 
They  capture  1,000  prisoners  and  many  guns.  Assault  by  the  rebels.  Gen.  A.  P.  Hill 
falls.  Fighting  continued  all  day  The  6th  Corps  captures  2,000  prisoners  and  20  guns,  and 
rests  its  left  close  to  Appomattox.  Skirmishers  of  the  gth  Corps  advance  into^he  outskirts 
of  Petersburg,  but  are  compelled  to  fall  back.  Rebels  lose  about  9,000  prisoners.  Evacu- 
ation of  Richmond  and  Petersburg  during  the  night.  Jeff.  Davis  leaves  for  Danville  at  8 
P.  M.  Rebel  agents  unsuccessfully  attempt  to  destroy  Newbern.  Surrender  of  Selma, 
Ala.,  to  Gen.  Wilson's  forces;  2,000  prisoners  and  100  guns  secured.  The  arsenals,  naval 
iron  works,  magazines,  and  government  buildings  destroyed. 

April  3.  Occupation  of  Petersburg  at  four  o'clock  A.  M.  by  Col.  Ely,  of  Wilcox's 
division.  Several  thousand  prisoners,  100  pieces  of  artillery  , including  siege  guns  of  all' 
calibers,  immense  army  supplies,  etc.,  captured.  Occupation  of  Richmond  by  Gen.  Weit- 
zel  at  seven  o'clock  A.  M.  6,000  prisoners,  5,000  stands  of  arms,  500  cannon  captured.  The 
rebels  fire  the  city,  nearly  one-third  of  which  is  destroyed.  The  confederates  pursued  by 
the  cavalry  fully  20  miles.  350  prisoners  and  4  cannon  captured. 

April  4.  Skirmishing  between  the  retreating  rebels  and  McKenzie's  division  at  Beth- 
any. Union  forces  south  of  Amelia  Court  House.  President  Lincoln  in  Richmond.  The 
steamer  Harriet  Deford  captured  by  disguised  rebels  at  Fairhaven,  Md.,  on  Patuxent  River. 
They  overhaul  and  capture  the  schooner  St.  Marys. 

Gen.  Lee  at  Amelia  Court  House.  Grant's  forces  at  Burkesville  Station.  Sheridan  at 
Jettersville,  7  miles  southwest  of  Lee's  position.  Proclamation  of  Jeff.  Davis.  He  an- 

793 


1865 —  Continued. 

nounces  the  evacuation  of  Richmond,  and  his  determination  never  to  submit  to  the  abandon- 
ment of  one  State  of  the  confederacy. 

April  6.  Engagement  between  Grant  and  Lee  at  Deantonsville.  One  corps  of  the  rebel 
army  cut  off.  The  rebel  Gens.  Ewell,  Kershaw,  Barton,  DeBose,  Custis  Lee  and  Corse  cap- 
tured. Several  thousand  prisoners  and  a  large  number  of  cannon  taken. 

April  7.  Gen.  Grant  wrote  letter  to  Gen.  Lee  pointing  hopelessness  of  further  resist- 
ance, and  asking  him  to  surrender  army  of  Northern  Virginia.  Gen.  Lee  replied  asking 
conditions  of  surrender.  Fight  of  the  2nd  Corps  with  Lee  at  Fannville. 

April  8.  Lee's  army  concentrated  at  Appomattox  Court  House.  Correspondence  con- 
tinues between  Gens.  Grant  and  Lee.  Gen.  Lee  wished  to  discuss  terms  of  peace,  which 
Gen.  Grant  declined  as  he  had  no  authority  to  treat  on  the  subject  of  peace. 

April  9.  Gen.  Lee,  by  letter  asked  for  an  interview  with  Gen.  Grant.  Surrender  of 
Gen.  Lee.  All  the  rebel  arms,  artillery  and  property  to  be  turned  over  to  an  officer  to  be 
designated  by  Gen.  Grant;  the  entire  rebel  army  to  be  disbanded;  the  officers  and  men  to 
give  their  parole  not  to  take  up  arms  against  the  United  States  until  exchanged.  Lee's 
army  numbers  about  26,115  men.  Engagement  at  Sumpter,  S.  C,  between  guerrillas  and 
national  forces.  Jeff.  Davis  on  hearing  the  news  of  Lee's  surrender,  leaves  Danville,  Va., 
for  Greensboro,  N.  C.  Spanish  Fort  near  Mobile,  captured;  652  prisoners  taken  with 
many  pieces  of  artillery.  Forts  Tracy  and  Huger  abandoned  by  the  Confederates.  Fort 
Blakely  taken  by  assault,  and  300  prisoners,  32  pieces  of  artillery,  4,000  stands  of  small 
arms,  16  battle-flags,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  taken.  Rebel  loss  in  killed  and 
wounded,  500;  total  Union  loss  about  1,000. 

April  10.  Evacuation  of  Mobile  commences.  The  St.  Albans  raiders,  except  Young, 
discharged  from  custody  in  Toronto. 

April  ii.  Montgomery,  Ala.,  surrenders  to  Gen.  Wilson;  2,700  prisoners,  32  guns  in 
position  and  75  in  arsenal,  taken  with  the  city;  35,000  bales  of  cotton  destroyed  by  the 
Confederates  before  evacuating.  Occupation  of  Lynchburg,  Va.  Destruction  of  a  rebel 
ram  on  Roanoke  River,  above  Newbern.  Proclamation  of  the  President,  demanding  the 
removal  of  restrictions  from  our  war  vessels  in  foreign  ports. 

April  12.  Mobile  occupied  by  the  Union  troops.  Total  Union  loss  before  Mobile, 
2  heavy  iron-clads,  2  so-called  tin-clads,  I  transport,  all  destroyed  by  torpedoes;  50  seamen 
and  2,000  men  in  the  army;  about  1,200  Confederates  captured  in  the  city.  Stoneman  routs 
3,000  rebels  at  Grant's  Creek,  three  miles  from  Salisbury;  occupation  of  Salisbury;  1,364 
Conferedates,  14  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large  supply  of  ammunition  and  military  stores 
captured. 

April  13.  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  occupied  by  Sherman  after  a  slight  skirmish.  Johnston  falls 
back  to  Hillsboro. 

April  14.  President  Lincoln  shot  by  John  Wilkes  Booth,  at  Ford's  Theater,  at  about 
ten  o'clock  at  night.  The  assassin  escapes.  At  the  same  hour,  murderous  attack  made 
upon  Secretary  Seward  by  Payne,  who  likewise  escapes.  Severe  injuries  upon  Frederick 
W.  Seward,  and  Robinson  and  Hansell,  the  attendants  of  Secretary  Seward. 

April  15.  President  Lincoln  dies  at  22  minutes  past  7  a.  m.  Andrew  Johnson  takes 
the  -oath  of  office  as  President. 

April  16.  Columbus,  Ga.,  captured  by  Gen.  Upton;  1,200  prisoners;  53  guns  and  100,000 
bales  of  cotton  destroyed. 

April  17.  Interview  between  Sherman  and  Johnston,  five  miles  beyond  Durham's 
Station. 

April  18.  Second  colloquy  between  Sherman  and  Johnston.  A  truce  agreed  upon, 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  administration.  The  confederates  to  be  disbanded  and  to 
deposit  their  arms  in  the  arsenals  of  the  state  capitals;  the  rebel  state  governments  to  be 
recognized  on  their  officers  and  legislatures  taking  the  oath  prescribed  by  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States.  The  legitimacy  of  conflicting  state  governments  to  be  submitted  to 
the  Supreme  Court;  the  political  rights  and  franchises  to  be  guaranteed  to  the  people  of  the 
rebel  states. 

April  20.  Occupation  of  Macon,  Ga.  Gens.  Howell  Cobb,  Gustavus  W.  Smith,  Rob- 
ertson and  Mercer,  and  McCall  made  prisoners;  132  guns  in  position,  and  200  guns  in 
arsenals,  with  immense  amounts  of  ordnance  and  stores,  captured.  The  War  Department 
offers  $50,000  for  the  arrest  of  Booth,  and  $25,000  each  for  the  arrest  of  Atzerott  and 
Harold.  Capture  of  Atzerott. 

794 


1865 — Continued. 

April  21.  Proclamation  of  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith;  he  asserts  his  ability  to  continue 
the  rebellion.  Sherman's  truce  disapproved  by  the  President,  Gen.  Grant  and  the  Cabinet. 
Gen.  Grant  ordered  to  go  to  North  Carolina  and  conduct  military  affairs  there. 

Aprif22.     Reception  of  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  at  Philadelphia. 

April  23.    Jeff.  Davis  leaves  Charlotte,  N.  C,  for  Georgia. 

April  24.  Destruction  of  the  rebel  ram  Webb,  below  New  Orleans.  Reception  of 
the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  in  New  York. 

April  25.  Gen.  Grant  at  Sherman's  headquarters,  Raleigh,  N.  C. ;  Grant  instructs  Sher- 
man to -secure  surrender  of  Gen.  Johnson's  army  on  same  terms  granted  Gen.  Lee.  Funeral 
procession  with  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  through  the  streets  of  New  York. 

April  26.  Surrender  of  Gen.  Johnston  and  his  army  at  Raleigh,  N.  C.,  numbering 
about  27,500  men.  Booth  and  Harold  found  in  a  barn  near  Bowling  Green,  Caroline 
county,  Va. ;  Booth  shot  by  Sergeant  Boston  Corbett;  Harold  captured. 

April  27.     Railroad  track  near  Charleston,  S.  C.,  torn  up  by  guerrillas. 

April  28.  Danville,  Va.,  occupied  by  Gen.  Wright;  113  locomotives,  117  box  cars, 
iron-work,  machinery,  etc.,  were  captured.  The  War  Department  issues  orders  for  the 
reduction  of  the  expenses  of  the  army  by  the  discharge  of  ocean  transports,  by  its  stoppage 
oT  purchases,  etc. 

April  29.  Armistice  agreed  upon  between  Gens.  Dana  and  Dick  Taylor.  Proclamation 
by  the  President  removing  restrictions  on  international  trade. 

April  30.     The  paroling  of  Gen.  Johnston's  troops  commences  at  Greensboro. 

May  i.  Reception  of  the  remains  of  President  Lincoln  at  Chicago.  Surrender  of  1,100 
of  Morgan's  old  command  to  Gen.  Hobson,  at  Mount  Sterling,  Ky. 

May  2.  Surrender  of  Jeff.  Thompson  to  Capt.  Mitchell,  U.  S.  Navy.  Presidential 
proclamation,  offering  $100,000  reward  for  the  capture  of  Jeff.  Davis;  $25,000  each  for  the 
arrest  of  Jacob  Thompson,  Clement  C.  Clay,  George  N.  Saunders,  Beverly  Tucker,  and 
$10,000  for  the  arrest  of  Wm.  C.  Cleary. 

May  4.  Interview  between  Gen.  Canby  and  Gen.  Dick  Taylor  at  Citronelle,  Ala.,  33 
miles  north  of  Mobile;  surrender  of  Taylor's  entire  command.  Burial  of  Abraham  Lincoln 
in  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery,  near  Springfield,  111. 

May  5.  A  train  on  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  Railroad,  14  miles  from  Cincinnati,  cap- 
tured by  20  guerrillas. 

May  9.  The  Confederate  Commodore  Farrand  surrenders  12  vessels  and  all  his  com- 
mand to  Commander  Edward  Simpson,  fleet  captain  of  the  West  Gulf  Squadron,  at  Nanna 
Hubba  Bluff. 

May  10.  Jeff.  Davis  and  the  Confederate  Postmaster,  Gen.  Reagan,  captured  at  Irwin- 
ville,  Ga.,  by  Lieut. -Col.  Pritchard,  commanding  the  4th  Michigan  Cavalry.  Surrender 
of  Capt.  Mayberry,  commanding  the  irregular  bands  of  Confederates  in  Arkansas,  at  Pine 
Bluff.  The  trial  of  the  assassination  conspirators  begins  at  Washington. 

May  ii.  A  rebel  camp  at.  Palmetto  Branch,  Texas,  15  miles  above  Brazos,  captured 
and  burned  by  Col.  Barrett.  Arrival  of  the  rebel  ram  Stonewall  at  Havana.  •  ( 

May  12.  Engagement  near  Boco  Chico,  between  400  Union  troops  under*  Col.  Barrett, 
and  500  Confederate  cavalry  under  Gen.  Slaughter;  this  was  the  last  engagement  of  the 
war;  Union  loss,  70  men.  Surrender  of  the  rebel  forces  under  Gen.  Wofford  in  Northern 
Georgia,  at  Kingston. 

May  19.     Arrival  of  Jeff.  Davis  and  his  fellow-prisoners  at  Fortress  Monroe. 

May  20.     Surrender  of  the  ram  Stonewall  to  the  Spanish  authorities  in  Cuba. 

May  24.  Capt.  Rayburn,  commanding  all  irregular  bands  of  Confederates  in  Jackson, 
Prairie  and  White  counties,  Ark.,  surrenders  at  Duvall's  Bluff. 

May  25.  Forts  Mannahasset  and  Griffin,  and  the  defenses  of  Labone  Pass,  occupied 
by  Rear-Admiral  Thatcher. 

May  26.  Surrender  of  Gen.  E.  Kirby  Smith  and  his  army  of  about  20,000;  terms  agreed 
upon  and  signed  at  New  Orleans  by  Buckner,  Brent  and  Carter. 

May  29.     Amnesty  proclamation  issued  by  President  Johnson. 

May  31.     Brazil  withdraws  belligerent  rights  from  the  rebels. 

June  i.  Occupation  of  Brownsville,  Texas.  Day  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer  on  account 
of  the  murder  of  President  Lincoln. 

June  2.     Kirby   Smith   and   Magruder   formally   surrender   their  forces  at   Galveston. 

795 


1865 —  Con  tin  tied. 

The  British  Government  officially  withdraws  belligerent  rights  from  the  rebels.  Occupation 
of  Alexandria,  La.;  capture  of  22  pieces  of  artillery. 

June  3.  The  rebel  iron-clad  Missouri,  in  Red  River,  surrenders  to  Commander  W.  E. 
Fitzhugh. 

June  5.     Occupation  of  Galveston. 

June  7.  The  Attorney-General  issues  an  order  requiring  all  persons  applying  for 
pardon  under  the  Amnesty  Proclamation  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  as  a  prececdent 
condition  to  the  consideration  of  their  petitions. 

June  13.     Proclamation  opening  all  ports  east  of  the  Mississippi  on  the  1st  of  July. 

June  17.     Alexander  H.  Stephens  and  Robert  W.  Lee  apply  for  pardon. 

June  23.  Proclamation  of  the  President  rescinding  blockade  as  to  all  ports  of  the 
United  Sfates. 

June  24.  Proclamation  removing  commercial  restrictions  west  of  the  Mississippi, 
excepting  arms,  ammunition,  etc. 

June  29.     Closing  of  the  trial  of  the  assassins  in  Washington. 

July  7.     Execution'  of  the  conspirators  Harold,  Payne,  Atzerott  and  Mrs.  Surratt. 

Aug.  i.  The  President  orders  the  2d,  4th,  5th,  6th,  7th,  8th,  Qth,  loth,  i4th,  isth, 
I7th,  2Oth,  23d  and  24th  Army  Corps  to  be  discontinued  as  organizations. 

Aug.  21.     Commencement  of  the  trial  of  Capt.  Wirz,  the  Andersonville  jailor. 

Sept.  i.     Removal  of  all  restrictions  on  Southern  ports. 

Oct.  12.     Proclamation  of  the  President,  ending  martial  law  in  Kentucky. 

Nov.  6.  The  rebel  ram  Shenandoah  arrives  in  the  Mersey  and  surrenders  to  an  English 
man-of-war;  she  is  handed  over  to  the  American  Consul. 

Nov.  10.     Execution  of  Capt.  Wirz. 


796 


OF    IMPORTANT    EVENTS,    HISTORICAL    AND    POLITICAL,    CONNECTED 
WITH   THE  TERRITORY  AND   STATE   OF   ILLINOIS. 

1673. — Companions  of  Joliet  give  the  name  of  Mount  Joliet  to  the  site  01  the  present  city 
of  Joliet. 

1675. — Marquette  traversed  the  entire  course  of  the  Illinois  river. 

1674. — Missionary  station  at  Chicago  founded  by  Marquette. 

1675. — Chicago  was  a  designation  applied  indifferently  by  explorers  to  rivers,  posts,  routes 
and  country  adjacent  to  the  southern  portion  of  Lake  Michigan;  the  name  de- 
rived from  "Chicagou,"  the  name  of  a  chief  of  a  tribe  of  Illinois  Indians. 

1675. — April  8.     Kaskaskia  mission  founded  by  Marquette  at  site  near  present  city  of  Peoria. 

1680. — Fort  Creve  Coeur  built  by  LaSalle  near  present  site  of  Peoria. 

1686. — Rev.  Claude  Allouez,  a  companion  of  LaSalle,  the  first  white  man  to  make  the 
Indian  village  of  Kaskaskia  his  permanent  residence. 

1686. — Reynolds  dates  the  settlement  of  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  Peoria  from  this  year. 

1687. — Death  of  LaSalle;  assassinated  by  his  mutinous  followers. 

1699. — French  mission  established  at  Cahokia,  probably  the  oldest  permanent  settlement 
in  Illinois. 

1711. — Missionary  station  established  by  the  French  on  Ohio  river  where  Fort  Massac  was 
afterward  erected. 

1717. — The  Illinois  country,  by  decree  of  the  Royal  council,  was  made  a  part  of  the  Louisiana 
territory. 

1720. — Fort  Chartres,  six  miles  above  Prairie  du  Rocher,  built  by  French  to  defend  them- 
selves against  Spaniards.  Rebuilt  in  1756. 

1721. — Monastery  and  college  erected  at  Kaskaskia  by  Jesuit  missionaries. 

1722. — African  slaves  first  introduced  into  Illinois  country  by  Renault. 

1758. — Fort  Massac  erected  by  French  on  Ohio  river  in  what  is  now  Massac  county. 

1763. — Illinois  country  ceded  to  English  by  French. 

1765. — Captain  Sterling,  of  the  British  army,  arrived  at  Fort  Chartres  and  took  formal 
possession  of  the  Illinois  country  for  Great  Britain  under  treaty  of  1763. 

1765. — Pontiac,  the  great  Indian  warrior,  was  assassinated  at  Cahokia  by  a  Peoria  Indian 
in  the  employ  of  the  British  authorities. 

1772. — Fort  Chartres  greatly  damaged  by  overflow  of  the  Mississippi  and  abandoned. 

1772. — Kaskaskia  became  capital  of  Illinois  country. 

1778. — Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark,  with  150  men,  acting  under  authority, of  Virginia, 
descended  the  Ohio  river  to  near  Fort  Massac  and  several  days  later  seized  town 
of  Kaskaskia. 

1778. — First  house  built  in  La  Villa  de  Maillet,  afterward  known  as  Fort  Clark,  and  now 
the  city  of  Peoria. 

1778. — Dec.  12.  By  an  act  of  the  Virginia  legislature  the  "County  of  Illinois"  was  estab- 
lished. A  regiment  of  infantry  and  troop  of  cavalry  voted  for  its  protection  and 
Col.  George  Rogers  Clark  placed  in  command. 

1783. — First  American  school  in  Illinois  taught  by  John  Seely  in  what  is  now  Monroe 
county. 

1783. — Sept.  3.     Cession  by  Great  Britain  included  Illinois  country. 

1784. — March    I.     Cession    by   Virginia    to    general    government    included    part    of    Illinois 

country  south  of  4ist  parallel. 
1785. — April  19.     Cession  by  Massachusetts  to  general  government  included  part  of  Illinois 

country  between  42  degrees  2  minutes  and  43  degrees  30  minutes. 

1786. — Sept.  14.  Cession  by  Connecticut  to  general  government  included  part  of  Illinois 
country  between  41  degrees  and  42  degrees  2  minutes. 

797 


1787.— July  13.  Formation  of  Territory  Northwest  of  Ohio  river  which  included  Illinois 
country. 

1790. — Name  of  Illinois  county  changed  to  St.  Clair. 

1790. — First  lawyer  in  Illinois  country,  John  Rice  Jones,  at  Kaskaskia. 

1792. — Building  of  first  brick  house  west  of  Pittsburg  at  Kaskaskia,  where  it  still  stands. 

1795. — Randolph  county  created,  thus  dividing  the  former  county  of  Illinois  into  two  coun- 
ties, St.  Clair  and  Randolph. 

1800. — May  7.     Formation  of  Indiana  Territory,  which  included  Illinois  country. 

1804. — Treaty  made  at  St.  Louis  by  General  Harrison  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Sac  and  Fox 
nations  of  Indians. 

1804. — July  4.     Erection  of  Fort  Dearborn  (Chicago)  by  the  U.  S.  government. 

1806. — June  3.  Organization  of  the  first  lodge  in  the  Illinois  country,  A.  F.  &  A.  M.,  at 
Kaskaskia. 

1809. — Feb.  3.     Illinois  territory  formed  by  act  of  Congress. 

1809. — March  7.     Nathaniel  Pope  commissioned  first  secretary  of  state  of  Illinois  country. 

1809. — April  24.     Ninian  Edwards  commissioned  first  governor  of  Illinois  territory. 

1809. — April  28.  By  proclamation  the  territory  of  Illinois  was  divided  into  the  two  counties 
of  St.  Clair  and  Randolph,  as  they  existed  under  the  government  of  Indiana 
territory. 

1809. — June  13.  The  governor  and  judges,  the  law  making  power  of  the  territory,  set 
for  first  time  at  Kaskaskia. 

1811. — First  steamboat  to  navigate  the  Ohio  river,  the  "New  Orleans,"  launched  at  Pitts- 
burg,  Pa. 

1811. — First  school  house  in  territory  erected  at  Shiloh,   St.   Clair  county. 

1811. — Dec.  ii.  Earthquake  visited  southern  Illinois — probably  the  severest  ever  experi- 
enced in  the  State. 

1812. — Aug.  15.  Garrison  at  Fort  Dearborn  under  Captain  Hcald  evacuated  and  laid  down 
arms  to  be  massacred  by  Indians. 

1812. — Sept.  14.  Establishment  by  proclamation  of  three  additional  counties,  Madison, 
Gallatin,  and  Johnson. 

1812. — Oct.  9,  10  and  12.  First  election  for  members  of  territorial  legislature  consisting 
of  legislative  council  and  house  of  representatives. 

1812. — Nov.  25.     First  session  of  territorial  legislature  at  Kaskaskia. 

1812. — Dec.  3.  First  delegate  to  Congress  from  Illinois  territory,  Shadrach  Bond,  took 
his  seat. 

1813. — Fort  Clark  (now  Peoria)  named  in  honor  of  General  George  Rogers  Clark. 

1814. — First  printing  in  Illinois  done  by  Matthew  Duncan  of  the  "Herald,"  at  Kaskaskia. 

1814. — "Illinois  Sun"  published  at  Kaskaskia. 

1816. — H.  H.  Maxwell  commissioned  first  auditor  of  public  accounts  for  Illinois  territory. 

1816. — Act  establishing  first  bank  at  Shawneetown. 

1817. — Aug.  2.  First  steamboat,  "General  Pike,"  ascended  the  Mississippi  river  above 
Cairo. 

1818. — Death  of  General  George  Rogers  Clark,  who  wrested  the  Illinois  country  from  the 

British  in  1778. 

-April   18.     Act  of  Congress  enabling  the   Illinois   territory  to  become   a   state. 
-Aug.  26.     Adoption  of  first  State   Constitution,   in  convention,   it  never  being  sub- 
mitted to  a  vote  of  the  people  for  ratification. 

1818. — Sept.  17.     First  election  for  State  officers. 

1818. — Oct.  5.  First  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Illinois  convened  at  Kaskaskia.  The 
representation,  as  provided  by  the  Constitution,  was  Senate  14,  House  29. 

1818. — Oct.  6.  Shadrach  Bond  inaugurated  first  governor,  Pierre  Menard  first  lieutenant 
governor,  and  Elias  Kent  Kane  qualified  as  secretary  of  state. 

1818. — Dec.  — .  Daniel  Pope  Cook,  first  representative  to  Congress  from  the  State.  Until 
the  year  1832  the  State  constituted  one  congressional  district. 

1818. — Dec.  3.  Illinois  formally  admitted  as  a  State,  by  resolution  of  Congress,  with 
her  present  area  from  .the  Illinois  territory. 

1819. — March  5.  Daniel  Pope  Cook  commissioned  first  attorney  general  of  State  but 
immediately  resigned.  William  Mears  qualified  Dec.  14. 

1819. — April  6.  Elijah  C.  Berry  commissioned  first  auditor  of  public  accounts,  and  John 
Thomas  first  State  treasurer. 

798 


1820. — Seat  of  Government  changed  to  Vandalia  by  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly. 

1820. — First  and  only  duel  in  Illinois  fought  in  Belleville  between  Alphonso  Stewart  and 

William  Bennett,  in  which  Stewart  was  killed.     Bennett  was  tried  for  Stewart's 

murder,  convicted  and  hanged. 
1821. — Removal  of  State  capital  to  Vamdalia. 
1822. — Grand  Lodge  A.  F.  &  A.  M.  first  organized  at  Vandalia  with  Shadrach  Bond  first 

Grand  Master. 
1823. — Dec.  9.     First  State  house  destroyed  by  fire  at  Vandalia.     1824. — New  brick  State 

house  erected  at  a  cost  of  $12,381.50. 

1824. — Nov.  15.     Special  session  of  legislature  convened,  adjourning  January  18,  1825,  hav- 
ing passed  laws  relating  to  presidential  electors  and  canvassed  election  returns. 
1824. — Aug.  2.     Verdict  of  the  people  in  the  struggle  to  make  Illinois  a  slave  State.     Call 

for  convention  to  amend  constitution  defeated  by  vote  of  6,640  to  4,972. 
1825. — General  Lafayette  visits  Illinois.     Legislature  defrays  expenses  amounting  to  $6,473, 

or  one-third  of  the  tax  receipts  for  that  year. 
1825. — First  school   law  enacted.     It   embodied  many  of  the   provisions   of  the   common 

school  law  of  the  present  day. 

.1826. — Jan.  12.     Apportionment  made  giving  Senate  18  and  House  36  members. 
1826. — First  steamboat  began  to  ply  upon  the  Illinois  river. 
1826. — Memorial  to  Congress  asking  for  a  donation  of  lands  in  aid  of  the  construction  of 

the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal. 
1827. — Winnebago  Indian  war  near  Galena. 

1827. — Building  of  first  State  institution,  penitentiary  at  Alton,  a  stone  structure  of  twenty- 
four  cells. 
1827. — Founding  of  the  first  theological  seminary  and  high  school  at  Rock  Springs  which 

was  removed  to  Upper  Alton  and  reorganized  into  what  is  now  known  as  Shurt- 

leff  College. 
1827. — Oct.   16.      Death  of   Daniel   P.   Cook,  the  first  representative   in   Congress  from  the 

State,  1818-1827. 

1829. — Chicago  first  laid  out  as  a  town. 
1830-31. — The  "winter  of  the  deep  snow." 

1831. — Feb.  7.    Apportionment  made  giving  Senate  26  and  House  55  members. 
1831. — Feb.    13.      Act    approved    dividing    State    into    three    congressional    districts.      First 

election  under  this  act  held  first  Monday  in  August,   1832. 
1831. — Band  of  outlaws  in  Pope  and  Massac  counties  fortified  themselves  and  defied  local 

and  State  authorities.     Militia  called  out  to  restore  order. 
1831. — Treaty  of  peace  formed  with  Black  Hawk  by  General  Gaines  at  Fort  Armstrong, 

now  Rock  Island. 

1832. — April  12.     Death  of  Shadrach  Bond,  first  governor  of  Illinois. 
1832. — May  14.     Battle  of  Sycamore  creek.     Black  Hawk  defeating  Major  Stillman. 
1832. — May  20.     Massacre  at  Indian  creek  by  Indians. 

1832. — June  15.     Battle  of  East  Pichetonka  creek.     Black  Hawk  defeats  Captain  Stevenson. 
1832. — June  16.     Battle  of  Kellog's  Grove.     Captain  Snyder  defeating  Indians. 
1832. — June  18.     Battle  near  Galena.     General  Dodge  defeating  Indians. 
1832. — June  24.     Battle  of  Buffalo  Grove.     Indians  defeated. 

1832. — August  2.     Battle  of  Bad  Axe.     General  Atkinson  defeated   Black  Hawk,  termin- 
ating Black  Hawk  war. 
1833. — July  20.     Death  of  Ninian  Edwards,  first  Territorial  governor  and  third  governor 

of  the  State. 

1834. — The  first  public  school  in  the  State  taught  by  Granville  Temple  Sproat  at  Chicago. 
1834. — Dec.    i.     Abraham  Lincoln  takes  his  seat  as  a  member  of  the   General  Assembly 

for  the  first  time. 
1835. — Founding   of   Monticello   Seminary   at   Godfrey,    Madison   county,   oldest   institution 

in  the  State  for  the  higher  education  of  females. 
1835. — Dec.  7.     Special  session  of  legislature  met;    enacted  laws  relating  to  canal  loans  and 

State  banks,  and  made  a  new  congressional  apportionment;    adjourned  January 

18,  1836. 

1835. — Dec.  12.     Death  of  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  United  States  Senator  1825-1831. 
1835-36. — Ebenezer  Peck,  at  Vandalia,  advocates  political  conventions  and  the  system  won 

its.  way  slowly  from  this  time. 

799 


1836. — Jan.  14.  Apportionment  ratio  for  Senator  fixed  at  7.000  and  for  Representative, 
3.000,  giving  Senate  40  and  House  91  members. 

1836. — Summer.  Second  State  House  torn  down  and  new  one  erected  at  Vandalia,  cost 
$16,000,  which  is  now  occupied  as  a  court  house  for  Fayette  county. 

1837. — Feb.  28.  Bill  passed  making  Springfield  the  seat  of  State  government.  The  bill 
was  under  the  charge  of  "the  long  nine"  headed  by  Abraham  Lincoln. 

1837. — July  4.  Corner  stone  of  the  fourth  State  House  (present  court  house  of  Sangamon 
county)  laid  at  Springfield  with  imposing  ceremonies.  Cost  $240,000. 

1837. — July  10-22.     Extra  session  enacted  laws  relating  to  financial  affairs  of  the  State. 

1837. — Oct.  27.  An  abolition  society  secretly  formed  at  Upper  Alton,  believed  to  be  the 
first  in  Illinois. 

1837. — Nov.  7.  Rev.  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy,  editor  Alton  Observer,  murdered  by  pro-slavery 
mob  at  Alton. 

1837. — Dec.  4.  First  Democratic  State  convention  held  at  Vandalia,  nominating  candidates 
for  State  officers. 

1838. — Grand  Lodge  I.  O.  O.  F.  first  organized  in  Illinois.     Reorganized  1842. 

1838. — Nov.  8.  The  first  steam  locomotive  to  run  in  Illinois,  the  "Rogers,"  on  the  North- 
ern Cross  Railroad,  the  road  out  of  which  the  Wabash  system  grew. 

- — Completion  of  the  first  line  of  railroad  in  Illinois,  the  Northern  Cross,  from  Jack- 
sonville to  Meredosia,  which  was  built  by  the  State. 

- — Earliest  reports  on  geological  investigations  in  Illinois  published  in  American  Jour- 
nal of  Science  and  Arts,  Volume  XXXIV. 

1839. — Mormon  society  numbering  15,000  come  in  a  body  from  Missouri,  founding  the  city 
of  Nauvoo,  Hancock  county. 

J^39- — Feb.  23.  Act  creating  the  asylum  for  the  education  of  deaf  and  dumb  at  Jackson- 
ville. Completed  in  1846;  rebuilt  in  1871. 

J839- — July  4.     Capital  removed  to  Springfield  from  Vandalia. 

J839- — Oct.  7.     First  Whig  State  convention  held  at  Springfield. 

1&39-— Dec.  9.  Eleventh  General  Assembly  convened  at  Springfield  in  special  session — the 
first  session  of  the  legislature  held  at  the  present  seat  of  government. 

1840. — Numerous  and  powerful  bands  associated  together  for  purpose  of  horse  stealing  and 
counterfeiting  in  counties  of  Ogle,  Winnebago,  Lee  and  DeKalb. 

1840. — Nov.  23-March  i.  Special  session  acting  upon  questions  relating  to  financial  affairs 
of  State. 

1841. — Feb.  26.  Ratio  for  Senator  fixed  at  12,000  and  for  Representative  4,000,  giving  Senate 
41  and  House  121  members. 

184.2. — Aug.  I.  Proposition  for  a  constitutional  convention  defeated  by  the  narrow  majority 
of  1,039. 

1843. — March  i.  Act  approved  dividing  State  into  seven  congressional  districts.  First 
election  under  this  act  first  Monday  in  August,  1843. 

1844. — Jan.  15.     Death  of  Joseph  Duncan,  sixth  governor  of  the  State. 

1844. — June  14.     Death  of  Pierre  Menard,  first  lieutenant  governor  of  the  State. 

1844. — June  27.  Joseph  Smith  and  his  brother  Hiram,  leaders  of  the  Mormons  in  their  up- 
risings against  the  laws  of  the  State,  killed  by  mob  while  in  jail  at  Carthage 
awaiting  trial. 

1845. — Feb.  26.     Secretary  of  State  made  ex-ofticio  superintendent  of  schools. 

1845. — May  20.  Apollo  Commandery  No.  i.  first  Knights  Templar  organization  in  Illi- 
nois or  any  adjoining  state,  formed  at  Chicago. 

1846. — February.     Emigration  of  Mormons  to  Utah. 

1846. — March  26.  Death  ol  William  L.  D.  Ewing,  fifth  Governor  and  United  States  Sen- 
ator, 1835-37. 

184.6. — April  19.     Election  of  delegates  to  second  constitutional  convention. 

1846. — July  17-22.     Illinois  troops  leave  Alton  for  Mexico. 

1847. — Feb.  25.  Ratio  of  apportionment  made  19,000  for  senator  and  6,500  for  representa- 
tive, giving  Senate  34  and  House  100  members.  Before  election  under  this  law 
the  Constitution  of  1848  was  adopted  and  apportionment  made  thereby  took 
effect. 

1847. — June  7.     Second  constitutional  convention  convened  at  Springfield. 

1848. — The  constitution  of  this  year  apportioned  the  State  into  25  senatorial  and  54  repre- 
sentative districts,  giving  Senate  25  and  House  75  members. 

1848. — Northern  boundary  line  established  by  Congress. 

800 


1848. — March  6.     Ratification  by  the  people  of  the  second  constitution. 

1848. — April  10.  The  first  boat,  "General  Fry,"  passed  from  Lockport  to  Chicago  through 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal.  :.  . 

1848. — April  23.  The  first  boat,  "General  Thornton,"  passed  through  the  entire  length  of  the 
Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal. 

1849. — Jan.  13.  Establishment  of  Institution  for  Blind  at  Jacksonville.  Building  com- 
pleted in  1854. 

1849. — March  i.  Establishment  of  Central  Illinois  Insane  Asylum  at  Jacksonville.  Com- 
pleted Nov.  3,  1851. 

1849. — Oct.  22-Nov.  7.  Special  session  electing  a  United  States  Senator  and  revising  laws  in 
the  matters  of  revenue  and  vacancies  in  office. 

1850. — Jan.  23.     Death  of  Nathaniel  Pope,  territorial  secretary  and  delegate  to  Congress. 

1850. — Nov.  3.  Death  of  Thomas  Ford,  eighth  Governor  and  author  -of  a  history  of  Illi- 
nois. 

1851. — Feb.  i.  Completion  of  Bloody  Island  dike.  Built  within  jurisdiction  of  Illinois  by 
city  of  St.  Louis. 

1851. — Feb.  10.     Charter  issued  to  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company. 

1851. — Feb.  17.  Joseph  G.  Norwood  appointed  first  State  Geologist  and  first  geological 
survey  of  State  provided  for. 

1852. — Feb.  14.     Death  of  Thomas  Carlin,  seventh  governor  of  the  State. 

1852. — June  7-23.  Special  session  of  legislature  enacted  laws  touching  matters  relating  to 
swamp,  seminary,  and  canal  lands  and  Bank  of  Illinois. 

1852. — Aug.  22.  Act  approved  dividing  State  into  nine  congressional  districts.  First  elec- 
tion under  this  act  held  in  November,  1852. 

1853. — Jan.  i.     State  debt  reached  highest  point,  amounting  to  $16,724,177. 

1853. — Feb.  8.     Act  incorporating  Illinois  State  Agricultural  Society. 

1853. — Feb.  12.     Act  providing  for  erection  of  executive  mansion. 

1853-— Oct.  1-4.     First  State  Fair  held  at  Springfield. 

1854. — Feb.  2-March  4.  Special  session  created  office  of  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion, and  enacted  laws  relating  to  State  roads,  railroads,  and  township  organi- 
zation. 

1854. — Feb.  27.  Act  apportioned  representation  in  General  Assembly  at  25  Senators  and  75 
Representatives,  dividing  State  into  25  senatorial  and  58  representative  dis- 
tricts. 

1854. — March  24.  Ninian  W.  Edwards  commissioned  first  Superintendent  of  Public  In- 
struction. 

i855- — Abraham  Lincoln  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  but  declined  to 
receive  credentials. 

1856. — Chicago  Historical  Society  organized.     Incorporated  in  1857. 

1856. — May  29.  State  convention  held  in  Bloomington;  the  origin  of  the  Republican  party 
in  Illinois. 

1856. — Sept.  27.     Completion  of  Illinois  Central  Railroad  from  Cairo  to  East  Dubuque. 

1857. — Building  of  Illinois  State  Penitentiary  at  Joliet;  completed  in  1867,  at  a  cost  9i 
$1,075,000. 

1857. — Feb.  ii.    Organization  of  Illinois  State  Horticultural  Society. 

1857. — Feb.  18.     Establishment  of  State  Normal  University  at  Normal. 

1857. — Feb.  18.     Act  creating  the  State  Board  of  Education. 

1858. — Spring.  First  Republican  convention  held  at  Cairo  to  appoint  delegates  to  State 
convention  at  Springfield  which  nominated  Abraham  Lincoln  for  United  States 
Senator  in  opposition  to  Douglas. 

1858. — July  24.  Lincoln  challenged  Douglas  to  a  joint  discussion;  he  accepted  and  the  de- 
bates opened  at  Ottawa  on  the  21  st  of  August  and  closed  at  Alton  on  the  15th  of 
October. 

1860. — March  15.     William  H.  Bissell,  twelfth  governor,  died  in  office. 

1860. — May  16.  Republican  National  Convention  held  at  Chicago  nominated  Abraham  Lin- 
coln and  Hannibal  Hamlin. 

1860. — Nov.  6.  Abraham  Lincoln  elected  President  of  the  United  States.  His  plurality  in 
Illinois  was  11,966. 

1861. — Great  Embezzlement  Report.  Funding  of  canal  scrip  and  new  issue  of  bonds  to 
amount  of  $224,182. 

801 


1861. — Jan.  31.  Act  fixed  representation  in  General  Assembly  at  25  Senators  and  85  Repre- 
sentatives, and  divided  State  into  25  senatorial  districts  and  61  representative  dis- 
tricts. 

1861. — Feb.   ii.     Lincoln  leaves  Springfield  for  Washington. 

1861. — April  15.  Governor  Yates,  in  response  to  President's  proclamation,  calls  for  volun* 
teers. 

1861. — April  23-May  3.  Special  session  created  war  fund  in  aid  of  the  Union  and  revised 
laws  concerning  State  Militia. 

1861. — April  24.  Approval  of  act  dividing  State  into  thirteen  congressional  districts.  The 
State  was  entitled  to  fourteen  members  and  error  was  corrected  by  electing  one 
member-at-large.  First  election  in  November,  1862. 

1861. — April  and  May.  The  six  regiments  apportioned  to  Illinois  under  first  call  for  volun- 
teers sent  to  Cairo. 

1861. — June  3.     Death  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  United  States  Senator,  1847-61. 

1861. — Oct.  21.  Death  of  E.  D.  Baker,  member  of  Congress,  1846-49.  Killed  in  battle  at 
Ball's  Bluff,  Virginia. 

1861. — Nov.  ii.     Allen  C.  Fuller,  first  commissioned  Adjutant  General. 

1862. — Jan.  7.-  Third  constitutional  convention  met  at  Springfield,  drafting  a  constitution 
which  was  rejected  by  the  people. 

1863. — Congress  established  at  Rock  Island  the  chief  arsenal  of  the  Mississippi  valley 

1863. — June  10.  Governor  Yates  prorogued  the  General  Assembly,  the  first  and  only  time 
the  Governor  of  the  state  has  exercised  this  prerogative  conferred  upon  him  by 
the  constitution. 

1863. — June  17.  Mass  convention  of  40,000  at  Springfield  in  pursuance  of  a  call  issued  by 
Democratic  State  Central  Committee  for  a  meeting  of  those  opposed  to  the 
national  administration. 

1863. — Sept.  3.  Union  mass  meeting  held  at  Springfield,  a  demonstration  full  of  encour- 
agement to  the  soldiers  and  the  cause  of  the  Union. 

1864. — Aug.  29.  Democratic  National  Convention  at  Chicago  nominated  Geo.  B.  McClellan 
and  Geo.  H.  Pendleton. 

1864. — Sept.  4.     Death  of  Augustus  C.  French,  seventh  Governor  of  the  State. 

1865. — Opening  of  the  Union  Stock  Yards  in  Chicago,  the  largest  in  the  world. 

1865. — April  14.  Abraham  Lincoln  assassinated  by  John  Wilkes  Booth  at  Ford's  Theater, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

1865. — Feb.  i.  Illinois  the  first  State  to  act  in  ratifying  the  XIII.  Amendment  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  United  States  abolishing  slavery. 

1865. — May  8.     Death  of  John  Reynolds,  fourth  Governor  of  the  State. 

1865. — The  first  steel  rails  made  in  America  were  rolled  at  the  North  Chicago  Rolling  Mills 
by  the  Illinois  Steel  Company. 

1865. — Adjutant  General's  office  became  an  organized  department  of  the  State  government. 

1865. — Establishment  of  Asylum  for  Feeble  Minded  Children  at  Jacksonville;  removed  to 
Lincoln  in  1875. 

1865. — Establishment  of  Soldiers'  Orphans'  Home  at  Normal.     Completed  in  1869. 

1867. — Pullman's  Palace  Car  Company  incorporated. 

1867. — Establishment  of  Illinois  State  Reformatory  at  Pontiac;  opened  in  1871. 

1867. — March  8.     Act  establishing  State  Board  of  Equalization. 

1867. — March  9.     Act  creating  the  office  of  State  Entomologist. 

1867. — Feb.  25.     Act  passed  providing  for  the  erection  of  the  fifth  or  present  State  House. 

1867. — Feb.  28.  Establishment  of  Illinois  Industrial  University  at  Urbana;  name  changed 
to  University  of  Illinois  in  1885. 

1867. — May  20.  Republican  National  Convention  met  at  Chicago,  nominating  U.  S.  Grant 
and  Schuyler  Colfax. 

1867. — June  ii.     D.  B.  Walsh  commissioned  first  State  Entomologist. 

1867. — June  11-13.     Special  session  provided  for  taxing  banks  and  banking  associations. 

1867. — June  14-28.  Special  session  providing  for  management  of  State  Penitentiary  and 
enacted  laws  in  the  matte?  of  larceny. 

1868. — June  ii.  First  stone  of  fifth  State  House  placed  in  position.  Cornerstone  laid 
October  5th,  Hon.  J.  D.  Caton  delivering  address. 

1868.— July  7.     Death  of  Edward  Coles,  second  Governor  of  the  State. 

1868.— Aug.  16.     Death  of  Lyman  Trumbull,  U.  S.  Senator  1855-73. 

802 


!868. — Nov.  3.  Vote  on  proposition  to  call  convention  to  form  new  constitution  carried  by 
a  majority  of  86,439. 

i,S68. — Nov.  6.  Death  of  Walter  Loomis  Newberry,  founder  of  the  Newberry  Library  at 
Chicago. 

1869. — First  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  organized  in  Illinois. 

1869. — Feb.  8.     Act  creating  Board  of  Lincoln  Park  Commissioners. 

1869. — Feb.  27.     Act  creating  Board  of  West  Park  Commissioners. 

1869. — March  9.     Act  creating  Southern  Illinois  Normal  University  at  Carbondale. 

1869. — April  9.     Establishment  of  State  Board  of  Charities. 

1869. — April  10.  Establishment  of  Southern  Illinois  Hospital  for  Insane  at  Anna;  com- 
pleted in  1875. 

1869. — April  10.  Establishment  of  Northern  Illinois  Hospital  for  Insane  at  Elgin;  com- 
pleted in  1872. 

1869. — Dec.  13.     Fourth  Constitutional  Convention  met  at  Springfield. 

1870. — May  13.  Third  State  Constitution  adopted  in  convention.  Ratified  by  people  July 
2d  and  in  force  August  8th.  Under  the  Constitution  for  this  year  the  repre- 
sentation for  1871  consisted  of  50  Senators  and  177  Representatives,  and  the  State 
was  divided  into  25  Senatorial  and  97  Representative  districts.  The  minority 
representation  section  having  been  adopted,  the  Constitution  provided  that  the 
State  should  be  apportioned  every  ten  years,  beginning  with  1871,  into  51  Sena- 
torial districts,  each  district  being  entitled  to  one  Senator  and  three  Representa- 
tives. 

1871. — The  Chicago  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary,  founded  as  a  private  charity  in  1858,  adopted 
as  a  State  institution.  It  was  burned  in  the  fire  of  1871,  and  a  new  building 
erected  in  1873-4. 

1871. — April  13.     Act  creating  Board  of  Railroad  and  Warehouse  Commissioners. 

1871. — Oct.  9-10.  Chicago,  with  a  population  of  334,270,  laid  in  ashes;  three  and  one-half 
square  miles  laid  waste,  17,450  buildings  destroyed,  200  persons  killed  and  98,500 
made  homeless.  Rebuilt  on  a  grander  scale  within  a  year. 

1872. — March  i.  Act  approved  dividing  State  into  51  Senatorial  districts,  each  district 
being  entitled  to  one  Senator  and  three  Representatives,  as  provided  by  the  State 
Constitution. 

1872. — March  22.  Act  passed  declaring  no  person  should  be  debarred  from  any  occupation, 
profession  or  employment  on  account  of  sex. 

1872. — July  i.  Act  dividing  the  State  into  nineteen  Congressional  districts.  First  election 
held  in  November,  1872. 

1872. — Sept.  25.     Death  of  Peter  Cartwright,  a  pioneer  Methodist  preacher  of  Illinois. 

1873. — Passage  of  act  allowing  women  to  hold  any  office  under  school  law. 

1873. — Jan.  31.     Death  of  Joel  A.  Matteson,  nth  Governor  of  the  State. 

1873. — Nov.  27.     Death  of  Richard  Yates,  i4th  Governor  and  U.  S.  Senator  1865-71. 

1874. — March  27.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Canal  Commissioners. 

1874. — July  14.     Second  great  fire  in  Chicago;  loss,  $4,000,000. 

1874. — Oct.  15.     Dedication  of  Lincoln  monument  in  Oak  Ridge  Cemetery,  Springfield. 

1875. — Act  passed  rendering  women  eligible  to  office  of  notary  public. 

1875. — October.     Asylum  for  Feeble-Minded  Children  removed  to   Lincoln. 

1876. — Jan.  i.  State  officers  vacate  old  State  House  and  move  into  new  building,  which 
was  completed  in  1886  at  a  cost  of  $4,260,000. 

1877. — Jan.  25.  End  of  Logan-Palmer  contest  for  United  States  Senator  David  Davis 
being  duly  elected  Senator  on  the  4Oth  ballot. 

1877. — May  25.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Health. 

1877. — May  25.  Act  authorizing  appointment  of  State  agents  to  enforce  the  law  in  relation 
to  cruelty  to  animals. 

1877. — May  25.  Act  creating  the  Eastern  Illinois  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Kankakee; 
completed  December,  1879. 

1877. — May  29.     Act  creating  State  Court  of  Claims. 

1877. — June  22.     Act  creating  appellate  courts. 

1877. — July  25.     Beginning  of  great  railroad  strike  at  Chicago. 

1878. — March  31.  Completion  of  Southern  Illinois  Penitentiary  at  Chester  at  a  cost  of 
$594,424. 

1878. — June  21.     Communist  riot  at  Chicago.     Police  kill  seven  and  wound  nine. 

803 


1878. — June   28.     Death   of   Sidney   Breese,  judge  of   Supreme   Court  and   U.   S.    Senator 

1843-49,  to  whom  is  given  the  credit  for  projecting  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad. 
1878. — Nov.  29.     Adoption  of  amendment  to  State  Constitution  concerning  drainage  dis- 
tricts, article  IV.,  section  31. 

1879. — Act  creating  State  Bureau  of  Labor  Statistics. 
1879. — Act  creating  State  Board  of  Fish  Commissioners. 
1879. — June  i.     Death  of  James  Shields,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Illinois  1849-55,  and  afterwards 

U.  S.  Senator  from  the  states  of  Minnesota  and  Missouri. 
1880. — Founding  of  Pullman,   12  miles   south  of  Chicago,   an  ideal  industrial   city,   unap- 

proached  by  any  city  of  its  size  in  America. 
1880. — June.     Greenback    National    Convention    met    at    Chicago,    nominating    James    B. 

Weaver  and  P.  J.  Chambers. 
1880. — June  2.     Republican   National   Convention   met  at   Chicago,   nominating  James   A. 

Garfield  and  Chester  A.  Arthur. 

1880. — June  4.     Death  of  John  Wood,  I3th  Governor  of  the  State. 
1880. — Nov.  22.     Amendment  to  section  8,  article  X.  of  the  State  Constitution. 
1881. — Aurora,  Kane  county,  first  city  in  the  world  to  light  itg  streets  with  electricity. 
1881. — Jan.  7.     Last  dollar  of  State  debt  paid. 
1881. — May  30.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Pharmacy. 
1881. — May  30.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Dental  Examiners. 
-1 88 1.— Aug.  10.     Death  of  O.  H.  Browning,  U.  S.  Senator  1861-63. 

1882. — March  23-May  6.     Special   session  made   Congressional  and   Senatorial   apportion- 
ments and  provided  for  the  transfer  of  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal  to  the  United 

States,  which  was  not  accepted. 
1882. — April  29.     Act  approved  apportioning  State  into  20  Congressional  districts.     First 

election  held  under  this  act  in  November,  1882. 
1882. — May  6.     Act  approved  dividing  State  into  51  Senatorial  districts,  as  provided  by  the 

Constitution. 

1883. — Diamond  Coal  Mine  accident  at  Braidwood,  Will  county;  74  lives  lost. 
1883. — March  5.     Incorporation  of  Illinois  Dairymen's  Association. 
1883. — June  18.     Act  creating  State  Mining  Board. 
1883. — June  18.     Act  creating  State  Inspectors  of  Mines. 
1884. — June  3.     Republican  National  Convention  at  Chicago  nominated  James   G.   Blaine 

and  John  A.  Logan. 
1884. — July  10.     Democratic  National  Convention  at  Chicago  nominated  Grover  Cleveland 

and  Thomas  A.  Hendricks. 
1884. — Nov.  28.     Amendment  to   State   Constitution   concerning  veto  power  of  governor, 

Section  16  of  Article  V. 
1885. — Feb.   ii.     Beginning  of  Logan-Morrison  contest  for  United  States  Senator,  which 

ended  in  the  election  of  John  A.  Logan  on  May  i8th. 
1885. — June  19.     Illinois  Industrial  University  name  changed  to  University  of  Illinois  by 

an  act  of  the  Legislature. 

1885. — June  26.    Act  establishing  the  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Home  at  Quincy;  opened  in  1887. 
1885. — June  27.     Act  creating  office  of  State  Veterinarian. 
1885. — June  27.     Act  authorizing  appointment  of  Game  Wardens. 
1885.— July  23.     Death  of  General  U.  S.  Grant. 

1885. — Sept.  12.     Death  of  Emory  A.  Storrs,  eminent  jurist  and  orator  of  Illinois. 
1886. — Jan.  18.     Burning  of  insane  asylum  and  17  patients,  at  Kankakee. 
1886. — March  i.     Labor  troubles  at  McCormick  Reaper  Company's  works. 
1886. — March  12.     Daring  express  robbery  between  Joliet  and  Morris  on  Chicago,   Rock 

Island  &  Pacific  railroad.     Messenger  killed  and  $25,000  taken. 
1886. — April.     Railroad  strike  at  East  St.  Louis. 
1886. — May  4.     Haymarket  riot  at  Chicago.     Policemen  to  the  number  of  180  attacked  by 

anarchists  and  lost  seven  killed  and  60  wounded. 
1886. — June  20.     Death  of  David  Davis,  Judge  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,  United 

States  Senator  1877-83. 
1886. — Nov.  7.     Strike  of  meat  packers  in  Chicago.     Two  regiments  called  out.     Troops 

withdrawn  on  the  I5th. 
1886. — Nov.  20.     Amendment  to  State  Constitution  providing  the  labor  of  convicts  shall 

not  be  let  out  on  contract. 

804 


i886. — Dec.  26.     Death  of  John  A.  Logan,  United  States  Senator,  1871-77  and  1879-86. 

1887. — Act  creating  State  Board  of  Live  Stock  Commissioners. 

1887. — Erection  of  Auditorium  building  at  Chicago,  the  largest  and  most  sumptuous  theater 
building  in  the  world. 

1887. — May  23.     Act  creating  Industrial  Home  for  Blind  at  Chicago. 

1887. — Oct.  22.  Death  of  Elihu  B.  Washburn;  elected  to  Congress  for  nine  consecutive 
terms;  minister  to  France  during  period  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war. 

1888. — Government  began  construction  of  Fort  Sheridan,  north  of  Chicago. 

1888. — Libby  Prison  taken  down  and  carried  to  Chicago. 

1888. — Feb.   19.     Cyclone  at  Mt.  Vernon;  30  killed. 

1888. — April  30.  Appointment  of  Melville  W.  Fuller  to  office  of  Chief  Justice  of  United 
States  Supreme  Court. 

1888. — June  20.  Republican  National  Convention  at  Chicago  nominated  Benjamin  Harrison 
and  Levi  P.  Morton. 

1888. — Nov.  4.     Burning  of  Monticello  Seminary  at  Godfrey;  since  rebuilt. 

1889. — Establishment  of  Asylum  for  Insane  Criminals  at  Chester. 

1889. — Creation  of  Chicago  Sanitary  District. 

1889. — May  25.     Act  creating  State  Historical  Library. 

-May  27.     Miners'  strike  at  Braidwood  necessitates  military  interference. 
-Oct.  21.     Strike  of  coal  miners  at  LaSalle  ends  with  concession  to  miners. 
-Nov.  21.     Darkest  day  ever  known  at  Chicago;  lights  used  at  noon. 
-Jan.  27.     Death  of  William  Bross,  Lieutenant-Governor  1865-69,  and  eminent  jour- 
nalist. 

1890. — Feb.  24.  Chicago  chosen  by  National  House  of  Representatives  for  World's  Colum- 
bian Exposition  in  1893. 

1890. — April  7.     Seven  thousand  Chicago  carpenters  strike  for  an  eight-hour  day. 

1890. — April  25.  Bill  providing  for  World's  Columbian  Exposition  signed  by  President 
Harrison. 

1890. — July  23-Aug.  i.  Special  session  legislated  for  and  proposed  constitutional  amendment 
in  aid  of  World's  Columbian  Exposition. 

1890. — Nov.  20.  Amendment  to  State  Constitution  providing  for  the  World's  Columbian 
Exposition. 

1891. — Legislative  committee  investigates  Live  Stock  Exchanges. 

1891. — Jan.  20.  Beginning  of  Palmer-Oglesby  contest  for  United  States  Senator,  which 
ended  March  nth  by  the  election  of  John  M.  Palmer  on  the  iS4th  ballot. 

1891. — June  3.     Monument  to  General  Grant  unveiled  at  Galena. 

1891. — June  ii.     Adoption  of  anti-trust  laws. 

1891. — June  12.  Proposed  amendment  to  State  Constitution  in  regard  to  amendments  to 
the  Constitution,  Section  2,  Article  XIV.;  submitted  to  people  at  November 
election  in  1892  and  failed  of  adoption. 

1891. — June  17.  Act  making  first  Monday  in  September,  "Labor  Day,"  and  i2th  of  Feb- 
ruary, "Lincoln's  Birthday,"  in  each  year  legal  holidays. 

1891. — June  17.  Five  per  cent  made  the  legal  rate  of  interest,  and  over  seven  per  cenl, 
usury. 

1891. — June  17.  Passage  of  act  prohibiting  employment  of  children  under  thirteen  years 
of  age. 

1891. — June  17.     Act  designating  reform  school  at  Pontiac  the  Illinois  State  Reformatory. 

1891. — June  19.  Act  granting  women  21  years  of  age  and  over  right  to  vote  at  all  school 
elections. 

1891. — June  22.     Adoption  of  Australian  ballot  system. 

1891. — June  23.  Act  providing  a  bounty  for  killing  English  sparrows  in  months  of  Decem- 
ber, January  and  February  of  each  year. 

1892. — Sept.  18.     Telephone  communication  opened  between  New  York  City  and  Chicago. 

1892. — Oct.  21.     Dedication  of  World's  Fair  buildings  at  Chicago. 

1893. — Commission  appointed  for  the  promotion  of  uniform  legislation  in  the  United  States. 

!893. — Commission  appointed  to  revise  statutes. 

I§93- — Investigation  of  Whiskey  Trust  by  State  Legislature. 

J893- — May  i.     World's  Fair  formally  opened  by  President  Cleveland  at  Chicago. 

I893- — June  8.  Proposed  amendment  to  State  Constitution  regarding  labor;  submitted  to 
people  at  election  in  1894  and  failed  of  adoption. 

805 


i8g3- — June  9.     Act  approved  dividing  State  into  22  Congressional  districts.     First  election 

thereunder  held  November,  1894. 
1893. — June  15.     Under  act  of  this  date  State  was  re-apportioned  into  51  Senatorial  districts, 

as  provided  by  the  Constitution. 

1893. — June  17.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Factory  Inspectors. 

1893. — June  17.     Sunday  closing  of  World's  Fair  decided  against  by  Chief  Justice  Fuller. 
1893. — June  19.     Adoption  of  compulsory  education  law. 
1893. — June  20.     Act  establishing  State  Insurance  Department. 
1893. — June  21.     Act  establishing  Naval  Militia. 

1893. — June  22.     Unveiling  of  Fort  Dearborn  Memorial  at  Chicago. 

1893. — June  22.  Establishment  of  State  Home  for  Juvenile  Female  Offenders  at  Geneva. 
1893. — June  26.  Anarchists  Fielden,  Neebe  and  Schwab  pardoned  by  Governor  Altgeld. 
1893. — July  10.  Cold  storage  building  at  World's  Fair  destroyed  by  fire;  n  firemen  and 

9  others  lost  their  lives. 

1893. — Sept.  ii.     Parliament  of  religions  opened  at  World's  Fair. 
J893. — Oct.  27.     Assassination  of  Mayor  Carter  Harrison  of  Chicago. 
I$93- — Oct.  30.     World's  Columbian  Exposition  officially  closed. 
1894. — Jan.  8.     World's  Fair  buildings  burn  with  a  loss  of  $1,000,000. 

1894. — April  12.     Lockout  of  building  trades  in  Chicago;  10,000  men  thrown  out  of  employ- 
ment. 
1894. — May  ii.     Pullman  Palace  Car  Company  employes  strike  at  Pullman;  2,000  men  quit 

work. 

1894. — June  28.  Boycott  declared  by  labor  organizations  on  all  principal  railroads. 
1894. — July  3.  Federal  troops  ordered  to  Chicago  to  enforce  laws  of  United  States. 
1894. — July  5.  President  Cleveland  declines  to  remove  federal  troops  as  demanded  by 

Governor  Altgeld. 

1894. — July  8.     President  Cleveland  declares  martial  law  at  Chicago. 
1894. — July  ii.     President  Debs,  of  A.  R.  U.,  indicted  by  federal  grand  jury  on  charge  of 

interfering  with  United  States  mail. 

1894. — July  19.     President  Debs,  of  A.  R.  U.,  officially  declared  the  strike  off. 
1895. — Jan.  4.     Fire  destroys  State  Insane  Hospital  at  Anna;  loss,  $300,000. 
1895. — March  20.     Act  regulating  civil  service  of  cities. 

1895. — March  28.     Riot  in  State  Home  for  Juvenile  Female  Offenders,  at  Geneva. 
1895. — May  18.     Conveyance  of  Lincoln  Monument  and  appurtenances  by  Lincoln  Monu- 
ment Association  accepted  by  State  of  Illinois. 

1895. — May  22.     Act  creating  Eastern  Illinois  Normal  School,  at  Charleston. 
1895. — May  22.     Act  creating  Northern  Illinois  Normal  School,  at  DeKalb. 
1895. — May  22.     Establishment  of  Western  Illinois  Hospital  for  Insane,  at  Watertown. 
1895. — June  13.     Act  creating  Soldiers'  Widows'  Home,  at  Wilmington. 
1895. — June   13.     Passage   of  act   concerning  land  titles,   known   as   "Torrens   Land  Act.'' 

Held  to  be  unconstitutional  by  Supreme  Court  in  1896. 
1895. — June    14.     Proposed    amendment    to    State    Constitution    concerning    amendments 

thereto,  Section  2,  Article  XIV.,  submitted  to  people  at  election  in  November. 

1896,  and  failed  of  adoption. 

1895. — June  15.     Adoption  of  prison  parole  system. 

1895. — June  15.     Act  providing  for  taxing  gifts,  legacies  and  inheritances. 
1895. — June  17.     Legislature  appropriated  $25,000  for  a  monument  at  Alton  to  the  memory 

of  Elijah  P.  Lovejoy. 

l%95- — June  21.     Act  creating  Asylum  for  Incurable  Insane,  at  Bartonville. 
1895. — June  24.     Act  creating  Illinois  farmers'  institutes. 
1895. — June  25-Aug.  2.     Special  session  provided  for  additional  revenue  and  created  State 

Board  of  Arbitration. 
i&95- — June  26.     Act   requiring   United   States   national   flags   to   be   placed   on   all   public 

buildings. 
l&95- — July  16.     W.  H.  (Coin)  Harvey  and  R.  G.  Hoar  began  debate  on  currency  question, 

at  Chicago. 

1895. — Aug.  2.  Act  creating  State  Board  of  Arbitration. 
1895. — Oct.  31.  First  earthquake  on  record  in  Chicago. 
1896. — April  9.  Death  of  Gustav  Koerner,  supreme  judge  1845-48,  Lieutenant-Governor 

1853-57- 

806 


1896. — July  7.  National  Democratic  Convention  assembled  at  Chicago,  nominating  Wil- 
liam J.  Bryan  and  Arthur  Sewall. 

1896. — Dec. '3.     Incorporation  of  Illinois  State  Poultry,  Pigeon  and  Pet  Stock  Association. 

1897. — April  2.     Act  consolidating  the  divisions  of  the  supreme  court. 

1897.- — May  i.  Enactment  of  second  "Torrens  Land  Act,"  which  has  been  held  to  be 
constitutional. 

1897. — May  26.     Act  requiring  foreign  corporations  to  maintain  a  public  office  in  this  State. 

1897. — June  2.     Act  repealing  flag  law  of  1895. 

1897. — June  3.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  Architects. 

1897. — June  5.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Pardons. 

1897. — June  9.     Passage  of  "Allen  Bill,"  law  relating  to  street  railways. 

1897. — June  10.     Act  requiring  license  of  plumbers  in  cities  of  5,000  and  over. 

1897. — June  ii.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Examiners  of  Horseshoers. 

1897. — Oct.  21.  Death  of  Newton  Bateman,  Superintendent  of  Pubfic  Instruction  1859-63 
and  1865-75. 

1897. — Nov.  17.  Death  of  General  Charles  E.  Hovey,  first  president  of  the  Illinois  State 
Normal  University,  at  Normal,  and  commander  of  the  "Normal  Regiment"  during 
the  civil  war. 

1897. — Dec.  7-Feb.  24.  Special  session  made  new  senatorial  apportionment,  enacted  laws 
relating  to  primary  elections,  revenue  and  schools. 

1898. — Jan.  ii.  Approval  of  senatorial  apportionment  act,  afterwards  held  to  be  unconsti- 
tutional by  supreme  court. 

1898. — Feb.  10.  Approval  of  primary  election  law  applicable  to  counties  of  125,000  or  over, 
and  may  be  adopted  by  others. 

1898. — Feb.  17.     Death  of  Frances  E.  Willard,  eminent  lecturer  and  social  reformer. 

1898. — Feb.  25.     General  revision  of  law  concerning  assessment  of  property. 

1898. — April  3.  Levee  surrounding  the  city  of  Shawneetown  breaks,  placing  city  under 
water.  Governor  sends  his  representative  to  the  scene  of  disaster  and  issues  a 
proclamation  asking  for  contributions  in  aid  of  the  flood  sufferers. 

1898. — July  3.     Death  of  John  Moses,  author  of  "Illinois  Historical  and  Statistical." 

1898. — Oct.  13.  Bloody  fight  over  attempt  to  land  negro  miners  at  Virden  to  take  place  of 
striking  employes.  Train  bearing  negroes  riddled  with  bullets;  eleven  men  killed 
and  over  thirty  wounded. 

1898. — Nov.  21.  Owing  to  labor  troubles  connected  with  coal  mines  at  Pana,  Governor 
proclaims  martial  law;  order  revoked  March  21,  1899. 

1899. — Feb.  28.  Act  providing  for  a  heroic  bronze  statue  of  the  late  Frances  E.  Willard  to 
be  erected  in  the  National  Statuary  Hall,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

1899. — March  16.     Death  of  Joseph  Medill,  distinguished  legislator  and  eminent  journalist. 

1899. — March  29.  Act  concerning  incorporation,  management  and  regulation  of  pawners' 
societies. 

1899. — April  10.  Continued  rioting  at  Pana  caused  Governor  to  again  declare  martial  law, 
which  remained  in  force  until  June  26. 

1899. — April  ii.  Act  creating  free  employment  agencies  in  cities  of  certain  designated 
population. 

1899. — April  19.     Act  providing  for  the  establishment  of  a  State  colony  for  epileptics. 

1899. — April  21.  Act  requiring  corporations  to  make  annual  reports  to  the  Secretary  of 
State. 

1899. — April  21.  Act  regulating  treatment  and  control  of  dependent,  neglected  and  delin- 
quent children.  "Juvenile  Court  Act." 

1899. — April  22.  Act  prohibiting  the  use  of  the  national  flag  or  emblem  for  commercial 
purposes. 

1899. — April  24.  Death  of  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  fifteenth  Governor  of  the  State  and  United 
States  Senator  1873-79. 

1899. — April  24.     Act  appropriating  $100,000  to  repair  and  rebuild  the  Lincoln  monument. 

1809. — April  24.  Act  providing  for  the  establishment  of  the  Western  Illinois  State  Normal 
School. 

1899. — April  24.     Act  creating  the  office  of  State  Supervising  Architect. 

1899. — April  24.  Act  enabling  boards  of  education  or  school  trustees  to  establish  and  main- 
tain parental  or  truant  schools. 

1899. — April  24.     Act  creating  State  Board  of  Inspectors  of  Commission  Merchants. 

807 


1899. — April  24.     Act  creating  office  of  State  Food  Commissioner. 

1899. — April  24.     Act  creating  office  of  State  Game  Commissioner. 

1899. — July  1.  State  troops  sent  to  Carterville  to  quell  disturbances  arising 'from  labor 
troubles  at  the  coal  mines  there. 

1899. — July  21.     Death  of  Robert  J.  Ingersoll,  eminent  lawyer  and  platform  orator. 

1899.— Sept.  15.  Appointment  of  Practice  Commission,  in  accordance  with  a  joint  resolu- 
tion of  the  Forty-first  General  Assembly. 

1899. — Oct.  13.  Robbers  secured  upwards  of  $25,000  from  a  train  on  the  Chicago  and 
Northwestern  Railroad,  between  Malta  and  DeKalb. 

1900. — Jan.  17.     Chicago  Drainage  Canal  opened. 

1900. — Feb.  20.     Leander  J.  McCormick,  inventor  and  manufacturer,  died. 

1900. — Feb.  22.     Gen.  John  McNulta,  distinguished  soldier  and  citizen,  died. 

1900. — March  7.  Building  contractors  at  Chicago  refused  to  arbitrate  their  disputes  with 
their  employes  and  a  strike  was  inaugurated. 

1900.— May  26.     T.  B.  Blackstone,  president  Chicago  and  Alton  railroad  (1864-1899),  died. 

1900. — June  25.     Martin  J.  Russel,  journalist  and  ex-collector,  port  of  Chicago,  died. 

1900.— July  14.     Great  fire  at  Bloomington. 

1900.— Sept.  1.     Population  of  Illinois,  1900  census,  4,821,550. 

1900. — Sept.  22.     Col.  Joseph  H.  Wood,  distinguished  soldier  and  railroad  man,  died. 

1900.— Sept.  25.  Gen.  John  M.  Palmer,  governor  of  Illinois  (1869-1873),  United  States 
Senator  (1891-1897),  Gold  Democratic  candidate  for  president  (1896),  died. 

1900. — Oct.  13.     Charles  Fargo,  vice-president  American  Express  company,  died. 


808 


INDEX  TO  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Review  of  Events  which  Led  to  the  Organization  of  the  Republican 
Party  5 

CHAPTER  II. 

Admission  of  Slave  States.  Balance  of  Power  in  the  Senate.  Missouri 
Compromise.  Election  of  President  Polk.  Annexation  of  Texas. 
Mexican  War.  Wilmot  Proviso.  Election  of  General  Taylor  President. 
Compromise  of  1850 14 

CHAPTER  III. 

Election  of  President  Pierce.  Kansas-Nebraska  Legislation.  Slavery  Agi- 
tation Renewed.  Split  in  Democratic  and  Whig  Parties.  Anti- 
Nebraska  Congress  Elected.  Lyman  Trumbull  Elected  to  United  States 
Senate 19 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Bleeding  Kansas.  Territorial  Legislature  Elected  by  Pro-Slavery  Men 
from  Missouri.  Bona  Pide  Residents  Driven  from  Polls.  Non-Resident 
Pro-Slavery  Men  Fill  Offices  in  the  Territory.  Determined  Effort  of  the 
Administration  to  Make  Kansas  a  Slave  State 23 

CHAPTER  V. 

Pittsburgh  Convention,  Feb.  22,  1856.  Editorial  Convention  at  Decatur, 
Feb.  22,  1856.  Bloomington  Convention,  May  29,  1856.  Democratic 
Convention  at  Springfield,  May  1,  1856.  Democratic  National  Conven- 
tion, Cincinnati,  June  2,  1856.  Republican  National  Convention,  Phila- 
delphia, June  17,  1856.  Whig  and  American  Nominations 26 

CHAPTER  VI. 
Governor  William  H.  Bissell's  Administration,  1857-1860 35 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Douglas  and  Lincoln,  1858.  The  Great  Joint  Debate.  Important  Questions 
Discussed.  On  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  On  Slavery  Ex- 
tension  41 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Buchanan's  Administration.  Majority  of  Cabinet  from  Southern  States. 
President  Yields  to  Their  Demands  to  Make  Kansas  a  Slave  State,  the 
Leading  Measure  of  the  Administration.  The  Le  Compton  Consti- 
tution   61 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Republican  State  Convention,  Decatur,  May  9,  1860.  Republican  National 
Convention,  Chicago,  May  16,  1860.  Democratic  National  Convention, 
Charleston,  April  23;  Baltimore,  June  18,  1860.  The  Breckenridge 
Convention.  Lincoln's  Inaugural  Address 64 

809 


CHAPTER  X. 

Secession.  Action  of  the  Churches.  The  Secession  Movement.  Peace 
Congress.  Article  XIII.  Congressional  Action.  The  Morrill  Tariff 
Law 78 

x— '\ 

CHAPTER    XI. 

Lincoln's  Cabinet.  Attack  on  Fort  Sumpter.  Illinois  Answers  the  Call  to 
Arms  89 

CHAPTER  XII. 
Conflict  of  Political   Opinions 92 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Action  of  the  Democrats  During-  the  War.  Elections  in  Illinois,  1862. 
Democratic  National  Convention,  at  Chicago,  August  29,  1864 95 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Union  State  Convention,  Springfield,  May  25,  1864.  Democratic  State  Con- 
vention, Springfield,  June  15,  1864.  Radical  Convention,  Cleveland,  O., 
May  31,  1864.  Union  National  Convention,  Baltimore,  June  7,  1864. 
Richard  J.  Oglesby  elected  Governor  of  Illinois , 105 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Emancipation Ill 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Events  of  the  War.  Surrender  of  General  Lee,  April  9,  1865.  Assassina- 
tion of  President  Lincoln,  April  14,  1865 114 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

President  Johnson's  Administration.     The  Reconstruction  Period ]  18 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Conventions  of  1868.  Election  of  Grant  and  Colfax.  John  M.  Palmer  Elected 
Governor  of  Illinois 127 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

War  Finances.  Resumption  of  Specie  Payments.  Development  of  the 
National  Banking  System 132 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  Tariff 135 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

General  Grant's  Administration.     The  Conventions  of  1872 140 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

General  John  M.  Palmer's  Administration.  General  Oglesby  Again  Elected 
Governor,  then  Senator.  Lieutenant-Governor  Beveridge  Assumes  the 
Office.  Conventions  of  1876 144 

810 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

The  Campaig-n  of  1876.  Shelby  M.  Cullom  elected  Governor.  The  Elec- 
toral Commission.  President  Hayes'  Administration 151 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Illinois  Republican  Convention,  May  19,  1880 157 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

Republican  National  Convention,  Chicago,  June  2,  1880.  Garfield  and 
Arthur  nominated 164 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 

Democratic  and  Greenback  Conventions  of  1880.  The  Campaig-n.  Election 
of  Garfield  and  Arthur.  Assassination  of  President  Garfield.  General 
Arthur  Becomes  President 176 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 

Conventions  and  Campaign  of  1884.  Causes  which  Led  to  the  Election  of  a 
Democratic  President.  Illinois  Elects  Governor  Oglesby  for  the  Third 
Time.  General  Logan  Re-elected  Senator 182 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Campaign  of  1888.  Election  of  Harrison  and  Morton.  Joseph  W.  Fifer 
Elected  Governor  of  Illinois.  Harrison's  Administration 188 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

Campaign  of  1892.     Cleveland's  Second   Administration 197 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Governor  Altg-eld's  Administration 202 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

Political  Conventions  of  1896 206 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

Governor  Tanner's  Administration.  Review  of  Laws  Enacted  Under  Repub- 
lican Governors  Since  1856 211 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

President   McKinley's  Administration.     The  War  with  Spain 220 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

Republican  and  Democratic  Conventions  in  1900 226 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

Imperialism-Militarism 233 

CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

Organization  of  the  Republican  Party  in  Illinois.  Officers  of  the  State 
Central  Committee  1856-1900.  Illinois  Republicans  in  Congress 237 

811 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

The  National  Departmental  Service.     Its  Progress  and  Development  Under 
Republican  Administrations 246 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

The  1900  Campaign.    Re-election  of  William  McKinley.    Richard  Yates,  Jr., 
Elected  Governor  of  Illinois.     Conclusion 734 

The  Popular  Vote  by  States,  1896  and  1900 736 

Chronological  Table  of  Principal  Events  in  American  History,  from  the 
Discovery  in  1492  to  1860 737 

Chronological  History  of  the  Civil  War 747 

Chronological  Table  of  Important  Events,  Historical  and  Political,  Con- 
nected with  the  Territory  and  State  of  Illinois,  from  1673  to  1900.... 797 


ERRATA. 


Page  10,  Paragraph  nine,  line  two.    For  "revolutionary"  read  "involuntary." 
Page  18,  Paragraph  eight,  line  one.     For  "200"  read  "130,000." 

Page  24,   Paragraph  five,   lines  eleven  and  twelve.     For   "Missouri"  read 
"Mission.'' 

Page  29,  Paragraph  two,  line  four.     For  "excited"  read  "exerted." 
Page  70,  Paragraph  four,  line  fourteen.     For  "doctrine"  read  "election." 


812 


INDEX   TO   BIOGRAPHIES  AND   PORTRAITS. 


Adams,  George  E 294,  295 

Akin,  Edward  C ! 272,  275 

Aldrich,  Charles  H 326,  329 

Allen,  Charles  A 666,  667 

Allerton,  Samuel  W 328,  331 

Ailing,  Charles 326,  327 

Ames,  John  C 332,  333 

Ashcraf t,  Edwin  M 334,  335 

Aspinwall,  Homer  F 336,  337 

Atkins,  Smith  D 338,  339 

Ayer,  Benjamin  F 342,  343 


Bader,  Henry  F 362,  363 

Baker,  William  H 720,  721 

Baldwin,  Henry  R 344,  345 

Bangs,  Fred  A 356,  357 

Banning,  Ephraim 358,  359 

Barickman,  Charles  M 366,  367 

Barrett,  Elmer  E 370,  371 

Beach,  Myron  H 348,  349 

Becker,  Charles 341 

Begole,  Henry  C 346,  347 

Beitler,  Henry  C 682,  685 

Benjamin,  Reuben  M 370 

Bennett,  Richard  F 350,  351 

Bent,  Charles 678,  679 

Best,  Henry 684,  687 

Beveridge,  John  L 148,  149 

Bissell,  William  H 35,    37 

Bliss,  E.  Raymond 352,  353 

Boal,  Robert 316,  317 

Bogardus,  Charles  368,  369 

Boldenweck,  William 722,  723 

Bradwell,  James  B 354,  355 

Brown,  John  J 360,  361 

Brucker,  Joseph . : 710,  713 

Brundage,  Edward  J 372,  373 

Burchard,  Horatio  C 364,  365 

Butler,  William  N 374,  375 


Calhoun,  William  F 398,  399 

Calhoun,  William;  J 376,  377 

Callahan,  Ethelbert 384,  385 


Carnahan,  Charles  C 378,  379 

Carr,  Henry  H 380,  381 

Carter,  Donald  M 386,  387 

Carter,  Zina  R 714,  715 

Cary,  Eugene 388,  389 

Case,  Theodore  G 382,  383 

Clark,  James  H 394,  395 

Clements,  Isaac 406,  407 

Cochran,  William  G 392,  393 

Cody,  Hope  Reed 396,  397 

Coffeen,  M.  Lester 428,  429 

Collins,  Lorin  C.,  Jr 412,  413 

Conway,  Edwin1  S 686,  689 

Copley,  Ira  C 400,  401 

Corbus,  John  C 420,  421 

Coy,  Winfield  S 404,  405 

Coyne,  Frederick  E 390,  391 

Craig,  Edward  M 416,  417 

Crews,  Seth  F .414,  415 

Crilly,  D.  F 730,  731 

Cullom,  Shelby  M 151,  153 

Cunningham,  Joseph  O 410,  411 

Curtis,  Edward  C 408,  40% 

Cutting,  Charles  S 402,  403 


Daugherty,  Aquilla  J 422,  423 

Davis,  David 282,  283 

Davis,  George  P 424,  425 

Davis,  George  R 296,  297 

Deere,  Charles  H 434,  435 

Dicker,  Edward  A 436,  437 

Dickinson,  John 680,  681 

Diller,  Thomas 440,  441 

Dixon,  Arthur 430,  431 

Dixon,  George  W 432,  433 

Dodge,  Orris  B 426,  427 

Douglas,  Stephen  A 53,  254 

Downey,  Joseph 442,  443 

Drew,  Samuel  J 418,  419 


Eden,  W.  S 700,  703 

Elliott,  William  S.,  Jr 299,  301 

Elwell,  Edward  H 438,  439 


813 


English,  Joseph  G  ...........          440 

Estabrook,  Henry  D  ..........  677,  678 

Evans,  Henry  H  .............  444,  445 

Everett,  John  C  ..............  446,  447 


Fairbank,  Nathanial  K  .......  448,  449 

Farr,  Marvin  A  ..............  450,  451 

Fekete,  Thomas  L  ...........  456,  457 

Ferguson,  Charles  H  .........  458,  459 

Fieldhouse,  Walter  ..........  452,  453 

Fifer,  Joseph  W  ..............  189,  190 

Fisher,  Hendrick  V  ..........  454,  455 

Fitz  Simons,  Charles  .........  716,  717 

Fort,  Greenbury  L  ...........  460,  461 

Fort,  Robert  B  ..............  462,  463 

Funk,  Isaac  ..................  285,  286 


Gansbergen,  Frederick  H . .  . .  464,  465 

Gibbons,  John 468,  469 

Going,  Judson  F 472,  473 

Goodwin,  Leonard 478,  479 

Gordon,  Charles  U 466,  467 

Gorrell,  W.  F 470,  471 

Grant,  Ulysses  S 128,  255 

Gray,  William  H 474,  475 

Gross,  Howard  H 476,  477 


Hall,  Frank  H 480,  481 

Halle,  Eugene  G 690,  693 

Hamilton  Club 258 

Hamilton,  Isaac  M 482,  483 

Hamilton,  John  L.,  Jr 490,  491 

Hamlin,  Howard  J 510 

Harding,  Abner  C 320 

Harding,  Fred  E 488,  489 

Hay,  John  B 692,  695 

Henderson,  Thomas  J 306,  309 

Hitch,  Charles  P 492,  493 

Holden,  Timothy  N 494,  495 

Holdom,  Jesse 496,  497 

Hull,  Perry  A 498,  499 

Humphrey,  Arthur 726,  727 

Hurd,  Harvey  B 485,  487 

Hyde,  Charles  E 704,  707 


Isham,  Edward  S 500,  501 


Johns,  Harvey  C 502,  503 

Johnson,  Clarence  P 506,  507 

Jones,  Alfred  H 504,  505 

Jones,  W.  Clyde 696,  699 

Joy,  Thomas  L 508,  509 


Kimbell,  Spencer  S 512,  513 

Kirby,  Edward  P 511 

Kretzinger,  George  W 514,  515 

Krughoff,  Louis 484 

Kuykendall,  Andrew  J 302,  305 


Leyenberger,  Charles 518,  519 

Lincoln,  Abraham 45,  253 

Lindly,  Cicero  J 520,  521 

Logan,  John  A 145,  257 

Logan,  Thomas  M 526,  527 

Long,  Theodore  K 664,  665 

Lynch,  Henry  W 530,  531 


Madden,  Martin  B. . 516,  517 

Mallette,  James  P 710,  711 

Martin,  James  S 311,  313 

Mason,  William  E 274,  277 

Matthews,  Asa  C 532,  533 

May,  Horatio  N 716,  719 

McClaughry,  Robert  W 522,  523 

McKinney,  James 698,  701 

McKnight,  George  F 534,  535 

McMurdy,  Robert. 536,  537 

McNulta,  John 288,  289 

McWilliams,  David 239 

Merriam,  Jonathan 524,  525 

Middlecoff,  Jonathan  P 542,  543 

Milchrist,  Thomas  E  544,  545 

Miller,  George  W ...548,549 

Miller,  John  S 528,  529 

Mills,  Daniel  W 540,  541 

Mitchell,  John  W 536,  539 

Moore,  Clifton  H 550,  551 

Moore,  Emery  B *. . .  .558,  559 

Munger,  Edwin  A ; 546,  547 

Munroe,  George  H :. 562,  563 

Myers,  David  S :... .552,  553 


Needles,  Thomas  B ,..318,  319 

Newman,  Jacob 568,  569 

Nicholls,  Henry  D 566,  567 


814 


Nixon,  William  Penn 291,  293 

Northcott,  William  A 263,  265 


Oglesby,  Richard  J 108,  109 


Paddock,  James  H 572 

Palmer,  John  M 130,  131 

Pam,  Max 572,  573 

Patton,  George  W  554,  555 

Pearson,  Isaac  N 556,  557 

Peck,  Ferdinand  W 570,  571 

Peck,  George  R 560,  561 

Peirce,  William  P 564,  565 

Plumb,  Ralph 304,  307 

Price,  V.  C 668,  671 

Purington,  Dillwyn  V  682,  683 


Rankin,  Georg-e  C 576, 

Rannells,  Charles  S 574, 

Raum,  Green  B 

Ray,  Lyman  B 578, 

Raymond,  C.  W 580, 

Rector,  John  F 582, 

Reece,  Jasper  N 270, 

Reeves,  Walter 280, 

Ridgely,  Willliam  B 584, 

Robinson,  Thomas  J 586, 

Roche,  John  A 670, 

Rodenberg,  William  A 278, 

Rose,  James  A 264, 

Rosenfield,  Morris 588, 

Ross,  Leonard  F 590, 

Rowe,  Fred  H 694, 

Ruggles,  J.  M 

Russel,  Andrew  592, 

Russel,  William..  ..594, 


Sanders,  George  A 596, 

Sattley,  Winfield  N 732, 

Schneider,  Georg-e 

Sears,  Nathaniel  C 598, 

Selby,  Paul 

Senn,  Nicholas 600, 

Sercomb,  Albert  L 602, 

Shaw,  B.  F 

Sherman,  Elijah  B 604, 

Smith,  Abner 608, 

Smith,  Frederick  A 610, 


577 
575 
321 
579 
581 
583 
273 
281 
585 
587 
673 
279 
267 
589 
591 
697 
239 
593 
595 


597 
733 
239 
599 
239 
601 
603 
239 
605 
609 
611 


Smith,  JohnC 314,  315 

Smith,  William  A 612,  613 

Smulski,  John  F 708,  709 

Snively,  Clarence  E 624,  625 

Somerville,  William 607 

Stead,  William  H  614,  615 

Stevens,  John  S 618,  619 

Stewart,  Graeme 728,  729 

Stockton,  Joseph 616,  617 

Strawn,  Christopher  C 618,  621 

Strawn,  Louis  F 622,  623 

Stringfield,  C.  Pruy n 724,  725 

Sunny,  Bernard  E 675,  676 

Swift,  George  B 301,  303 

Swigert,  Charles  P 626,  627 

Tanner,  John  R 260,  261 

Templeton,  James  W 628,  629 

Thomas,  John 630,  631 

Thompson,  William  Hale 704,  705 

Tipton,  Thomas  F 632,  633 

Turner,  Henry  L 634,  635 

Upham,  Frederick  W  638,  639 

Vance,  Joseph  W 636,  637 

VanCleave,  James  R.  B 268,  271 

Vocke,  William 239 

Wait,  Horatio  L 640,  641 

Waite,  George  E 642,  643 

Wheeler,  L.  E 668,  669 

Whitman,  Frank  S 644,  645 

Whittemore,  Floyd  K 268,  269 

Wickersham,  Herman  B 648,  649 

Williams,  Thomas  S 650,  651 

Williams,  William  P 646,  647 

Williamson,  Moses  0 652,  653 

Willoughby,  James  A 660,  661 

Winslow,  Frederick  C 654,  655 

Witwer,  Clement  S 656,  657 

Wood,  John 40 

Worthington,  Thomas 658,  659 

Wright,  Francis  M 662,  663 

Yates,  Richard 71,    72 

Yates,  Richard,  Jr .323,  325 

.Young,  Edward  C. ." 688,  691 

Young,  John  D 702 


815 


